2Co 7:1  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. 

What promises do we have brothers and sisters? This is actually what one would consider a bad break. This should have been the last sentence of the previous chapter and the promises Paul was alluding to was the fact that the Father promised to come and dwell in us and walk among us. He promised that He would be our God and we would be His people. He said He was going to be a Father to us , praise the Lord, and that we would be His sons and daughters! What magnificent promises to those who separate themselves as unto the Lord. What an exhortation from Paul to therefore “cleanse ourselves,” from all filthiness of the “flesh and spirit,” that we might be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Now brothers and sisters, this is the plain reading of the Word. And yet there are whole sections of Christendom who would reject this entirely out of hand.They would say that all sins, past, present and future are already dealt with. They would reject the fact that we are called to cooperate with God.  We have our part to play and Paul just laid out that part.

Paul tells us that he was exceedingly joyful in all his tribulations. He was walking in the promises of God. He tells us that he and his brothers and sisters were troubled on every side, yet he was walking in the promises of God. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears but, and here is that beautiful word he says “nevertheless,” God who comforts the downcast comforted us. He was walking in the promises of God. No matter what fires we walk though or what troubled waters we cross, God is with us, He dwells in us. He has received us and we are His sons and daughters. The comfort of the Holy Spirit quells every raging sea. The power of the Holy Spirit clothes us with the armor of righteousness. The beauty of His Holiness causes our hearts to be tender and patient and kind, just as He is with us. And we never want these manifestations of the Holy Spirit in us to be quenched. We need Him, every hour we need Him. Day by day He is our strength, He elevates Jesus us in our hearts for He is the joy of our salvation.

And so what is the process of cleansing ourselves from all filthiness and perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord? In this very chapter Paul tells us that Godly sorrow leads to repentance and the sorrow of the world leads to death. Paul tells us that the Corinthians sorrowed in a Godly manner. He said that their sorrow produced in them great diligence, the Greek work being “spoude” meaning speed. He then says “what clearing of yourselves.” the Greek word for this phrase being “apologia,” where we get our word “apology,” from. With great swiftness they rushed to apologize to God once they had been convicted by the Holy Spirit through Paul. Against God alone had they sinned and with the utmost speed they desired to “clear themselves,” by apologizing to God. In all these things and with great zeal and earnest desire, they fell down before the throne of Grace and cried out to God. In this manner they did “cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Nothing has changed brothers and sisters. Its the same today as it was in ages past. 

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me………..against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight……..behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts…………..Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (Psa 51:3-12)