For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Obeying the letter of the law is good, because it produces a sanctified and clean life in the flesh, which of course is better than being a lawbreaker; however, such cleansing of the flesh is not enough for justification by Christ.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
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.
It's no longer sufficient to live clean outwardly by the law, but now by Christ making the way open into the holiest, we must also live clean in the spirit, purifying the heart and mind from lust and unrighteous imaginings.
The law of Christ is better than that of Moses, even as His blood than that of bulls and goats, because He now commands by His Spirit dwelling within, to sanctify and cleanse both the inward and outer man by His law, and not the outward only.
Once again, it's good to cleanse the flesh outwardly by the law, rather than being a transgressor, but it is far better to cleanse within the platter first.
Loving our neighbors is good, but without loving God with a pure heart, then it comes short of the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus:
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.
Charity of Christ begins within the pure heart, where the spirit of the new man is cleansed from all filthiness of thought, intent, and imagination.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart.
Lawfully clean hands are good, rather than filthy hands of sinners, but without purity of heart first, no man will ascend Mt Sion and stand in His holy New Jerusalem forever.
Therefore, let us keep the law of Christ both inwardly and outwardly, and not outwardly only like that of Moses, which was weak and could only cleanse the flesh.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Obeying the letter of the law is good, because it produces a sanctified and clean life in the flesh, which of course is better than being a lawbreaker; however, such cleansing of the flesh is not enough for justification by Christ.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
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.
It's no longer sufficient to live clean outwardly by the law, but now by Christ making the way open into the holiest, we must also live clean in the spirit, purifying the heart and mind from lust and unrighteous imaginings.
The law of Christ is better than that of Moses, even as His blood than that of bulls and goats, because He now commands by His Spirit dwelling within, to sanctify and cleanse both the inward and outer man by His law, and not the outward only.
Once again, it's good to cleanse the flesh outwardly by the law, rather than being a transgressor, but it is far better to cleanse within the platter first.
Loving our neighbors is good, but without loving God with a pure heart, then it comes short of the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus:
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.
Charity of Christ begins within the pure heart, where the spirit of the new man is cleansed from all filthiness of thought, intent, and imagination.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart.
Lawfully clean hands are good, rather than filthy hands of sinners, but without purity of heart first, no man will ascend Mt Sion and stand in His holy New Jerusalem forever.
Therefore, let us keep the law of Christ both inwardly and outwardly, and not outwardly only like that of Moses, which was weak and could only cleanse the flesh.
