Chris1975 said:
PeterJens said:
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
So start with what is not highlighted in red: Therefore, since we have these promises. What promises?
How about these promises:
2 Cor 5:17 - new creation in Christ
2 Cor 5:18 - reconciled to God by Jesus Christ
2 Cor 5:19 - the word of reconciliation is committed to us.
2 Cor 5:20 - we are ambassadors for Christ. (An ambassador is one who is authorized to speak as God’s representatives here on earth.)
2 Cor 5:21 - made the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Cor 6:2 - now is the time accepted; now is the day of salvation (He helps us in the day of salvation. The word "helped" there means to run to meet an urgent distress call to deliver help; quickly respond to an urgent need.)
2 Cor 6:4 - we are ministers of God.
Now let's start as 2 Cor 6:14 in order to understand what 2 Cor 7:1 means:
2 Corinthians 6:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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.
Go back to 2 Cor 5:18 where Paul says we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. In 2 Cor 5:19, we have been given the word of reconciliation. Then in 2 Cor 5:20, it says we are ambassadors for Christ. We represent Christ here on earth. The ministry we have been given is to bring others to Christ through the word of reconciliation He has given to us.
In 2 Cor 6:1 there is warning against receiving the grace of God in vain. Do not receive that which has been given to us in 2 Cor 5:18-21 to no avail. Now look at 2 Cor 6:3 Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.
The context is the ministry. We've been given the ministry of reconciliation. We've been given the word of reconciliation in order to carry out the ministry given to us. We have been given the authority to represent Christ on earth.
Do not receive these things in vain, and do not give offense in anything that would bring blame upon the ministry.
Now 2 Cor 6:4-13 - Paul gives examples of how he has conducted himself in order to not bring blame upon the ministry and beseeches the believers to behave in the same manner, and then gives instructions:
2 Cor 6:14-15 - Do not yoke yourselves to unbelievers. This is not speaking of associating with unbelievers. it is talking about a believer binding him/herself to an unbeliever. Matt 11:29 tells us to take the Lord Jesus Christ’s yoke. Yoke ourselves to Him and Him alone.
What fellowship (partnership) does righteousness have with unrighteousness? None.
What communion does light have with darkness? None.
What concord (agreement) does Christ have with belial? None.
What part does a believer have with an unbeliever? None (for the believer is made a new creation).
In 2 Cor 6:16 we are told that we are the temple of the living God. God dwells in us and God walks in us.
And in 2 Cor 6:17 we are instructed to come out from among those things.
Be separate from the unbelievers, the unrighteous, those who continue to walk in darkness, those who are idolatrous.
Now we can read 2 Cor 7:1:
having therefore these promises what promises? The promises shown in 2 Cor 5:17 - 6:4.
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
How are we cleansed from all filthiness and how is holiness accomplished in us? We are cleansed as we separate from those things which bring defilement (yoking ourselves to unbelievers, fellowshipping with the unrighteous, communing with darkness, agreeing with Belial, ). Holiness is accomplished in us through God dwelling in us and walking in us as 2 Cor 6:16 tells us He will do. That is His promise to us. He will be our Father as He promises in 2 Cor 6:18.
No blame is brought to the ministry as we continue together in fellowship with Christ, with the Father, and with other believers.