Purity is more than just actions—it’s about the heart. Today, we’ll see what the Bible says about being pure and how it reflects our relationship with God.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Being Proud
What Does The Bible Say About Being Pure
1 John 3:3
“And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
This verse reminds us that our hope in Christ should motivate us to live lives of purity. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can purify ourselves and strive to reflect the purity of Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Living a life of purity involves continually surrendering our sinful desires to God, seeking His forgiveness, and allowing His Spirit to transform us from the inside out.
James 4:8
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
In this verse, James urges believers to draw near to God and purify themselves. To draw near to God means to develop a close and intimate relationship with Him through prayer, worship, and studying His Word.
As we draw near to God, He promises to draw near to us, providing the guidance, strength, and grace we need to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. This requires honesty and sincerity in our repentance, turning away from sin and seeking God’s forgiveness and transformation.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 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.”
In these verses, Paul highlights the importance of sexual purity. He urges believers to flee from sexual immorality, recognizing that sexual sins have unique consequences on our bodies.
As followers of Christ, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we must honor God by keeping ourselves pure and abstaining from any form of sexual immorality. This includes refraining from premarital sex, adultery, pornography, and any other sexual behavior that goes against God’s design for intimacy within the bounds of marriage.
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
In this heartfelt prayer of David, he acknowledges his need for God’s intervention in purifying his heart. David recognizes that only God can create a pure heart within him and renew his spirit to be steadfast in pursuing righteousness.
We can echo this prayer, asking God to cleanse our hearts from all impurity and renew our spirits to be unwavering in our commitment to walk in obedience and purity before Him.
Proverbs 20:9
“Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?”
This verse serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of humanity and our constant need for God’s mercy and grace. No one can claim to have kept their heart completely pure or to be without sin.
Recognizing our inherent sinfulness should lead us to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, and seek His forgiveness and cleansing. It is through His redeeming love that we can find forgiveness and the power to live lives of purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Paul encourages Timothy to be a role model for other believers, emphasizing the importance of living a life of purity. This applies to believers of all ages, as our actions and choices impact those around us.
Whether we are young or old, we are called to set an example in our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. By living lives marked by purity, we demonstrate the transforming power of Christ and inspire others to pursue the same.
2 Timothy 2:22
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Paul reminds Timothy and all believers to flee from the passions and temptations associated with youth and instead pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
We are encouraged to surround ourselves with fellow believers who have pure hearts, as their influence can help us stay on the path of purity. Together, we can strive to live in a way that honors God and reflects His holy character.
Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
In the Beatitudes, Jesus states that those who are pure in heart are blessed because they will have the privilege of seeing God. This speaks to the intimate relationship that is available to those who seek to purify their hearts and align their desires with God’s.
When our hearts are purified, we are more attuned to God’s presence and guidance. We can experience a deeper understanding of His character and His will for our lives.
Titus 2:12
“It [the grace of God] teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
God’s grace is not simply a means of forgiveness but also a teacher and source of empowerment for godly living. The grace of God instructs believers to reject ungodliness and worldly passions, enabling us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
As we yield to God’s grace, we are empowered to resist temptations and make choices that align with His will, leading to lives characterized by purity and righteousness.
Psalm 24:3-4
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
In this psalm, the question is asked about who is qualified to approach God’s presence. The answer is given that those with clean hands and pure hearts, who do not trust in idols or false gods, can stand in His holy place.
This emphasizes the importance of moral purity and wholehearted devotion to God. To come into intimate communion with God, we must ensure our hands are clean from sinful actions and our hearts are free from any idols or false gods that compete for our devotion.
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Paul exhorts believers to cultivate a thought life that is focused on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Our thought patterns have a significant impact on our actions and attitudes.
By intentionally filling our minds with thoughts and meditations that align with God’s standards of purity, we guard ourselves against the influence of impure and ungodly influences.
Psalm 119:9
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”
The psalmist acknowledges the challenge of maintaining purity, especially for young people, and finds the answer in living according to God’s Word.
God’s Word provides us with guidelines, principles, and insights that direct our choices and guard us from impurity. By immersing ourselves in Scripture and allowing it to shape our thoughts and actions, we are equipped to navigate the path of purity.
Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Paul encourages believers to live in step with the Holy Spirit, for when we do, we are empowered to resist and overcome the desires of the flesh.
Walking by the Spirit involves being sensitive to His leading, submitting to His guidance, and relying on His strength. The Holy Spirit enables us to live lives of purity, free from the bondage of sinful desires.
Psalm 119:11
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
The psalmist expresses their commitment to store God’s Word in their heart as a safeguard against sinning against God.
Memorizing and internalizing Scripture enables us to have a moral compass that guides our choices and helps us resist the allure of temptation. By hiding God’s Word in our hearts, we are equipped to live lives that honor and please Him.
1 Peter 1:22
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
Peter connects purity with sincere love for one another, emphasizing that our obedience to the truth purifies us and enables us to love deeply.
Living in obedience to God’s truth involves embracing His commandments, following the example of Christ, and allowing His love to flow through us to others. A life marked by purity will naturally overflow with genuine love and compassion for those around us.
Ephesians 5:3
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”
Paul instructs the believers in Ephesus to reject any form of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed, highlighting the inconsistency of such behaviors with their identity as God’s holy people.
As followers of Christ, we are called to live lives that reflect the holiness and purity of our Heavenly Father. This includes guarding our thoughts, desires, and actions, ensuring they align with God’s standards of purity.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”
Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that it is God’s will for them to pursue sanctification and to abstain from sexual immorality.
Living lives of purity involves learning to exercise self-control over our bodies, refraining from indulging in passionate lust like those who do not know God. As we submit to God’s will and allow His Spirit to guide us, we can maintain purity in both our thoughts and actions.
Psalm 19:14
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
David concludes this psalm with a prayer, expressing his desire for his words and thoughts to be pleasing in God’s sight. He recognizes that purity extends beyond external actions and involves the alignment of our innermost thoughts and desires with God’s will.
We, too, can pray this prayer, seeking God’s help to guard the words we speak and the meditations of our hearts, ensuring they bring honor and glory to Him.
James 1:27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James defines true religion as caring for vulnerable individuals and maintaining personal purity by resisting the pollution of worldly influences.
Pure religion involves both external acts of compassion and internal purity of heart and mind. By actively showing love and compassion to those in need and guarding ourselves from the corrupting influences of the world, we live out a faith that is pleasing to God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
“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.”
Paul encourages the Corinthians to purify themselves from anything that contaminates their bodies and spirits, striving for holiness out of reverence for God.
As recipients of God’s precious promises, we are motivated to live lives that reflect the purity and holiness of our Heavenly Father. This involves intentionally putting aside any sinful practices, attitudes, or influences that tarnish our bodies and hinder our spiritual growth.
Hebrews 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews calls believers to diligently pursue peace with others and to strive for holiness, emphasizing that without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
Pursuing holiness involves intentionally aligning our lives with God’s standards and forsaking sinful behaviors and attitudes. By living lives of purity and pursuing peace, we reflect the character of Christ and bear witness to His transforming grace.
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
These verses challenge believers to put to death the sinful tendencies of their earthly nature, including sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed.
Living lives of purity requires actively crucifying our old sinful nature and embracing the new life found in Christ. By putting to death the sinful desires within us, we create space for the Holy Spirit to transform us and shape us into vessels of purity and righteousness.
Romans 6:12-14
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
Paul exhorts believers not to allow sin to reign in their bodies but instead to offer themselves to God as instruments of righteousness.
Living lives of purity requires a conscious choice to submit ourselves fully to God’s authority and to resist the pull of sin. As recipients of God’s grace, we are empowered to break free from the mastery of sin and to live in the freedom and righteousness that Christ has secured for us.