Scripture warns us to guard our mouths and even to take every thought captive (Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 21:23, 2 Corinthians 10:5, etc). Why? Because thinking leads to action.
Throughout the entire Bible we are told to be holy/set apart, from the inside-out. Our bodies are the TEMPLE today (Leviticus 15:31; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 6:15-20); yet we often forget we are, in essence, carrying within us “Holy Ground”; and offending the Ruach/Holy Spirit with any unclean thoughts, words or actions....
"For I am Adonai your God; therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy … you are to be holy, because I am holy (Leviticus 11:44 and 45, CJB)
"...you people are to be holy for me; because I, Adonai, am holy; and I have set you apart from the other peoples, so that you can belong to me." (Leviticus 20:26, CJB)
You see, YHWH commanded us to "be holy" so we could be in His presence and He could dwell with us. "In this way you will separate the people of Isra'el from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in a state of uncleanness for defiling my tabernacle which is there with them." (Leviticus 15:31, CJB)
"The person who remains unclean and does not purify himself will be cut off from the community because he has defiled the sanctuary of Adonai." (Numbers 19:20 CJB)
NONE of this changed when Messiah Yeshua martyred himself on our behalf! The rules for holiness didn’t change; the only thing that changed was that innocent animals no longer had to die to atone for our sins!
2 Corinthians 6: 14. And don’t be yoked with those who do not believe: for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity or what fellowship[1] has light with darkness. 15. Or what agreement has the Mashiyach with the Accuser or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16. Or what agreement has the temple of Elohim with that of demons?[2] For you are the temple of the living Elohim; as it is said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them, and will be their Elohim, and they will be my people.
17. Wherefore, you come out from among them, and be separate from them says Master YHWH; and don’t come near the unclean thing,[3] and I will receive you; 18. And will be to you a Father,[4] and you will be sons and daughters to me, says Master YHWH the Almighty.[5] (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Another place where “communion” was inserted into Christian versions, where it is clearly and simply “fellowship.”
[2] Present tense, the Temple was still standing when this Epistle was written and therefore before the year 70. Of course, Pauline authorship also gives us this time, since the Apostle died before 67.
[3] See Leviticus 5:2; 7:21; 11:8, 31; Deut 14:8; Isaiah 52:11; Lam 4:15; Haggai 2:13.
[4] Psalm 103:13; Malachi 1:6
[5] Literally, “Master YHWH that (is) all power.”
1 Peter 2: 5. And you also, as living stones, are built and become spiritual temples and Set Apart priests for the offering of Spiritual Sacrifices,[1] acceptable before Elohim through Y’shua the Mashiyach. (AENT)
FOOTNOTE:
The spiritual component of sacrifice is much more important than what is being “sacrificed”; otherwise it would have no more significance than a backyard barbecue. A sacrifice is evaluated by spiritual content that is elucidated in Torah, the Prophets and through Mashiyach.
The surrender of one’s will, peace offerings, bountiful offerings, thanksgiving offerings, mercy offerings, or sacrifices to establish resolve or new direction, congregational sacrifices, national sacrifices, sacrifices towards becoming Set Apart, or sacrifices to aid purity of thought and attitude are all potential “spiritual sacrifices.”
“Spiritual sacrifices” unto YHWH are Set Apart and distinct from the sacrifices towards the physical gods of materialism, relativism or religious identity. All authentic spiritual sacrifices have components of Righteousness, Judgment, Justice, Mercy and Faith; they are not cerebral, but spiritual, not in word only but in deed (visible) as well, and they are made with spiritual intent within the heart.
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