unclean

2 Corinthians 7:1 – Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

What promises is he referring to?

• 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 – And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says Yahweh; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says Yahweh Almighty.

These are, indeed, amazing promises:

• that God would dwell among them
• that he would be their God, and they his people
• that he would welcome them
• that he would be a Father to them, and they would be as sons and daughters

But all of these wonderful promises are contingent on this cleansing of defilement of body and spirit, involving a setting apart of some sort. Paul is using these passages as a way of weaning them off of their cultural traditions and practices that were hindering their walk with Yahweh through their new-found faith in Messiah Yeshua. He is using these texts to remind them of their true purpose as God’s people, and God’s care and concern for them as his own children. If they were to forsake their idolatry, God would indeed live among them and be a Father to them.

But if this is how Paul is applying these texts, then we can also begin to see how these wonderful prophetic indicators were not necessarily meant to be about a literal migration back to Israel, but a spiritual one. God was indeed calling his people back to himself from among the nations, but they were not necessarily returning to physical Jerusalem, but instead to the prophetic Zion, the New Jerusalem.

Paul’s admonition is that when we do actively separate ourselves, when we cleanse ourselves from these things, then we are truly behaving like God’s sons and daughters, and only then will he be present among us. This is the fulfillment of those ancient promises that generations have looked forward to. When we take decisive actions to maintain our holiness out of godly respect and honoring of him, we demonstrate the validity of God’s Word and the kingdom of God becomes visible to others in our actions.

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If you enjoyed this week's podcast, be sure to visit coreofthebible.org to read daily articles on these topics and to find out more about the message of the Bible reduced to its simplest form in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Have questions about today's topic, or comments or insights you would like to share? Feel free to email me at coreofthebible@gmail.com.

Thanks for your interest in listening today!

All music in today's episode: Brittle Rille by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3460-brittle-rille

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

MORE INFO:

Visit the blog articles and full podcast archive at: coreofthebible.org

Email questions or comments to Steve at: coreofthebible@gmail.com

MUSIC:

All music in today's episode: "Brittle Rille" by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3460-brittle-rille

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

3:20: Quiz: What percentage of the world’s animals do you think are invertebrates?  Why do we think this number is lower than it is?

8:59 The Founding of Georgia, colonies and charters and founding of states

15:15: Hunting inspires thoughts on OT eating laws, Peter’s vision and what the sheet represented

20:16: Holiness and Cleanness, God’s ethics and the physical manifestation of Holiness, Rachel steals idols.

22:12: Jesus undoes the uncleanness, He defines holiness and spread them to others

23:16: Article discussion: “You Are What (Animal) You Eat"(The Gospel Coalition) Deeper reasons for the dietary laws

26:18: Gen 1 classification of animals follows

30:56: Feet are a sign of creaturelyness- animals something with a split hoof are designed to live closer to man- some were created domesticated and others over time.

32:17: Clean and unclean prior to Mosaic law, not a return to Eden, but an advance on Eden

33:39: The more domesticated they are, the cleaner they are - 3 circles like the tabernacle and the categories of animals

36:53: You are with whom you eat, that’s the thing with Peter

38:30: JR’s thoughts on hospitality and bringing people to your table- Jesus’ change opened the door to having unbelievers at your table.

39:58: What does this have to do with The Supper of the Lamb? Molly has an answer!

41:25: Does it taste good or is it good for you? EPIC QUOTE

44:47: James K.A. Smith, You Are What You Love makes an impact on Molly about how churches are designed

45:48: Everything in our world is teaching us and showing us who God is and how to operate in this world

48:17: The core of what we believe and building on it

49:13 Some Telegram comments about the physicality of who we are, resistant starches and sourdough

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Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I.  Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8

Prayers can be brief and really any interaction in which we respond, inquire, ask, or wait upon the Lord is a prayer.  The statement "Here am I. Send me!" that Isaiah utters in Isaiah 6:8 is one such prayer.  It is a response to the Lord's question "Who will go?"  In looking at this exchange, we see that the Lord uses imperfect people like us for His mission on Earth.  He is simply looking for humble folks willing to say yes.  And finally, He will provide for the us the words to say as we step out in obedience.  Join me (Derek) for this final installment of this 3-part series "Prayers Of The Bible."  

What did Peter really learn from his vision in Acts 10?  This story of Peter’s vision is typically used as a way of teaching that God was declaring all foods “clean” or acceptable to eat. However, looking more closely at the context and outcome, we can learn more about its true meaning, along with some aspects of vigilance in our walk with God.

Now, what's interesting to note here is that in the original text, two different Greek words are used to describe the status of the animals. Peter says that he never had eaten anything common (koinou ) nor had he eaten anything ritually unclean (akatharton). Now there is wisdom in understanding the difference between that which is common and that which is unclean.

We can learn that the distinction between holy and common appears to be one of purpose: that which is holy is set apart for a specific use by priests or God's people only and that which is common is for everyday use by anyone. By contrast, that which is clean or unclean appears to be inherent in the thing itself, for example, those animals which were approved for eating versus those which were not approved for eating, likely due to the risk of contracting illness or disease.

Peter had taken the real meaning of the vision to mean that God was breaking down the barriers between men of different nations, and that the door of faith in Messiah would be opened to all who were willing to come. This was even confirmed to be the correct interpretation as the foreign men were visibly affected by receiving the Spirit of God (10:44-45).

Ultimately, vigilance in our walk before God comes in many forms, whether our own personal commitment to holiness, or our obedience to the things that God may reveal to us along the way. Peter exemplifies for us a measure of personal vigilance that we can learn from and follow in our own lives. He held tightly to the understanding of Judaism and maintained those traditions faithfully, believing that he was honoring God in doing so. Yet, when God revealed something radical within his current worldview, he was still willing to follow this new understanding wholeheartedly and unreservedly.

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If you enjoyed this week's podcast, be sure to visit coreofthebible.org to read daily blog posts on these topics and to find out more about the message of the Bible reduced to its simplest form in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Have questions about today's topic, or comments or insights you would like to share? Feel free to email me at coreofthebible@gmail.com.

Thanks for your interest in listening today!

All music in today's episode: Brittle Rille by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3460-brittle-rille

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

MORE INFO:

Visit the blog articles and full podcast archive at: coreofthebible.org

Email questions or comments to Steve at: coreofthebible@gmail.com

MUSIC:

All music in today's episode: "Brittle Rille" by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3460-brittle-rille

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Listen to this podcast to hear some of the funny and serious ways people are rude when they travel, whether they mean to be or  not.  Loud talkers, being late, not being clean, ill-mannered children and much, much more.  Listen to the end to hear the #1 complaint (and grossest) of all!