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 Corinthians 7:1)
First Corinthians chapter 6 lists five promises from God. These are: First, divine indwelling: “I will dwell in them” (2 Corinthians 6:16). Second, divine manifestation: “I will walk in them.” Third, divine covenant: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Fourth, divine acceptance: “I will receive you” (6:17). Fifth, divine adoption: “I… will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (6:18).
Paul says, since we have these promises we are to CLEANSE OURSELVES (PURIFY OURSELVES). Our God is a Holy God, He cannot dwell in a filthy place. If our bodies are the temple of the Living God, then it must be clean to accommodate Him.
Our cleansing should be personal – “Let us cleanse ourselves.” We are not cleaning someone else. It is always tempting to see the “filth” in someone else’s house and not our own. We must put the scrubbing brush to our own house!
Our cleansing is a continuous exercise – We must continue vigorously to cleanse both body and mind. It is not a one off exercise. If we cleanse today and leave it for a day, dust would accumulate and make it dirty again.
Our cleansing should include all not some – “From all filthiness.” We are to clear every filth from our house. We cannot leave any filth there.
Our cleansing should be thorough – “Of the flesh and spirit.” There are two classes of sin we are to deal with – filthiness of the flesh and filthiness of the spirit. Filthiness of the flesh refers to sins of the body, and include unholy lusts, unbridled appetites. Drunkenness, gluttony, licentiousness, inordinate affection, etc. Filthiness of the spirit include, vanity, pride, conceit, haughtiness, and unbelief. All sin (be they of the flesh or of the spirit) is filthy in the sight of God.
If God dwells in us, let us make the house clean for so pure a God. The good news is that God is ready to help us with the cleansing, we can ask God to grant us the grace to cleanse both our body and our spirit.