Identity: Purity of the Church
I. The Church in New Testament Days Was Composed of Characters Purified From Sin and
Unrightousness:
1. Christ died to make this possible (Eph. 5:25-27). "That He might present it to himself a
glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle."
a. Cleansed by his blood (I Jn. 1:7).
2. Obedience to the Gospel appropriates and applies this cleansing power to the individual
(Rom. 6:17-18; Eph. 5:26; I Cor. 6:9-11; I Pet. 1:22-23).
II. This Relationship Imposes Separation from the Wold and a Life of Purity and Holiness:
1. Be separate, touch no unclean thing, perfect holiness (II Cor. 6:14; 7:1).
2. Be not confonned to the world (Rom. 12: 1, 2).
3. Sin no longer to have dominion (Rom. 6:12-14).
4. Must not continue in fonner practices, but walk as new creatures (Col. 311-14).
5. Pure religion demands, "Keep oneself unspotted from the world“ (Jas. 1:27).
6. Cannot be a friend of God and also of the world ( Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4).
7. Entered into a covenant with God.
a. God's part to "know them that are His,“ recognize us as His children,
b. Our part to depart from unrighteousness and be a "Vessel unto Honor" (2 Tim. 2:19-22).
8. Walk in light, not in darkness.
a. The Church, the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16);
b. Eye evil, full of darkness (Matt. 6:22-24);
c. No fellowship with darkness (Eph. 5:7-13);
d. Walk in the light as He is in the light ( Jn. 1:7).
9. The primary obligation concems one‘s self:
a. I Tim. 5:22 -- "Keep thyself pure."
b. Acts 20:28 -- "Take heed unto yourselves."
III. For the Church to Allow Sin To Go On Uncorrected and Unreproved, Is To Condone and
Embrace It and Will Eventually So Corrupt the Church As To Cause It To Lose Divine
Recognition:
1. 1 Cor. 5:1-13: "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." "Have no company with a brother
who persists in sin." "Put away the wicked man from among yourselves."
2. Saints must not defile their garments, clothed in white linen representing righteousness?
(Rev. 19:6-8; 3:4-5).
3. Candlestick representing identity (Rev. 1:20) may be removed unless repentance takes
place (Rev. 2:5).
Questions For Discussion:
1. What did Christ's death have to do with the Church?
2. How are all cleansed and prepared for service in the Church?
3. What is to be the relationship of the Church, between th clean and unclean?
4. What is the attitude of the Church toward sin?
5. What was said of friendship with the world?
6. What is the Church to the world?
7. How is each one to keep himself‘?
8. What if the Church tolerates sin on the "inside?"
9. What will become of the impenitent Church?
l0. Give an example of the impenitent Church, and God's dealings with it.