2. Purity Is About Devotion

Both James and Paul used the language of adultery to speak of this purity. In 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Paul states, “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Paul’s great concern for the Corinthians is the temptation toward spiritual adultery, which would lead them away from pure (read “whole-hearted”) devotion to Christ!

James’ call against believers is far stronger. We read in James 4:4, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

James doesn’t mince words. We cannot be devoted to two lovers. We cannot be devoted to this world and devoted to God. It’s one or the other. His call to these Christians is to purify their hearts (James 4:8).

This is the practice we must make as well. We must continually seek to purify our hearts from spiritual adultery. This means that we must consider how our thoughts and actions demonstrate what we are truly devoted to—whether it be this world or God. This purity takes as much diligence (if not more) as our pursuit of sexual purity does. We must be whole-heartedly devoted to God.

Erick Bouwmeester