2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
There is an unholy alliance between the body and the soul, and the flesh is enticed by habits and wrong desires in our mind or soul. So this scripture tells us several things we must take the initiative to cleanse ourselves, now God will help us but you must want to cleansed and do your part to make it happen.
Secondly there can be no cleansed spirit or washed spirit without the flesh having first been cleansed. Notice the order in which Paul mentions them, because without the flesh first being cleansed your spirit will continue to be defiled by your flesh
CLEANSING OURSELVES
Ephesians 5:26
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
There is no doubt that a cleansing takes place when you mediate on the word of truth, but we must take the initiative to do what it says. You know as well as I do that some things are so entrench within us that the father must use suffering within the process of extraction, and waiting in his presences helps us bear up under the pressure the suffering puts on the flesh.
This process I just describe is simply sanctifying one’s self. Now there are sins you can do with one’s flesh such as sexual sins, but the flesh speaks more of one’s mind or soul being cleansed and you can’t do it without meditating and waiting on God.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
How is this possible? In the river of his presences there is life or spirit energy to resist the enemy and stand against temptation. The strength that came upon Samson in the natural is similar to the anointing that comes upon you when you wait enabling you to cleanse yourself and fight the good fight.
1 Thessalonians 5:22-24
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH
Galatians 5:18-21
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Galatians 5:18-21 (appl)
18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
These are the things Satan tempts us with, but to get the flesh involved in an activity he must first engage your mind. As I said previously in order to keep the spirit cleansed you must keep the body and soul cleansed. You cannot walk in holiness or purity without it.
PERFECTING HOLINESS
Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Psalm 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
What is Holiness
Absolute purity and morality, why is it attributed only unto the Lord? Because it is from him the standard of purity proceeded. Though God gives his purity and holiness to others he alone is the absolute sum of perfection and righteousness. This is why we worship him in the beauty of holiness; with what he has given us it is only in this state that we may approach him. Righteousness is not only a state of being and a standard it is also the essences of his presences. Righteousness or a right standard of living leads us more and more into his presences.
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
Putting on the new man simply mean we are to perfect the new man or our inward spirit which is the real us. We put on more of Jesus by being a doer of the word; our spirit was recreated with the same spiritual essences as our Father. Therefore we are charged with the commandment of becoming more like him, putting on more righteousness and holiness
1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
At his return there must be no filth, or wrinkle, or blemish of any kind. We must have reached the standard of light and maturity he has predestine his bride or body to walk in, that is much more than just being saved.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Why is the fear of the lord so important when it comes to Holiness?
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Psalm 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose
The scriptures show us to walk in holiness; to become like him you must know his ways. He and his ways are one and the same. The fear of the lord is a state of mind and a position of humility, when sought after Holy Spirit will teach us his ways. We need truth to be partakers of his divine nature Peter said which is Holiness, and it begins with the fear of the Lord.
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