Complete Holiness

Meditations on Second Corinthians

May 3, 2023

Complete Holiness

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1

The Apostle Paul quotes from several Old Testament texts to paint a picture for the church. We can also think about the parable of the Prodigal Son and how the father welcomes his son home as Paul has a similar vision in mind when he draws on the Old Testament texts that deal with God bringing His people out of exile. Paul is using the OT exile as a metaphor for how humankind was separated from God by sin. God, in Christ, redeemed us from sin so that the Father could welcome us home.

With that vision in mind, Paul is challenging the church to consider whether it is good to have God’s people bound in relationships with people committed to pagan idolatry. This is not at all about forming a secret society that is cut off from the world. Paul is very clear that we are called to be in the world, but not of the world. We are in the world so we can witness for Christ. When we are in the world, we hold firm to our Christian standards. That can be difficult in the best of circumstances. However, it is nearly impossible when we enter into partnerships with unbelievers. In those cases, we are doing the very thing we ask God to help us not do: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13 NIV).

My Takeaway: Paul’s closing thought in today’s passage gives us our motivation to hold firmly to our Christian values: “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” (7:1)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.