10/04/2022
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Follow the Leader to Purity & Holiness"
How would you describe purity? Most people would say “clean” or “spotless.” Some of you would also say purity is holiness, but there is more to holiness than just purity. Today's verse shows us the distinction and the link between the two.
Ephesians 5:11
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
First, we are told not to take part in the deeds of darkness. This is a call to purity. Plain and simple-we shouldn't be doing things God abhors. This is the heart of purity… the absence of unclean actions and attitudes.
But the verse doesn't end there. It doesn't simply tell us to stay away from sin, it also tells us to expose the deeds of darkness. How do we do that? One way is by living a holy life. When we do the right thing and follow the Lord's commandments, people may see the contrast and come to know the difference between the deeds of darkness and the deeds of light.
Do you see the obvious difference here? Purity is “not doing bad deeds,” while holiness includes “doing godly works.” That's the difference, yet the verse also shows a link between both of these things. We can't exhibit holiness
without purity! Purity is a prerequisite to our holiness. After all, we can't act on God's commandments if we are entrenched in sin!
We may have mastered the art of removing ourselves from situations where our purity may be tarnished, yet we are called to do more than abstain from sin. We are called to live holy lives and the key to living a holy life is to remember that we are living holy lives for God. We are his and do good as he does good. Christ shows us the path to holiness and gives us the power to walk the path. We can follow our leader to purity and holiness.
In Leviticus 20:26, the Lord told his people, “…ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
