[Put to death] … impurity …
Summary: Paul’s reference to impurity draws us into an interesting study of dross and chaff.
Paul’s list of things belonging to the “earthly nature” and that deserve being put to death includes sexual immorality, impurity, and lust. Together it would seem that all three have a lot in common and, in fact, they do. But there are differences, too.
Sexual immorality is the use of our human sexuality in ways that God did not intend. Lust is the craving for sexual immorality. Impurity embraces both but, at the same time, encompasses more.
Impurity suggests the quality of being “unclean,” which is something the Bible has a lot to say about.
Instead of diving into a detailed survey of all that the Bible has to say, I am going to offer a brief summary based on my own knowledge of the Bible.
First, let’s acknowledge that until Adam and Eve touched the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden, they were pure. There was no impurity in their lives until the serpent twisted God’s words and enticed Eve to sin. At that point, because the Garden was pure and they no longer were, God had to put them out (Genesis 3: 22-24).
That which is impure is considered worthless. Like dross is to silver, the impure is to the pure. The pure is kept, and the impure is thrown away (Proverbs 25:4). Actually, it is worse than that. Instead of being simply thrown away, there are references to an “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12, Luke 3:17) reflected in the description of the lake of fire in Revelation 20:14-15.
That which is spiritually impure doesn’t end well.
To help us understand the difference between pure and impure, God gave us the law (Exodus 20: 1-17). The problem with the written law was that it could only show us the visible boundaries of what God considers “good” and “evil.” It does not show us how to become “good.”
That is why we need a Messiah.
When Jesus came to earth, he demonstrated both his authority and his power. Most of mankind ignored the signs and focused on the threat of having someone perfect show them up for what they were. They killed him and treated him as dross or chaff.
Three days later, the Pure One, who had been treated like dross, returned from the dead. God, in his love, had provided a way for us to become pure again. All we have to do is choose Jesus. What Paul is saying when he tells us to put impurity to death is how important this choice is. We can’t choose Jesus and choose to indulge impurity, too. It doesn’t work that way.
Application: Choose Jesus every moment of the day.
Food for Thought: What makes something impure?
Compromise with the world comes to mind. I think purity is revealed in single minded devotion. It is when we compromise that devotion and mix with the world that the dross increases.
A beautiful landscape can become ugly fast due to pollution. Purity keeps us from becoming polluted or contaminated. When we are polluted by the world, we might still appear religious, but our hearts have been divided and stained. We are to serve only the one true God. When we don’t, the other masters steal our heart.
Matthew 6: 24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
James 1: 26 – 27: Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Thank you, Rich!
I love your illustration of a landscape marred by air pollution. So true!
I think at the very heart of it, when we take what God has given us, that what is to be used for His Will and glory, and use it for our will and glory, the result is impure. Recognizing that God is the Creator of all things, and all things were made by Christ, through Christ, and for Christ, when use the God-given resources, talents, and will He gave us for self-service, we sin against Him and our sin corrupts what He made as good.
Matthew 15:10-11 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Thanks Chris!
Yes, you are on to something important. Who are we glorifying? God or ourselves? Putting anything or anyone before God “pollutes the landscape” as Rich says.
Great comments R and CH !
What makes something impure?
Anything less than 100% of its desired composition is contaminated, or impure.
Today, only our Trinity God is pure. At one time all His creation was pure, however man chose to become contaminated and our disobedience to Gods will made us impure beings.
It is only through His only Son, Jesus Christ that we can be seen as pure and once again receive eternal fellowship with our creator.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Thank you, Ron!
Yes. Pure is 100.0000000 … % pure. No contamination.
It is amazing that our God can love us, care for us, SAVE us, and still remain pure…