Perfecting Holiness

Scripture:

II Corinthians 7:1  "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God".

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Corinthians about how they conduct themselves.  He just finished talking about our earthly bodies and eternity.  He then tells them that "having these promises we should cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit."  Because we have an eternal home we should cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness.

Application:

The blood of Jesus cleanses us totally, but we have a part to play in walking out holiness.  Many preach today that holiness is only through Christ and that we don't have to change anything in our lives or stop sinning because Jesus blood cleansed us.  Here we are told to "cleanse ourselves".  the blood of Jesus totally and perfectly cleanses us, but we have to work on how we live.  It's like soap, soap is a cleanser, but it has to be applied and scrubbed into dirt.  It is the cleanser, but we have to do some scrubbing.  We must perfect holiness in the fear of God and start doing some scrubbing of our lives.

Prayer:

Father, cleanse me and give me the power to cleanse myself.  Let me walk in the fear of God and be one who perfects holiness.  Help me apply the cleansing of Christ to every area of my life.

Yours,
Jeff