“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. 2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.” 2 Cor. 7:1-7

There is a cleansing that only G-d can do in our lives, and that comes through the forgiveness of sins – the absolution as we call it. There is also a cleansing that G-d wants to do in cooperation with us – a cleansing that can only come from looking within. Here, Paul writes about a cleansing that isn’t just something G-d does for us as we sit passively; this is a self-cleansing for intimacy with G-d that goes beyond a general cleansing for sin – we can talk about this cleansing in three parts:

First, there is the cleansing that comes to us as we trust in Jesus and His work on our behalf. This work of cleansing is really God’s work in us and not our work – but comes in a relationship of trust – empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Second, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we allow our will to be bent to the will of G-d – this is not our work apart from G-d, but it is a work that awaits our will and effort: let us cleanse ourselves through our service for G-d.

Third, again in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we cleanse our hearts by living lives not indulging in all kinds of impurities and evil, but instead seeking what is holy and right – which brings glory to G-d.

Pastor Dave

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor. 6:2-10

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a word of grace that should constantly ring in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace and the means of salvation. And, as Paul writes, now is the proper time to accept these offers. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring – we have no idea what might happen to us, to our family, to our jobs, to our homes, or to our friends. We live in a time where everything could be gone in an instant. As such, today, right now, we can know grace – so how dare we neglect it.

As people of the Word of Jesus Christ we need to look upon ourselves as ministers of the gospel — as G-d’s servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. Paul, the greatest of the apostles strove to do just that – and he suffered a lot of afflictions, which taught him patience and good principles, and formed his temper and behavior. We all need the grace of G-d, to arm ourselves against temptations, so as to bear the good news upon our shoulders with patience. We are nothing without Christ – we are worthless without Grace – so we remember everyday that we possess all things in Christ.

The gospel, when faithfully preached, when fully received, and when rightfully lived gives even of the poorest of the poor hope – because Grace makes them rich in the Lord. Faith, given by the power of the Holy Spirit, makes all people rich no matter what the world thinks – rich now, and in the kingdom to come.

Pastor Dave