The principle of purity- Part 1
Purity is a principle that receives tremendous emphasis throughout the New Testament. As one man said, “Christianity is not the world made just a little better.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that only the pure in heart shall see God (Matt. 5:8). In Titus 2, we find that God’s grace is not to be interpreted as a license to sin, as so many seem to believe. Instead, grace teaches that there is an appropriate and proper way to live: "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14).
Christians are commanded to present their bodies as a living sacrifice that is “holy, acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12:1). We are not to yield any part of our bodies as instruments of sin (Rom. 6:13). We have been bought with a price and are given the challenge to glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:20). We are admonished to examine everything carefully and hold fast to only that which is good (1 Thess. 5:21).
I am convinced that one of the greatest reasons for our lack of evangelistic success is that the world does not see a significant difference in the life of some Christians when compared to those in the world. Notice the strategy for effective evangelism outlined in 1 Peter 2:9-10: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
The first part of this verse outlines the uniqueness of the Christian life and the church. This is the attraction phase of the Great Commission, for there will be some non-Christians who are looking for a better way to live. Then there is the proclamation phase where the credit for the differences between the child of God and the world is given to the Savior. The One Who called us through His Word and redeemed us is praised. Our life and lips proclaim the message, “Come and see” (John 1:39, 46). Again, successful evangelism begins with purity of life on the part of those who claim to be New Testament Christians. Martin Lloyd-Jones expresses the thought well when he writes: "Our Lord attracted sinners because He was different. They drew near to Him because they felt that there was something different about Him… And the world expects us to be different. This idea that you are going to win people to the Christian faith by showing them that, after all, you are remarkably like them, is theologically and psychologically a profound blunder."