Question: Can you explain the difference between physical and spiritual impurity, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:1?
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV): “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Answer: To fully grasp and receive God’s promises, we must understand that God desires holiness not only in our spirits but in our entire being both in our bodies and in our spirits. The call to holiness is a comprehensive one, affecting both our physical actions and our internal thoughts, attitudes, and desires.
When Paul speaks about cleansing ourselves from the “filth of the flesh” (or body), he is referring to avoiding all sinful actions that originate from our physical bodies. These actions are sinful because they go against the natural order God intended for human beings. Examples of these sins include:
Sexual immorality (Adultery, fornication) 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV):
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
Drunkenness
Ephesians 5:18 (NIV): “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Theft, violence, and lying –
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV): “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Idolatry, covetousness –
Colossians 3:5 (NIV): “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.”
The body is designed by God to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, and our physical actions should reflect this.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV): “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Spiritual impurity, on the other hand, refers to the inner attitudes, thoughts, and emotions that defile a person. These sins are not necessarily physical actions but are equally harmful because they originate from within the human heart. Examples of these sins include:
Jealousy, hatred, and anger –
Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV): “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
Lust and covetousness –
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV): “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Pride and hypocrisy – Proverbs 16:18 (NIV): “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Unforgiveness and bitterness
Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV): “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
These sins are not visible on the outside but corrupt the soul and hinder our relationship with God.
Mark 7:20-23 (NIV): “He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.'”
God desires a complete holiness—both physical and spiritual. Many believers think that as long as their spirit is right with God, their actions or their physical body don’t matter. But Scripture teaches us that God looks at both.
Romans 12:1 (NIV): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship.”
Your body is important to God.
1 Corinthians 6:13 (NIV): “You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,’ and God will destroy them both. The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”
On the last day, not only will our spirits be saved, but our bodies will also be transformed.
1 Corinthians 15:52-53 (NIV): “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
It is God’s Word that helps us recognize both physical and spiritual impurity. The Bible is alive and powerful, capable of discerning the deepest parts of our hearts. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV):
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
As we strive for holiness in both body and spirit, we must adhere to the truth of God’s Word. It is through this Word that we can discern right from wrong and live lives pleasing to God.
God desires holiness in all areas of life—physical and spiritual. We must not neglect one over the other. We should honor God with our bodies and our spirits, living according to His Word.
1 Peter 1:16 (NIV): “For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'”
Let us therefore purify ourselves, avoiding both physical and spiritual impurity, in reverence for God, and seek to live lives of holiness as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises.
May the Lord bless you.
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There is a serious danger in preaching the Word incorrectly. Scripture warns us to rightly handle the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”). Therefore, it is vital to fully understand the Bible before teaching it to others.
My personal experience illustrates this danger:When I was new in the faith, I was eager to preach. Seeing others preach inspired me, and I even desired to explain the entire Bible. However, in my excitement, I didn’t take the time to meditate deeply on Scripture or seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit properly. Instead, I preached based on my limited understanding, wrongly assuming that everything I said was Spirit-inspired. I was unaware that this was spiritually harmful.
A revealing dream confirmed this danger:I dreamed that I was sitting at a table, and beneath my feet was boiling water. Although my feet were in the water, I felt no pain. Then, I was served a plate of cooked meat, which I began to eat. When the meat started to run out, I reached under the plate and pulled up more meat. Some people I ministered to arrived, and I gave them some of the meat as well. We shared a joyful meal.
Then I looked down and saw, with shock, that the meat I was eating and giving to others was actually coming from my own legs. The more meat appeared, the more my legs were being consumed. I woke up in fear.
The Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me:“You are destroying yourself by feeding My people food that comes from your own mind instead of from Me.”
This powerful warning echoes what Jesus taught about true discipleship and teaching. The Apostle Paul also cautions teachers to be careful, because “teachers will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1, ESV).
From that moment, I stopped rushing into preaching. I learned to wait until I fully understood the Scriptures and had clear confirmation from God’s Spirit. If I taught something I did not grasp fully, I risked misleading others and damaging my own soul (Proverbs 4:7).
Theological insights on discipleship and ministry:
Many believers believe that preaching is the most important thing God wants from us. But the Bible shows that God first wants us to be His disciples learners and followers of Jesus.
Jesus invested three years teaching His disciples intensely before sending them out (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”). Moreover, Jesus set a high standard for discipleship:“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27, ESV).
Jesus invested three years teaching His disciples intensely before sending them out (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”).
Moreover, Jesus set a high standard for discipleship:“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27, ESV).
This means denying self, embracing suffering, and wholeheartedly following Jesus. Without this, we cannot truly understand the Word or teach it rightly.
Paul also warns that to be a good teacher, one must be grounded in the Word and mature in faith, so they don’t lead others astray (1 Timothy 3:6).
Practical application:
Never teach or preach what you do not fully understand. You risk spiritual harm to yourself and others.
Prioritize being a disciple first—learn, meditate, and seek God’s guidance.
Wait for the Holy Spirit’s confirmation before teaching.
Understand that ministry is a lifelong process of growth, not a race.
Final encouragement:May God bless you as you seek to grow in His Word and ministry with humility, patience, and faithfulness.
Let’s first look at the passage:
Jeremiah 23:18 (KJV):
“For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord to perceive and hear His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?”
To understand this verse, let’s continue reading a few more verses:
Jeremiah 23:19-22 (KJV):
“19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind; it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.22 But if they had stood in My counsel, and caused My people to hear My words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.”
In these verses, God is referring to the false prophets of Israel. These prophets did not sit in God’s counsel to hear His true message, but instead, they made up their own prophecies. They did not call the people to repentance but gave them false assurances, telling them there was peace when, in reality, God’s anger was upon them due to their sin. God condemns these false prophets for not hearing His word, and He makes it clear that had they sat in His counsel, they would have preached repentance.
Theological Insight:The “counsel of the Lord” refers to the divine interaction between God and His representatives. In the Old Testament, this counsel was often experienced by the prophets, who would receive God’s guidance, instructions, and warnings for the people. The counsel of God is a place of revelation, where God’s will is made known, and His truth is imparted. False prophets did not have this access because they did not seek God’s will but instead relied on their own understanding or false inspiration.
Examples of those who sat in God’s counsel:
One clear example of someone who received God’s counsel is the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 6:1-9 (KJV):
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.2 Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly.6 Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar,7 And he touched my mouth with it, saying, ‘This has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’8 Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I, send me.’9 And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.”’”
Theological Insight:Isaiah’s experience is a powerful illustration of what it means to sit in the counsel of God. He had a direct vision of God on His throne and heard God’s voice calling him to be a prophet. In this instance, Isaiah received purification (symbolized by the coal touching his lips) and was then entrusted with God’s message for the people. This moment represents the divine calling to hear and deliver God’s words.
Other examples of prophets who received God’s counsel include Ezekiel, Daniel, and Moses. God communicated with Moses directly, giving him the law and instructions for the Israelites, further emphasizing the importance of God’s counsel in the lives of His chosen servants.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament:
In the Old Testament, only a few were called into God’s counsel, namely the prophets. However, in the New Testament, the access to God’s counsel is broadened to all believers through the Holy Spirit. Every believer who has received the Holy Spirit now has access to God’s counsel and can hear His voice.
We no longer need a prophet to ascend to heaven and come back with a message. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, reveals God’s will directly to us.
John 16:13-14 (KJV):
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
Theological Insight:The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Spirit of truth, acts as the divine communicator between God and His people. He guides believers into all truth and reveals things to come, just as God’s prophets once did in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit continues to carry out the work of revelation, giving us access to God’s counsel and truth without needing an intermediary.
Romans 8:9 (KJV):
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”
Theological Insight:The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is what distinguishes believers from non-believers. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life that enables them to hear God’s voice and understand His will. Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to have true fellowship with God.
Access to the Counsel of God Today:
In today’s New Covenant, all believers have direct access to God’s counsel through the Holy Spirit. We don’t need to wait for a prophet to ascend to heaven and bring back God’s message for us. We can hear God’s voice through the Spirit who dwells within us.
Romans 10:6-8 (KJV):
“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above;)8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.”
Theological Insight:Paul is emphasizing that the word of faith, which is the gospel message, is accessible to all believers through the Holy Spirit. We don’t need to seek some heavenly experience to hear from God. The Spirit is close to us, guiding us in our daily lives and helping us understand God’s will through the Scriptures.
Conclusion:
The council of God in the Old Testament was a place of divine revelation where prophets received God’s guidance. Today, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all believers have direct access to God’s counsel. We are no longer dependent on prophets alone to hear from God, but can hear directly from the Holy Spirit, who reveals God’s truth to us and leads us in His will.
This is why receiving the Holy Spirit is so crucial in the life of a believer. He is the one who communicates God’s will, imparts wisdom, and guides us into all truth.
Maranatha!
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