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| 1 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.
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These promises – The exceeding great and precious promises of God's Word. (2 Pet. 1:4) R3986:6
The things which God has prepared for those that love him--things which "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man." (1 Cor. 2:9) R4975:4
Without these divine promises of the present and the future blessings, who would battle against his own weaknesses? R5739:4
The promises are indeed the power of God unto our cleansing--our salvation. (Rom. 1:16; Phil. 2:13) R5739:4; SM389:T
The Apostle shows the object of our consecration and subsequent disciplining under the guidance and power of the truth, its precious promises, our spiritual food, to be the formation of a holy character. R4782:5
The formation of a noble and pure character is the legitimate result of the reception of divine truth into a good and honest heart. R1628:5
Whoever has such a hope in him will purify himself. (1 John 3:3) R3987:1
Dearly beloved – The saints. (2 Cor. 1:1) SM391:2; R5737:1
Not addressed to the world, but to the Church; not to unbelievers, but to believers; not to sinners, but to those who have already turned away from sin. R5737:1
Disciples, pupils in the school of Christ. R5737:3
Those who left the "wallowing in the mire." (2 Pet. 2:22) R4974:3, 5737:6
This text addresses those who have made considerable progress--those who are seeking to perfect holiness in their hearts, and so far as possible also in their earthly bodies. R2891:2
Because they have the mind of Christ. SM391:1
Let us – It is the new creature that is addressed--the new will. R4974:6
The class already justified "through faith in his blood." (Rom. 3:25) R3985:3
The great King commands his consecrated people to purify the Temple of God, which is the Church. R4812:5, 2380:4,5
Those who at heart are loyal to the Lord are distressed by the blemishes, even though they are aware that the Lord has graciously covered them. R5738:2
Cleanse ourselves – Does not have reference to our getting rid of Adamic condemnation. Such cleansing from original sin is impossible on our part. R5738:3, 3985:2
A progressive work--to a high standard toward which we progress: "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) R4974:3, 4663:5
In proportion as this is done, a blessed influence will go forth from the Temple of God, the true Church. R4812:5
It requires great strength of character, great power of the will, to cleanse our minds and our flesh. R3986:4
Purge out the old leaven of malice, hatred and envy. R3631:6
Now a believer will inspect his words, his thoughts, his actions, his clothing, his personal appearance from a new standpoint--as God's representative, his ambassador. R3168:5
As with Josiah's public work, so it should be with the heart work of all who present themselves to the Lord: they should break off their sins in righteousness, utterly destroying their fleshly idols. R2390:5
As with Hezekiah's reform, the Lord's people need to remember the necessity for cleansing from worldly defilements, of the past and also those which are ever present in the world. R2380:5
The minds (thoughts) should be pure, should be cleansed of everything not fully in sympathy and accord with the mind of Christ. SM395:1
Let none of us forget to "put away all leaven"--sin--in preparation for the eating of the Passover. Thus the remainder of life will be a feast of unleavened bread. R2283:4
"If we would judge (correct, chastise) ourselves, then we should not be judged (corrected, chastised) of the Lord." (1 Cor. 11:31) R2160:3
The armor of Eph. 6:10-18 cannot be put on until td righteousness. R1995:4
The cleansing process must begin at once, but it will continue until our latest breath. R3986:5
Every effort made by the chosen ones to cleanse themselves is a reproof to others who are not so striving. R5737:6
Elders are outwardly and inwardly clean--washed by the water of the Word from the meanness, the filthiness of the flesh. R5123:3
In preparing for a convention, make ready the heart in advance for a blessing, putting away the flesh that the Lord may open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings which will overflow to others. R4222:1
So long as we are in contact with the world we are liable to a certain degree of earthly defilement; thus, we should wash one another's feet. (John 13:14; Eph. 5:26) R3544:1
Although the words of this text were not addressed by St. Paul to the worldly they would, nevertheless, be excellent advice and very profitable to all. NS824:2
From all filthiness – Figuratively represented by "Having our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:22) R2671:3, 5123:3
Noticing to see where there is anything in us that is impure, and putting all that away from our conduct--and, from our minds. R5739:2
It is a tedious work--day by day we strive to put away sin, selfishness--every element of ungodliness and unloveliness. R5738:4
No longer slaves of sin--do not bear the fruits of unrighteousness. R5123:3
So that all unrighteousness, all sin, all injustice, would be an abomination to them--whoever truly loves righteousness must in the same proportion hate iniquity. R4663:5
Regarding the experiences of Nadab and Abihu, we learn the great importance of approaching the Lord in the proper spirit and condition of mind and heart--the spirit of a sound mind. R3055:3
The babes who are not developed new creatures will have their attention occupied with the cruder elementary lessons, respecting the coarser sins which the new creature must abhor and battle against. R2891:2
The world does not parade its defilement of mind and body where the bright light of truth and righteousness and purity shines. To do so would be a horrible condition, like Sodom. It prefers to hide. NS824:3
Generally, salvation is to be brought at Christ's second advent, but Zacchaeus's salvation (Luke 19:9) was of the heart, reclaimie flesh and of the spirit. R2731:2
In the Millennial age God will not impress the law of love upon the hearts of any--each then, as now, must put away from his heart selfishness and all of the concomitant evils resulting from sin. R2330:6
Of the flesh – Put away evil practices, outward wrongdoing of every kind--avoid careless language, restrain passions, curb selfishness. R5738:5; SM395:1
Not controlled by the desires and weaknesses of the fallen flesh--loves cleanliness of person, of clothing, of language and of habits. R5123:3, 3168:5
Uncleanness of hands, of teeth, etc.--filthy habits, tobacco, etc. R4975:1
An outward cleansing of the flesh would not prove a purity within of the mind, the heart (Matt. 23:25), but outward filthiness d mind controls. R3986:3
In proportion as the spirit of righteousness, truth and love enter into the heart, filthy words, conduct, habits and appearance, all begin to come under the control of the transformed mind. R3631:6
Cleansing the flesh is a part of the sanctifying work. R3168:5
The Bible does not specifically condemn tobacco. Christians may spend money for it and smoke it if they believe it will do them good and result to God's glory; but our Lord did not reek with its fumes. R1849:4 [1849:9]
And spirit – Does not mean the new creature is filthy. The word spirit is used to represent the mind. R5738:6, 4975:1, 2390:5, 2022:1, 1739:3; SM335:1, 395:1
Every thought be brought into captivity to the will of God. (2 Cor. 10:5) F409
Our minds must be cleansed. We must learn to hate sin, to repel its first advances. R5738:5
The new creature must use the old brain and must exercise control so that we think purely. R4975:1
The cleansing of our minds is far more important than the cleansing of our flesh. R3986:1
Some filthiness of the mind is selfishness, which frequently hides itself under pretexts of generosity, etc. Other features of this filthiness are jealousy, covetousness, ambition, sensuality. R3986:2
Filthiness of the spirit cannot be cleansed with ordinary soap and water. SM388:1
Perfecting holiness – God has but one standard--perfection of holiness. Our Lord's instruction is "Be ye perfect." (Matt. 5:48) R3987:1
We cannot conceive of any other condition being acceptable to God, in harmony with our calling. How we long to have our new bodies in which the new mind can act perfectly, without hindrance, glorifying God. R4664:1
For the Christian the chief business of life. R1739:6[R1739:9], 5738:2[5738:5]
The present is the time for God's people to draw very near to the Lord, to come under the shadow of the Almighty, to put their trust more and more in him and to purge themselves from all filthiness. NS627:6
Holiness cannot be attained in a moment. It must be gradually effected, perfected. We must allow the Lord to work in us the holy will, the holy conduct--a life work. R5739:3, 3631:6, 1739:2
A pure heart delights in the society of the pure and shuns all others. R5123:4
The special work of the Church in this present time consists of the building up of one another, helping one another to perfect holiness. R2690:4
We exhort all in a remembrance and renewal of our covenant with the Lord--to be obediently and lovingly his, in thought, word and deed. R2084:1
Through the cleansing power of his truth, "by the washing of water, by the Word." (Eph. 5:26, 27) R2160:4, 4782:5
Disciplines should be reminders to us that we are not perfect, that we still have need of the mercy of God in Christ; and they should lead us to greater diligence in perfecting holiness. R2061:2
When we shall have finished the race we shall not be absolutely clean. But, if our hearts (wills) are subject to the Lord, they will be constantly seeking to come as near as possible to absolute purity. R2022:1
Holiness is moral purity--"without holiness no man shall see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14) R1739:2
The shining of one honorable upright life (even though it be not perfect--and none are perfect) is sure to have its effect in the midst of the darkness of sin and degradation which prevail in the world. NS824:3
In the fear of God – Filial fear. R1739:2
The fear that is reverential, profitable, not the fear that is slavish. R5739:2
Through a reverence for the Lord--an appreciation of his greatness, his perfection. R3987:4, 2022:1
The Christian who is deficient in veneration will have difficulty in perfecting holiness. R3987:4
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| 2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. |
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| 3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. |
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| 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. |
Filled with comfort – The Apostle used "comfort" seven times in vss. 4-13. He used it ten times in chapter 1, vss. 3-7. R3435:5,4
Exceeding joyful – Paul was happy, giving constantly for the good of others from his store of grace and truth. R4526:2
Hope and courage, inspired by the promises and strengthened by the experiences, will keep us joyful while we are still in the enemy's country. R4048:1
Let us learn to rejoice in tribulation because it is an evidence that the Lord still considers us worthy of being prepared, chiseled, polished, made ready for a place in his glorious heavenly Temple. R3929:3
Learn to trust to the Lord's providences in all affairs--not only in those which seem to go favorably, but in those also which apparently are working disadvantage and disaster. R3012:5
We have the present joys and hope and faith in the things unseen. R1949:1
"Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous." (Psa. 33:1) R1948:6
"At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." (Psa. 16:11)--even in the present life R1948:6, 1949:2
In all our tribulation – Tribulation has the thought of serious trouble--a combination of troubles that makes the experiences serious--severe and continued troubles. R5779:4
Tribulations are necessary for the perfecting of the saints, for the trial of faith, for the testing and preparation of those who would be joint-heirs. R3013:4, 3929:3
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| 5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. |
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| 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the presence of Titus; |
God that comforteth – All comfort, though working through Titus, Paul, or the Church at Corinth, was of God; this is God's disposition, to comfort. R3435:5
The coming of Titus – The word parousia occurs twenty-four times in the Greek Testament, and is only twice correctly translated "presence." "Coming" in this text is one of the 22 mistranslations. B159
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| 7 And not by his presence only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. |
By his coming – The word parousia occurs 24 times in the Greek Testament, and is only twice correctly translated "presence." "Coming" in this text is one of the 22 mistranslations. B159
Comforted in you – There was a mutual helpfulness of the Church in this matter of comfort--every member possessing the holy Spirit and exercised by it had a share. R3435:5
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| 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. |
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| 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. |
Sorrowed to repentance – Repentance would be the proper fruitage or result of a proper sorrow. R2931:2
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| 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. |
Godly sorrow worketh repentance – Sorrow is not repentance. R2931:2
One has not repented until he has renounced sin and become a follower of Christ's teachings. R2931:2,3
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| 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. |
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| 12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. |
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| 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. |
Comforted in your comfort – Even the strongest in the Church, the apostles, needed comfort. R3435:4
His spirit was refreshed – Wherever we find one of the Lord's followers, we have an opportunity of serving the Lord, of being channels of his mercy, and carrying to the downcast one something of comfort and consolation and helpfulness. R3435:5
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| 14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. |
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| 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. |
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| 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. |
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