Purity and holiness:

Convicted by the Holy Spirit, a young man approached me after listening to a sermon emphasizing the importance of obedience to the Word of God.

“How can I live a holy life when I am involved in a homosexual relationship?” he asked. “I want to give my life to the Lord Jesus, but I am not interested in women; I like men. Can God somehow accept me?”

My answer was yes.

“Jesus wants you to come to Him as you are,” I explained, “but He loves you so much that He will not leave you as you are. He will transform your life. It does not matter whether you are currently in a homosexual or heterosexual relationship or what kind of sexual sins you are struggling with. Rather, He wants to work with you and make you pure and holy.”

Deciding to end his homosexual relationship, he gave his life to Christ and later became the youth director of his local church. He realized that the most important relationship in his life was the one he had with Jesus Christ.

In a world where moral standards and societal norms continually shift, the biblical principles of purity and holiness offer a steadfast guide. Sexual immorality, a pervasive issue throughout history, is comprehensively addressed in the Scriptures. The call to purity and holiness goes beyond mere abstinence from immoral acts—it involves a profound transformation of heart and mind.

The covenant of the heart

Jeremiah 31:33 states, “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”¹ Such a covenant signifies a shift from external adherence to internal transformation. God’s desire is for His people not only to follow the rules in a legalistic way but also to have His principles deeply embedded in their hearts. Such internalization of God’s law leads to a life marked by genuine purity and holiness. Author Ellen G. White asserts, “When the law of God is written in the heart it will be exhibited in a pure and holy life.”² Holiness is the setting apart of a people who love the Lord and delight in obedience.

God’s people are to focus their minds on heavenly things, not earthly ones. Some of the earthly things the Bible warns believers to keep out of their hearts are sexual sins: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5, NIV). The reason is that we have been raised with Christ to a new life—one of holiness and purity.

Purity in thought and deed

Internalizing God’s law results in a life that strives for purity in every aspect. Jesus highlighted this when He said in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Purity begins with our thoughts and intentions. Our thoughts and beliefs are intertwined with our character and destiny. Therefore, Philippians 4:8 advises, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Learning and practicing the core message of this verse can bridge the gap between our values, choices, and goals, thus leading toward a life enriched with divine grace and holiness.

Achieving the goal

But such a life requires surrender, growth, and purposeful thinking. It demands a continual connection with Christ. Change is impossible through our own power but is possible in His. Jesus declared, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). By prayer and study of the Word, we know Him more and more and remain connected with Him. His Word has transforming power (Heb. 4:12). So we must take the necessary time to incorporate His Word into our lives. We can achieve this goal by being intentional in our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, thereby growing spiritually. It will undoubtedly require an honest desire for God, persistence, and effort, but the outcome will be worth it.

“The danger that lies before those living in these last days,” Ellen G. White tells us, “is the absence of pure religion, the absence of heart holiness. The converting power of God has not wrought in transforming their characters. They profess to believe sacred truths as did the Jewish nation; but in their failing to practice the truth, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and the power of God. The power and influence of God’s law are around about, but not within the soul, renewing it in true holiness.”³

We should always strive to think noble, pure thoughts. As Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

However, we cannot achieve purity and holiness by simply thinking about it. Instead, we should contemplate Jesus, the embodiment of purity. Focusing on Him will transform us into His image, aligning our minds with His will and leading to actions that reflect His purity because “our minds take the level of the things on which our thoughts dwell.”⁴

The Bible further emphasizes in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (NIV). Such transformation is a continuous process of allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and align our thoughts with God’s Word.

The danger of superficial holiness

A significant danger facing today’s church is a lack of genuine heart holiness. Some may claim to believe in fundamental truths but fail to let them shape their characters. Such superficial adherence leads to complacency and a lack of proper understanding of God’s will. As Jesus pointed out in Matthew 15:8, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (NIV). True holiness is impossible without God’s transformative power.

Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their outward show of piety that lacked inward transformation, saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside, you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matt. 23:27, 28, NIV).

The role of spiritual leaders

God’s design for pastors as spiritual leaders is that their lives should exemplify their preaching and teaching. Our character and home life should testify to the truths we proclaim. The influence of a person’s life often speaks louder than his or her words, as noted in 2 Corinthians 3:2, 3, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (NIV).

Genuine character, encompassing holiness, purity, humility, and fairness, emanates from the heart and exerts tremendous power and influence.

Living a life of purity and holiness

Living a life of purity and holiness is not about conforming to a set of external rules but about a radical transformation from within. Beginning with allowing the Holy Spirit to write God’s law on our hearts, it is sustained by a continuous relationship with God, who alone can keep us from sin and impurity. As Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (NIV). Internalizing God’s Word is a vital safeguard against sin.

The Bible provides further guidance: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God” (1 Thess. 4:3–5, NIV). This passage emphasizes the necessity of self-control and the pursuit of sanctification.

The influence of a holy life

Those who embody the transformation of heart holiness create an atmosphere of purity around them, influencing others positively. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14–16, NIV). A life of purity and holiness shines brightly in a world darkened by sin, drawing others toward Christ.

Church needs to be a source of hope and healing

The church should be a source of hope and healing rather than shame for those struggling with sexual battles. Therefore, pastors need to make four foundational decisions for the church to become a place of hope and healing:⁵

1. Confront our own shortcomings. We are “uncut stones” in the temple of God (Deut. 27:5, 6, NASB), and we need to face our “uncutness.” It means acknowledging and addressing our own issues, no matter how painful, in order to have credibility to help others.⁶
2. Inspire people to pursue their God-given dreams. Helping individuals recognize their gifts and see God’s work in their lives will lead them to trust in His power to help them overcome their struggles.⁷
3. Proclaim God’s grace. Negative sermons create negative Christians, and exhortation without application leads to frustration.⁸
4. Be willing to make sacrifices. People dealing with sexual issues often face various challenges, and the pastor must be prepared to do whatever needs to happen to create a place of hope and healing.⁹

Transformation and renewal

In the face of sexual immorality and other forms of moral decay, the biblical call to purity and holiness remains clear and compelling. It summons us to allow God to write His law in our hearts, resulting in a life that reflects His holy character. As we strive to live out this call, our lives become powerful testimonies of the transformative power of God’s love and truth. By seeking heart holiness and living out the principles of the Bible, we not only resist the forces of immorality but also draw others toward the light of God’s truth. As 1 Peter 1:15, 16 reminds us, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’ ” (NIV). Living a life of purity and holiness is an ongoing journey of transformation and renewal grounded in a deep relationship with God and a steadfast commitment to His Word. As a result, we become living testimonies, shining with God’s light and truth in a world that desperately needs both.