Purity

In the Bible, the word purity (or “cleanness”) doesn’t just refer to the cleanliness of a body or an object. It also describes a person’s moral or spiritual state, where they are maintained or restored to a condition of blamelessness, holiness, or complete freedom from corruption (Leviticus 10:10; Psalm 51:7; Matthew 8:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

The Old Testament taught purity in four interconnected aspects: physical, ceremonial, moral, and spiritual.

　　1、Physical Purity: Worshippers had to wash their bodies and wear clean clothing before worship.

　　2、Ceremonial Purity: Both life and worship required strict adherence to the ceremonial laws of Moses. This included, for example, observing purity regulations during childbirth or maintaining purity during funerals.

　　3、Moral Purity: This involved obeying moral standards and the prompting of one’s conscience (and for true Christians, the guidance of the Holy Spirit). The law God gave to Moses revealed His character and nature, showing us what is good and what is evil in His eyes. In the Old Testament, ceremonial and moral purity were inseparable (2 Samuel 20:2:21; Job 10:7:9; Psalm 20:4:4, 50:1:10, 70:3:14; Proverbs 20:9).

　　4、Spiritual Purity: This referred to a person’s heart and mind. After following the physical, ceremonial, and moral laws, a person was to love and revere God, cultivating a close and emotional relationship with Him. While moral purity relates to actions, spiritual purity is a matter of the heart.

The Mosaic Law gave us God’s standards, but the law was impossible for humans to perfectly follow. Since people could not achieve complete purity through their own efforts, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to become our Redeemer and fulfill the righteousness of the law on our behalf. Today, the complex rituals of the Old Testament law are no longer a bondage for Christians. We are no longer limited by rules like “do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,” but have found complete freedom and liberation through our intimate relationship with God.