How Pure Is Pure?
There are several synonyms for pure. Perhaps a listing of, and a look at some of these will help us answer the question above. Many will agree a thing that is uncontaminated, unpolluted, or unadulterated is pure. It is also stated, and rightly so, that the innocent are pure. The soul of one that is unaccountable is pure because they aren’t aware of the difference in right or wrong. The soul that has not sinned, is indeed pure.
When an alloy is added to a metal to strengthen it, the metal is said to be impure. Many ladies pay much attention to see if a ring, being offered them, is made of “pure gold”. The addition of another substance often cheapens the gold and makes the jewelry of less value. Sometimes an alloy is made stronger, depending on what is added. At other times, an added substance makes things weaker. For instance, the percentage of water mixed with a poison element often has an impact on its lethality.
The first mention of “pure” in the Bible is in Exo. 25:11, in reference to the Ark of the Covenant. God Commanded that they were to “overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.” The mercy seat, the table for the shewbread, and the crown around it were to be covered with pure gold. The dishes, the spoons, bowls and covers were to be made of pure gold. The candlestick, the tongs and the snuffdishes were also to be constructed using pure gold. The oil was pure. The various spices that were used in the O.T. worship were also not to have any other spices added to them.
Had anything been added to the spices, the gold, the oil, or to anything God had Commanded, would have made it something other than what God required, and would be sin. God’s Commands are His Law, and we read in 1John 3:4 - Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. If when one sins they become impure, then breaking God’s Law which is sin, causes one to be tainted spiritually.
To be impure or tainted spiritually is to be separated from God. Israel was told this in Isa. 59:2. It was not that God was prevented from saving them, nor had He become deafened that He couldn’t hear their cries as recorded in the previous verse. The Spirit had Isaiah tell them - But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Perhaps Israel thought that “just a little sin” or some “small iniquity” would be overlooked. It seems as though many today hold these same views. This is obvious in the types of activities some participate in, the associations some maintain, as well as the places folks frequent. The early church was warned of such when some of the brethren were told to “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2Cor. 6:14). Rather, per 2Cor. 6:17-18, they were counseled “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
In Psa. 119:140, the Spirit had the psalmist declare two things. The first is that God’s Word is “very pure”. The second, is that “thy servant loveth it.” Why did the psalmist love the Word of God? That should be obvious to all. The Spirit had the wise man, Solomon, the son of David pen what we read in Prov. 30:5 - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Then, we see the admonition in the verse that follows, (Prov. 30:6), Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. If, one adds to God’s Word, they have weakened it, polluted it, and adulterated it. It then becomes the perverted gospel of which the Spirit had Paul write in Gal. 1:6-7. Then we see in the next two verses that if any preach any other gospel than the pure Word of God, or alter it in any way, they are accursed.
This shows that one cannot follow “part of the truth” and be pleasing to God. In Jas. 4:8 we find inspired instruction to those scattered brethren that they might remain pure. They had already obeyed the gospel and were the children of God. Yet, they were “flirting” with worldliness. They were told “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” This shows one cannot be doubleminded and remain pleasing to God. This passage aligns perfectly with what Paul wrote in 2Cor. 7:1. Earlier, we saw that God had promised if these Christians would come out from among those that were tainted, be separate, and abstain from the unclean, He would receive them. Here, we see how to maintain that purity. 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.
How pure is pure? It’s not partly pure. It’s not a little clean. It’s not kind of uncontaminated. It is totally pure. When one obeys the gospel, they are made pure. In Acts 22:16, we see the question the Lord had Ananias ask Saul. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Isn’t it time for you to become pure by hearing the N.T Word of God, believe that Christ is the Son of God, repent of your past sins, confess before men that Christ is God’s Son, be baptized into Christ, then remain faithful for the rest of your life?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
