Some how in all the talks and discussions we have about Christianity we seldom talk of purification! It is a concept mostly spoken of in the confines of the Old Testament and the instruments used in the tabernacle and the altar. Yet it is something that also is at the heart of being a Christian and a child of God! So why do we NOT speak or teach of it in regard to our lives as Christians? The Bible certainly does!

     To begin with let me say that the Greek word for purify means to wash or cleanse! It was by the blood of the sacrifices under the law of Moses that the altar and its utensils and the people were cleansed according to the law! So when the law was changed or fulfilled by Christ there was a new means of purification–the blood of Jesus! Many passages speak of being washed in the blood of Jesus and having our sins washed away. So blood is still the means of purification, but now instead of the blood of bulls an goats continually, it is the blood of Jesus once for all as taught throughout the book of Hebrews.

     In I Peter 1:22 it says, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” Note that Peter says we “purified” our souls by “your obedience to the truth.” Purification begins in the heart and results in the soul! It comes by obeying the truth! In Acts 2:38 when Peter was asked by those on Pentecost what they needed to do to be saved, he told them to repent and be baptized and wash away their sins! Romans 6 and Ii Corinthians 5:17 say when we are baptized all things become new–that is different or changed, something that has not been before!

In I John 3:3 we are told that we purify ourselves as Jesus was pure! We cleanse or wash ourselves, make ourselves and keep ourselves holy or separated to God because that is what Jesus did! Jesus said about Himself that He ALWAYS did the will of the Father–that included going to the cross says Philippians 2! It is pretty much what Paul discusses in II Corinthians 6 about being holy. The same topic is discussed by Peter in I Peter 1:18ff and 2:9!

The result is loving each other from a “pure heart”–one that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and made holy–set apart for the service and love of God! Note that in verse 23 of I Peter 1 Peter says we have been “born again” through the “living and abiding word of God.” We have been washed in the blood of Christ according to what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3–we must be born again of the water and the Spirit! Baptism is that new birth says Romans 6! It is faith operating according to the will of God and making us children of God!

So what and how does purification fit into YOUR life? Have YOU been cleansed by the blood of Christ and become new? If not, why not?? Only purifying yourself as Jesus can YOU have the new body–the resurrected body and go to heaven as I Corinthians 15 and I John 3 teach!! Have YOU been born again to the resurrection of life? What is hindering YOU??