Blessed are the Pure in Heart
In 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 we read some of the most beautiful words ever written about the unity and purpose of the church. Paul says in verse four, “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God…” He then presents a beautiful juxtaposition between circumstances and attitudes of the Christian walk. One of the things he specifically states here is the purity of the Christian life (v 6). In chapter eleven he then warns the brethren about the real possibility of their being led astray from the “simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ” (v 3; ASV) just as Eve had been.
When writing to Timothy the Apostle used the same word he used in the Corinthian letter to instruct Timothy how he should live. He penned, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Additionally he instructed Timothy to treat “older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity” (1 Timothy 5:2).
Interestingly Paul is writing this letter so that Timothy might know how he should “behave” himself in the church (1 Timothy 3:15). So when considered in association with the instructions to the Corinthians we see that there is an unequivocal connection between the individuals personal purity and the churches purity. In other words, we have heard it said, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” well the church is only as pure as the individual purity of its members.
How then do we maintain purity in our lives? Let us look to Jesus’ statement about the greatest command to answer this question. In Mark 12:30 Jesus said, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” You maintain purity when you love God…
With all your heart: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7). We must keep our hearts pure!
With all your soul: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). We must keep our souls pure (1 John 1:7)!
With all your mind: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). We must keep our minds pure!
With all your strength: “Flee fornication…” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). With every fiber of our being we must keep ourselves pure! “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).
But also note with me that there is a connection between purity and cleansing. In Titus 1:15 Paul writes, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.” The Greek word here translated “pure” means clean, unsoiled, clean from guilt, guiltless, innocent, sincere, upright, virtuous, void of evil, clean ceremonially and morally.
One cannot walk in the light and be continually cleansed (purified) by the blood of Christ until he is first washed in the blood of the Lamb! If you have never come to Jesus for the cleansing power of His blood, you must if you hope to be with Him in eternity. This is why Paul used the same word Jesus used in Matthew 5:8 when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”