I keep thinking of Mark 9:43 in terms of uncleanliness. Jesus telling us it’ll be like tearing off a piece of ourselves to rid ourselves of wickedness but 100% necessary for salvation. Deny yourself, tear out the deepest parts of our innermost being that causes us repetitive sin & repent.
@PierreEvaL - Yes. What you are discussing is the main theme of our episode on the book of Numbers called "Episode 4 - God with Us" ( ruclips.net/video/zznzfDKwA_M/видео.html ). God asks the Israelites to bring the holiest thing into the camp, and everything that is not compatible with holiness burns away. Christ asks us to bring his Holy Spirit into our hearts, and everything that isn't compatible with him must burn away too. In the case of the book of Isaiah, there are multiple levels of cleansing taking place. Isaiah, a man of unclean lips, experiences a personal cleansing that enables him to serve God in ways he didn't think possible. The land, which was attached to the covenant with promises and curses, experiences cleansing from the people who would not live in holiness before God. However, God always reserves a remnant of faithful people who are the future of his kingdom. In this case, it is almost like the hand is the only salvageable part and the rest of the body gets thrown away. - Timothy
"And when my body lies in the ruins Of the lies that nearly ruined me, Will you pick up the pieces that were pure and true And breathe new life into them, and set them free? When you start this world over again from scratch, Will you make me anew out of the stuff that lasts-- Stuff that's purer than gold is, and clearer than glass Can ever be? And can I be with you? Can I be with you?" -Rich Mullins, 'Be With You' I am reminded of having the faith of a mustard seed. All I need is some tiny part of me to be faithful to God. Let all of me be crucified with Christ, and may God in his grace remake me--pure and perfect--out of the tiny seed of my faith.
I keep thinking of Mark 9:43 in terms of uncleanliness. Jesus telling us it’ll be like tearing off a piece of ourselves to rid ourselves of wickedness but 100% necessary for salvation. Deny yourself, tear out the deepest parts of our innermost being that causes us repetitive sin & repent.
@PierreEvaL - Yes. What you are discussing is the main theme of our episode on the book of Numbers called "Episode 4 - God with Us" ( ruclips.net/video/zznzfDKwA_M/видео.html ). God asks the Israelites to bring the holiest thing into the camp, and everything that is not compatible with holiness burns away. Christ asks us to bring his Holy Spirit into our hearts, and everything that isn't compatible with him must burn away too. In the case of the book of Isaiah, there are multiple levels of cleansing taking place. Isaiah, a man of unclean lips, experiences a personal cleansing that enables him to serve God in ways he didn't think possible. The land, which was attached to the covenant with promises and curses, experiences cleansing from the people who would not live in holiness before God. However, God always reserves a remnant of faithful people who are the future of his kingdom. In this case, it is almost like the hand is the only salvageable part and the rest of the body gets thrown away. - Timothy
"And when my body lies in the ruins
Of the lies that nearly ruined me,
Will you pick up the pieces that were pure and true
And breathe new life into them, and set them free?
When you start this world over again from scratch,
Will you make me anew out of the stuff that lasts--
Stuff that's purer than gold is, and clearer than glass
Can ever be? And can I be with you? Can I be with you?"
-Rich Mullins, 'Be With You'
I am reminded of having the faith of a mustard seed. All I need is some tiny part of me to be faithful to God. Let all of me be crucified with Christ, and may God in his grace remake me--pure and perfect--out of the tiny seed of my faith.