210. Cleansing Which Comes Of Godliness.

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. - 2 Corinthians 7:1.

KINDLING with strong emotion, constrained by the love of Christ, and animated by the fellowship of all spiritual blessings, the apostle here strikes out an exhortation. He appeals to the noblest passions of the children of God, to their possession of divine lineage, a present endowment, and their expectation of an exalted destiny. These he uses as incentives to holiness of life.

To stir up in us this godly ambition, he sets before us the Christian in various lights—

I. AS POSSESSED Of MOST GLORIOUS PRIVILEGES. "Having these promises." Not promises in reversion merely, but in actual possession, received, embraced, enjoyed.

The promises referred to are mentioned in the previous chapter.

1. Divine indwelling: "I will dwell in them" (2 Cor. 6:16).

2. Divine manifestation: "I will walk in them."

3. Divine covenanting: "I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

4. Divine acceptance: "I will receive you" (6:17).

5. Divine adoption: "I... will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (6:18).

These promises are already fulfilled in our experience.

II. AS LABORING TO BE RID Of OBNOXIOUS EVILS. "Let us cleanse ourselves." The matter has in it:

1. Personality: "Let us cleanse ourselves."

2. Activity. We must continue vigorously to cleanse both body and mind.

3. Universality: "From all filthiness."

4. Thoroughness: "Of the flesh and spirit."

If God dwells in us, let us make the house clean for so pure a God.

Has the Lord entered into covenant with us that we should be his people? Does not this involve a call upon us to live as becometh godliness?

Are we his children? Let us not grieve our Father, but imitate him as dear children.

III. AS AIMING AT A MOST EXALTED POSITION. "Perfecting holiness."

1. We must set before us perfect holiness as a thing to be reached.

2. We must blame ourselves if we fall short of it.

3. We must continue in any degree of holiness which we have reached.

4. We must agonize after the perfecting of our character.

IV. AS PROMPTED BY THE MOST SACRED OF MOTIVES. "Perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

1. The fear of God casts out the fear of man and thus saves us from one prolific cause of sin.

2. The fear of God casts out the love of sin, and with the root, the fruit is sure to go.

3. The fear of God works in and through love to him, and this is a great factor of holiness.

4. The fear of God is the root of faith, worship, obedience, and so it produces all manner of holy service.

See how promises supply arguments for precepts.

See how precepts naturally grow out of promises.