How To Stay Pure

We live in a society that is perhaps more sexually charged than ever. Sexual sin is now considered acceptable in almost every area of society. Now the world does what it does because it's lost, but the problem lies in professing christians who engage in the same immoral activities and accept the same views as this fallen world does. The apostle Paul warns believers not to be conformed (fashion oneself according) to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is high time that believers put on the mind of Christ about this area of sexual purity. Ephesians 5:3 "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;" Fornication (sexual immorality) is not becoming for a believer. Here are just a few thoughts we should consider if we are serious about purity.

1. All Sin Begins In The Heart
Mark 7:21-23 This passage tells us that it's not the things that are from outside of us but from within us that defile us and that all sin including sexual sin begins in the heart. James 1:14-15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Since the fall of the human race into sin our flesh has an innate appetite for sin. Romans 7:18-24 After we are saved there is a battle that occurs in the believer between the spirit and the flesh. Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." And the battlefield is the heart. If you keep your heart pure you will follow the directions of the Spirit, but if you defile your heart (or mind) you will do what the flesh says to do.

2. We Must Guard Our Heart
Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." We are told here that we are to keep or guard our heart, because out of it are the issues (outflowings, boundaries) of life, that is that everything we do is an outflow of the heart and it is in the heart that the boundaries of our lives are set. If we violate our heart we will violate those boundaries and there is no end to the sin that we can fall into. How do I guard my heart? By controlling what we allow to enter it. Lot was a man who violated his heart and ended up destroying his whole family and even committing the heinous sexual sin of incest with his daughters. 2 Peter 2:7-8 "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds);" Lot vexed (tormented) his righteous soul (heart, mind etc..) by seeing and hearing the conversation (lifestyle) of the wicked. Do you watch gratuitous sex scenes in movies or look at pornographic material? You are viloating your heart and guaranteeing that you won't retain your purity. Do you listen to sexually explicit language whether in song, movies, or even in conversation with your friends? These things stir up the flames of lust, and will make it unlikely that you will retain sexual purity. I need to avoid these things at all cost. And on the positive side I need to fill my heart and mind with good, pure, wholesome things. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Of course we find these things in the word of God and we should meditate on these things because that is how we renew our minds.