Purity
Big Ideas
1. We are each responsible for our own purity.
2. We are called to support and help others who desire to live purely.
What Purity Is
Purity is the intentional choice to honor God with your heart, mind, and body. It goes far beyond sexual behavior—it is about devotion, worship, and obedience in every area of life.
Purity is not about what you’re avoiding, but who you’re honoring.
God’s Will and Sanctification
In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul calls believers to holy living. God’s will is clear: that we be sanctified and avoid sexual immorality. God’s will is not a hidden mystery we are missing—it is often a clear command we are ignoring.
Sanctification means being set apart for God and gradually shaped to become more like Christ.
It includes:
1. Salvation – being made right with God
2. Daily living – the choices we make
3. Process – ongoing growth over time
Sexual immorality is sin, and no relationship or desire is worth eternal separation from God.
Taking Sin Seriously
We must deal aggressively with sin and remove it from our lives. The environment and people we surround ourselves with matter—if sin is normalized in your peer group, you will eventually accept it too.
Ten Habits That Protect Purity
1. Set clear boundaries ahead of time
2. Don’t test yourself
3. Filter your media intake
4. Practice accountability
5. Resist temptation and replace it with something godly
6. Guard your alone time
7. Pray immediately when temptation hits
8. Confess quickly when you fail
9. Treat people as people, not bodies
10. Stay focused on your God-given purpose
Why Purity Matters
Purity shapes the person you are becoming. It is not just about avoiding sin, but about forming a man or woman who reflects Christ.
- Let us be a people of honor, not consumption
- Today’s habits carry into tomorrow’s marriages
- Self-control now builds faithfulness later
- Impurity leads to shame before God, but purity leads to boldness for God
- Purity does not earn God’s love—it helps us experience it more fully and deepens our walk with Him