Clean in the Bible refers to disciples being holy and pure.
- This was the original state where Adam and Eve were before the original sin. Through grace, we can again be pure. This includes purity of body, thoughts, and desires (Does God Really Forgive and Forget Sin?).
- It isn’t just knowing the difference between good and evil. It isn’t just keeping as far away from evil as we can (What Is the Relationship Between Righteousness and Holiness?).
- What it boiled down to is the Israelites were holy because they were clean. They were holy because they follow God’s moral code (Sins Against God).
- We have to discipline our minds to remain pure. However, God know our hearts are not pure because of the sin in our lives (How Are Disciples Pure in Heart?).
- Human nature is not clean. Our hearts will always be wicked (sinful) because of our human nature (Jer. 17: 9) – unless ask God in our hearts to purify us. Only God can remove the sin in our lives (How Are Disciples Pure in Heart?).
- God’s notion is that purity comes from the heart. It is more who we are – our character – than what we do. It is where Jesus and the Holy Spirit live within us (How Are Disciples Pure in Heart?).
- Jesus explained to the Pharisee that it isn’t what you put into the body that makes a person unclean. It is what comes out of the body (Mt. 15: 11). God said basically the same thing to Peter: “… Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean” (Ac. 11: 9 NLT) (What Do You Mean All Disciples Won’t Get into Heaven?).
- We get this cleanness through Jesus’ atoning blood. Remember, we said He makes us spiritually alive – and perfect (The Perfection of the Church).
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