2 Corinthians 7:1
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.
I do not understand your statement & can only think that it is an ignorance of the Word. Here the Apostle Paul is speaking to who? To you, me, everyone who reads the Book of 2 Corrinthians.
I remember what an elder told me almost 30 years ago that we are labourers (partners) with the Lord.
He died to pay the price for my forgiveness & redemption, but there is a part I have to play.
He idn't chuck out the Porno mags, books on Black magic, Rock music, I through it away when I came to him.
There is a part we have to play.
Where is the arrogance in that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by houston
Do you mind tying the verse that you quoted in with the previous chapter and give us some context. Thanks.
He is absolutely correct. Not that we cleanse ourselves from sin. Perhaps here is another reason I don't like the KJV because it does not sound the right way to most modern english users
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
We are to cleanse ourselves of things that defile us in body and spirit. As Ron said, getting rid of Pornos and other things, what we listen to and watch or read etc etc
Barnes says
Let us cleanse ourselves - Let us purify ourselves. Paul was not afraid to bring into view the agency of Christians themselves in the work of salvation. He, therefore, says, ‘let us purify ourselves,’ as if Christians had much to do; as if their own agency was to be employed; and as if their purifying was dependent on their own efforts. While it is true that all purifying influence and all holiness proceeds from God, it is also true that the effect of all the influences of the Holy Spirit is to excite us to diligence to purify our own hearts, and to urge us to make strenuous efforts to overcome our own sins. He who expects to be made pure without any effort of his own, will never become pure; and he who ever becomes holy will become so in consequence of strenuous efforts to resist the evil of his own heart, and to become like God. The argument here is, that we have the promises of God to aid us. We do not go about the work in our own strength. It is not a work in which we are to have no aid. But it is a work which God desires, and where he will give us all the aid which we need.
Robertson says
From all defilement (apo pantos molusmou). Ablative alone would have done, but with apo it is plainer as in Heb_9:14. Molusmos is a late word from molunō, to stain (see note on 1Co_8:7), to pollute. In the lxx, Plutarch, Josephus. It includes all sorts of filthiness, physical, moral, mental, ceremonial, “of flesh and spirit.” Missionaries in China and India can appreciate the atmosphere of pollution in Corinth, for instance.
In fact Paul spoke of unrighteous fellowship (with the wrong people) and idols in the context
2Co 6:13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
2Co 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."
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Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
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That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
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.
I do not understand your statement & can only think that it is an ignorance of the Word. Here the Apostle Paul is speaking to who? To you, me, everyone who reads the Book of 2 Corrinthians.
I remember what an elder told me almost 30 years ago that we are labourers (partners) with the Lord.
He died to pay the price for my forgiveness & redemption, but there is a part I have to play.
He idn't chuck out the Porno mags, books on Black magic, Rock music, I through it away when I came to him.
There is a part we have to play.
Where is the arrogance in that?
Thank you for the clarification... contextual scripture is always key here though.
You have to back up to the previous chapter to see what "promises" that we must have. The promise spoken in II Cor. 6:16-17 is that we are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
So it is quite obvious here that the promise Paul is speaking of, is not ourselves taking upon the burden of cleansing ourselves, but the promise being that God is indwelling us, and walking in us.
He is the one doing the changing work, not ourselves. That is a promise.
So as we allow Christ to indwell us, Christ changes us, and cleanses us... we allow it, and work with Christ allowing His spirit to do the cleansing... because there is nothing in my flesh that is good, or that can bring about any good, only the Spirit of Christ indwelling me.
Just wanted that clarified... and I do believe you see it that way... and I know that sometimes we write something, meaning something different or have not completely clarified our position...
For surely you know that you can do no cleansing or changing work yourself, except by allowing the Spirit of Christ to indwell you, walk in you, and change you.
As the Holy Ghost changes us, we come out from the world, and walk separately and differently, and we are received of God because we allow His Spirit to change us.
It is not a work accomplished by the works of our flesh, but it is a work accomplished by the submitting of our flesh to the spirit of Christ, and allowing that Spirit to change us... whether it be throwing out sinful material (as mentioned above) or other things that the Spirit may direct us to cut out of our lives... but we... in and of ourselves... cannot change ourselves in any way unless we allow God to indwell us.
Thank you for the clarification... contextual scripture is always key here though.
You have to back up to the previous chapter to see what "promises" that we must have. The promise spoken in II Cor. 6:16-17 is that we are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
So it is quite obvious here that the promise Paul is speaking of, is not ourselves taking upon the burden of cleansing ourselves, but the promise being that God is indwelling us, and walking in us.
He is the one doing the changing work, not ourselves. That is a promise. [/I]
Kinda like Jesus being the author and finisher of our faith?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Thank you for the clarification... contextual scripture is always key here though.
You have to back up to the previous chapter to see what "promises" that we must have. The promise spoken in II Cor. 6:16-17 is that we are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
So it is quite obvious here that the promise Paul is speaking of, is not ourselves taking upon the burden of cleansing ourselves, but the promise being that God is indwelling us, and walking in us.
He is the one doing the changing work, not ourselves. That is a promise.
So as we allow Christ to indwell us, Christ changes us, and cleanses us... we allow it, and work with Christ allowing His spirit to do the cleansing... because there is nothing in my flesh that is good, or that can bring about any good, only the Spirit of Christ indwelling me.
Just wanted that clarified... and I do believe you see it that way... and I know that sometimes we write something, meaning something different or have not completely clarified our position...
For surely you know that you can do no cleansing or changing work yourself, except by allowing the Spirit of Christ to indwell you, walk in you, and change you.
As the Holy Ghost changes us, we come out from the world, and walk separately and differently, and we are received of God because we allow His Spirit to change us.
It is not a work accomplished by the works of our flesh, but it is a work accomplished by the submitting of our flesh to the spirit of Christ, and allowing that Spirit to change us... whether it be throwing out sinful material (as mentioned above) or other things that the Spirit may direct us to cut out of our lives... but we... in and of ourselves... cannot change ourselves in any way unless we allow God to indwell us.
In 30 years of living for God & working with drug addicts, alcoholics, & every manner of people, from all walks of life, I have never seen an Angel, or Jesus himself take a cigarette, needle, bottle, or dirty mag out of a sinners life.
At the same time, I have helped a wife identify her husband after he was found in a seedy downtown hotel with a needle sticking out of his arm after an overdose he gave himself.
We do the work, therefore, as the scripture states, "we do cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh & spirit.
There was no arrogant or incorrect statement & I do not know where you would try to stand behind said statement!
Do you agree or not, with my above statement, "the work is accomplished by the submitting of our flesh to the spirit of Christ, and allowing that Spirit to change us." ?
I am not denying that part of the work is done by our own two hands, but we cannot DO the work without the spirit of Christ within us, and indeed, HE does the work through us, not we ourselves.
That is the point I am trying to make.
There was some arrogance of your previous statement due to the fact that you did not include the work of the spirit as part of the cleansing of the flesh and spirit. However, you did clarify, and I believe we are on the same page, at least I hope we are.
There is no good thing in my flesh. If there was, Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross.
Without the spirit at work in my life, helping, teaching, and guiding me how to cleanse myself of wickedness, then I would never be worthy to be called a child of God.
I recognize that in and of myself, there is no good thing. The only good thing in me is Christ, and it is HE who is changing me, working through me, and teaching me how to cleanse my flesh and my spirit.
Do you agree or not, with my above statement, "the work is accomplished by the submitting of our flesh to the spirit of Christ, and allowing that Spirit to change us." ?
I am not denying that part of the work is done by our own two hands, but we cannot DO the work without the spirit of Christ within us, and indeed, HE does the work through us, not we ourselves.
That is the point I am trying to make.
There was some arrogance of your previous statement due to the fact that you did not include the work of the spirit as part of the cleansing of the flesh and spirit. However, you did clarify, and I believe we are on the same page, at least I hope we are.
There is no good thing in my flesh. If there was, Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross.
Without the spirit at work in my life, helping, teaching, and guiding me how to cleanse myself of wickedness, then I would never be worthy to be called a child of God.
I recognize that in and of myself, there is no good thing. The only good thing in me is Christ, and it is HE who is changing me, working through me, and teaching me how to cleanse my flesh and my spirit.
Again, God can open my eyes to what needs to be changed, he can move on my heart, through his Grace, but it is I that is doing the work.
I can resist God, his word, & his Grace & refuse to do anything, but I am told to cleanse myself from all filtiness of the flesh & spirit.
It all comes down to "FAITH" if you have faith, you will make changes to ones life.
I am sorry that you are having a hard time grasping that concept!
I choose to give Christ the glory for any good thing in my life. While my hands and feet do the work, HE is still the one responsible for any change, for any good that is worked through my life.
I choose to give Christ the glory for any good thing in my life. While my hands and feet do the work, HE is still the one responsible for any change, for any good that is worked through my life.
Amen! That is great, keep on doing that! I agree!
However, the point was made that, where there is Faith, true faith, there will be works to back it up.
Those works cxan be good, or they can be bad.
The choice is entirely up to us.
So, I do not understand where you are coming from.
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