new era

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GOOD CLEAN LIVING

Purity is defined in the dictionary as: Freedom from guilt or wrongdoing; innocence, virginity; physical chastity, freedom from inappropriate elements; virtue, the state of lacking a moral wrongdoing; honor. Purity is not just about sex or abstinence of sex.  It’s about loving and honoring God. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength.” (Mark 12:30)   Honoring and loving God is really about living a life of purity. It’s about living your life in a way that strives to please God, and this includes sexual purity. Purity is a lifestyle; it is living a “HOLY” lifestyle!

What is “holy?”  When you came to Christ, He called you to follow Him. Following Him means living a holy life. To live holy means to live set apart for God, free from evil and sin, living a pure life. God is holy (1 John 1:5), and He calls us to be holy like He is (1 Peter 1:16)

Sexual purity is an example of holy living, but we are to be obedient to God in every area of our lives as a living sacrifice to Him.  When we are saved, we become transformed from the inside out.  Reading and studying God’s Word is a large component of this process.  When we know God’s Word, we know what He expects and we learn of the spiritual tools we have to keep us living free from sin (John 17:17).  By living a pure and set apart life, we glorify God, showcase His nature to others, and live free from the power of sin in our lives (Matthew 5:16; Romans 6:6).

The first step toward holiness is realizing that it is impossible without God.  We need the Holy Spirit to fill us with God’s holiness and power for godly living.  This is not possible unless you have first surrendered your life to Jesus Christ and become born again, made righteous in God’s sight (Ephesians 1:13; Romans 5:1).  So, how can we live holy lives?  The more you choose to obey Christ and say no to the allurements of this world, the more you grow in holiness.  The more you disobey Christ, the more you fail to live a holy life. 

Obedient living leads to holy living, and it all comes down to a choice. It requires choosing to run away from things that are not pleasing to God and choosing to run full stride toward those things that are on God’s heart.

Living a holy life is not a method for anyone to attempt to earn their salvation.  Rather, living a holy life is a natural overflow of their salvation.  We are saved by God’s race alone and it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon our salvation that enables us to live holy.  We all make mistakes, but the important thing is to confess our sins, ask for God’s forgiveness, and keep moving forward (1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1).  God’s mercy for us is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Are you living a good clean life?

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JUST THINKIN'...

Special Contributor:
Sis. Barbara Caldwell,
Ebenezer MBC