Purifying Yourself

Purifying Yourself

“Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’” 2 Cor. 6:14-17.

This is written in connection with not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The intention is that we shall not have anything to rely on or hope in other than God. Having any expectations outside of God is unbelief. “Go out! Be separate!” That is the message to the elect. This was the call to Abraham, and this was the call to Israel in Egypt. This is also the voice from heaven in our days.

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’” Rev. 18:4.

God receives us as sons and daughters after we have come out. If we are unequally yoked together we have to oblige, and do oblige those who are in darkness, those who are unbelievers, who have idols, who desire earthly things. Then we are under obligation to such people; we are unequally yoked together with them. People believe they gain a certain earthly advantage by doing this. It is unbelief when you put yourself in a position that you are under obligation to such people. We must make ourselves free so we “may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Heb. 13:6.

It is written that we must enter in by the narrow gate that leads to life! Everything that hinders us from being at full liberty to follow the promptings of the Spirit is a door through which we have to go. After that comes the narrow way: taking up our cross daily and denying ourselves. This lasts for as long as we are in the body.

The one who believes comes out and experiences that God becomes his Father. The one who does not believe does not come out, or comes out only partially, and does not experience this relationship of being a son.

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.

Your flesh is defiled by being unequally yoked together with those who seek gain in this world. You become impure in your spirit by being unequally yoked together with half-hearted Christians—the harlot—“having a form of godliness but denying its power.” We shall turn away from such people. 2 Tim. 3:5.

Only after we have come out and have cleansed ourselves from all impurity of the flesh and of the spirit can there be any talk of perfecting our sanctification. Many people think that the act of coming out is sanctification, but it is not. What, then, is sanctification?

It was only after Abraham had come out that God could chasten and train him as a son—mold him to be the father of all those who believe. Only then was he completely in God’s hand. This was also how He dealt with Israel. However, most of them could not bear this training. They were not part of the completion of God’s plan. This pertains to us as well. Only after we have been set free from being yoked together with the world and the harlot can God chasten us as sons.

Whoever has been born of God does not commit sin. 1 John 3:9. They do not serve the law of sin with their mind. They have the hope of seeing God as He is, and yet it is written about them that they purify themselves just as He is pure. Vs. 2-3.

Peter writes to the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that they should put off all malice and all guile, also hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. 1 Pet. 2:1. We read that they were born again to a living hope. They did not serve sin with their mind, yet sin still clung to them. There is an enormous difference between a person knowing that he is committing sin and sin clinging to him.

Just think about it! When you testify, you are not testifying to make a name for yourself, but to edify. But test yourself to see if there isn’t some desire for recognition that clings to it. When you give something away, you are doing it to do some good, but test yourself if some desire for recognition doesn’t cling to it. You are reprimanded and so you become discouraged. Test yourself if it isn’t because you wanted some recognition. God blesses your work, and souls are being saved, and you rejoice and speak about it to others; but test yourself if your joy over the fact that souls are being saved is not greater because you are the instrument and not someone else. You have been asked to lead a project and are zealous to get it done. Test yourself if some desire to rule or stubbornness doesn’t cling to your role as leader, etc., etc.

We are not in the flesh, and what we do, we do to benefit, but it is written: “Purify your souls in obedience to the truth unto sincere brotherly love,” and he “purifies himself just as He is pure.” We come to this cleansing in our service for God if we are upright. This is sanctification, which is our fruit from serving. Rom. 6:22. Only after we have come out and God has received us as sons and daughters can we perfect our sanctification in the fear of God. Then we can work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12) and serve God according to His pleasure with reverence and godly fear. “For our God is a consuming fire.” Heb. 12:28-29.