This passage can be summed up as:
• We have been sprinkled like the altar and are consecrated for use.
• We must now gird up the loins of our mind for service.
• That service is not for our own desires, whether good or bad, but for love of others.
A key verse is:
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sin-cere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again . . .
Our purification is complete. The verb hagnizō is in the perfect tense and indicates an action completed in the past. The purification is cer-emonial (See Paul’s ceremonial purification in Acts 21).
That ceremonial purification is accomplished by obeying the truth that our atonement has been fully accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not accomplished or ever will be by any attempt at personal holi-ness.
James warns us that the un-pure are those that only believe this half-way.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
That said, we are also instructed to be holy because of our paternity:
. . . since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
Thus, we see in this passage consecration (being set apart), purification (being made acceptable), and sanctification (being made holy). The first two have already been completed. The last one remains for us to do in reverent fear during this, our earthly sojourn.
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