(Memory Verses: 1 John 2:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:22)

I Peter 2:9

Jesus has called us "out of darkness and into his wonderful light."  He has made us a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation."  To be holy means to be "set apart," to be absolutely pure.  As we've been studying the book of Hebrews we've been seeing the need for purity of the priest in the Old Covenant.  Now that we are all priests under the new covenant (according to this scripture), we all have a responsibility to keep ourselves pure.

External Purity

Living in this world, there are external influences all around us that can contaminate us.  We must remain pure.

I John 2:15-17

Q.  What would it mean for you to "love the world" at your workplace, school, neighborhood, etc.?

Q.  What are the things this scripture says make up the world's view?

--cravings of sinful man, lust of the eye, boasting of what he has and does

These three things FILL every worldly environment!  Think about the workplace, locker room, party atmosphere, anywhere a bunch of worldly people get together.  These three things are what you find.  God is commanding us not to love those things.  In fact, this scripture says if we do love worldliness the love of the father is not in us!

Q.  What confidence does verse 17 give you?

Q.  How can we not love the world, but still be in the world (have friendships with non-Christians, reach out to people, etc.)?

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 

Q.  What is this scripture saying our relationship needs to be with the world?  What does "come out from them and be separate mean?" 

Q.  How can we be separate but still be relatable and not weird?

Q.  What are some things you would consider "yoked" relationships?

Sometimes we can feel weird because our convictions at times cause separation between us and co-workers, fellow students, or family members.  Yet God wants this separation to the degree that it is an issue of holiness.  We can't be afraid of taking stands when it comes to purity!  We must care more about what God thinks of us than any person on earth.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Q.  The scripture says, "since we have these promises."  What promises? 

--The promises of verse 17 and 18:  That if we are purified, separate from the world, that God will receive us and be our Father.

Q.  What are some things that can contaminate body and/or spirit?

--smoking, drinking too much, drugs, pornography, too much "media" --TV, gossip magazines, movies, talk radio, gossip at the office, bad language, off-color humor, eating too much, unhealthy lifestyles, etc.

Q.  Why does this scripture say we are to "perfect holiness"?

--Out of reverence for God.  Because we are conscience of his power and purity.  Because we appreciate all he has done for us.  Our love for God, desire to please him, gratitude for all he has done must be what motivates us to purify ourselves from anything that can corrupt that relationship with him.

Ephesians 5:3-7

The scripture says "not even a hint" of immorality, ANY KIND of impurity, or greed.  Why?  Because we are God's HOLY people! 

Q. Why does the Bible say in verse 5 that a immoral, impure, or greedy person is an idolator?

--Because that person is putting his own desires or the influence of what worldly people think about God.  He is worshipping things other than God!

Can you imagine if you went over to a brother's house in your Bible Talk and caught him bowing down, offering prayers and sacrifices to a big golden calf?  What would you do?  Yet how do we treat impurity or greed in the church?  With the same indignation?

Q.  What does "do not be partners with them" mean? 

I Timothy 5:2

The Bible says men are to treat women as sisters with absolute purity.  Think of how you view your physical brother or sister.  That is how we are to treat the opposite sex in the church (until marriage where the two become one flesh).  Anything you do with your girlfriend that you would not do with your sister is impure. 

I Corinthians 6:18-20

Q.  How do we "flee" from immorality?

Q.  What does it mean that you sin against your own body when you sin sexually?

This scripture says that "you are not your own."  Jesus' blood paid for you and he now owns you.  And the Holy Spirit lives inside you.  Think of him following you throughout the day, reading every thought, seeing through your eyes everything you look at.  Where do you want to take him?  What environment do you want to surround him with? 

Q.  What are some ways we can "honor God" with our bodies?

Titus 1:15-16

Once you allow impurities in, every thought becomes corrupted.  It is like Jesus' example of yeast working through the whole batch of dough.  Or just a little pinch of dirt in your bottle of drinking water.  It all becomes corrupt.  If this is the situation you are in right now, we will see a bit later how to get purified again, but don't allow yourself to become defiled!  Recognize the importance of staying pure! 

Internal Purity

Besides the external influences we all face, there is a continual battle over our purity going on inside each one of us.  It is the struggle between the flesh (the sinful nature, what comes natural, the easy road) and the Spirit (what God's will is, what is right, what the Holy Spirit who dwells inside us is trying to lead us to do).  There are two voices, each fighting for our attention. 

Ephesians 2:1-5

In our old life, we simply obeyed the cravings of our flesh.  We followed its "desires and thoughts," as this scripture says.  Now, however, we have been saved through God's grace and made "alive in Christ"!  But the voice of our sinful nature is still there.  We still have the choice to follow those old desires and thoughts we used to be consistently obedient to.

Galatians 5:13-18

Q.  How does verse 16 say we avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh? 

--By living by the Spirit!

Q.  What does it mean to live by the Spirit?

What does living by the sinful nature produce, and what does living by the Spirit produce?  Think about your own life!  Then read verse 19-21 vs. 22-24.

Romans 8:5-9

Q.  This scripture says living by sinful nature means you have your "mind set on what that nature desires."  What would that mean for your life?  What would you be focused on in your mind?

Q.  Conversely, what would it mean to have your mind "set on what the Spirit desires"?

This verse teaches that the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  That's what God wants for you.  Does that describe you?  If not, it could be you are allowing the voice of your sinful nature to dictate the way you think.

This verse also teaches that we CANNOT please God if we are controlled by the sinful nature.  That's a scary verse.  We need to take our internal purity seriously!

Romans 13:12-14

This verse describes some of what's out there in the world that wants to pollute us.  It says don't THINK about how to gratify sinful nature.  Sometimes Satan gets you by getting you to fantasize about giving in to sin, rationalizing that you are not actually going to act, just think about it.  This verse teaches to not even go there.

2 Timothy 2:22

Q.  On of the best ways to overcome evil desires is to PURSUE good things --to fill yourself up with the right things.  What are the things this verse says to pursue?

Maintaining Purity

Psalm 119:9-11

Q.  How does this verse say to stay pure?  How do we keep God's word in our heart?

Philippians 2:14-16

Serving God without complaint or argument purifies us, according to this scripture. 

Q.  How does not complaining or arguing make you stand out as pure and holy at your workplace, school, or in your family?

1 John 1:5-10

If we are walking in the light, the blood of Jesus continually purifies us, like a fountain cleansing us of sin perpetually. 

Q.  What does it mean to walk in the light?  What is that say about your transparency about your sin?

1 John 3:1-3

This verse says that having "this hope" purifies us.

Q.  What hope is he referring two?

-verse 2, the hope of Jesus coming back

Q.  How does the hope of heaven purify our mind, our motives, our actions?

James 4:7-10

The Bible promises here that if we resist Satan, he WILL flee from us.  SO all he can do is try to get us to not resist at all.  He knows that if we fight, we will be victorious by God's power. 

Q.  What are some ways that Satan tries to get you to not resist at all?

The Bible also promises here that if you come near to God, he WILL come near to you.  What an amazing promise that is --that the creator of the universe will hear you, will help you, will come near to you, will work all things out for the good.  We must resist Satan, and run to God!

James 5:16

Lastly, the way to stay pure is to confess not only to God, but also to your brother.  This scripture says to do this "so that you may be healed." 

Q.  How does confessing to your brother help you heal from your sin?

-There is accountability to help you overcome the sin.

-There is another perspective to help you if your thinking has gotten off track --either not taking your sin seriously enough, or being so defeated you feel like a loser and that God can't forgive you.  Either extreme in thinking can be helped by getting other brother's perspective.

-To get help in strategies for overcoming from brothers who have overcome what you're struggling with.