How can we prepare to be part of the New Jerusalem's purity? The Glory We Are Invited Into Revelation 21:11 describes the New Jerusalem “having the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” God’s own glory is the city’s defining feature; therefore only those made pure by Him can belong there. Why Purity Matters • Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.” • 1 John 3:2-3: “We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.” • Revelation 21:27: “Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” God’s standard for entrance is absolute holiness. He supplies that holiness through Christ and calls us to live it out. Foundational Steps Toward Purity 1. Receive Christ’s cleansing. • 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 2. Walk in the Spirit. • Galatians 5:16: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” 3. Embrace ongoing repentance. • Acts 3:19: “Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Daily Practices That Shape a Pure Life • Regular Scripture intake – John 17:17: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” • Guarded thought life – Philippians 4:8 urges us to dwell on what is pure and praiseworthy. • Transparent relationships – James 5:16 calls us to confess sins to one another for healing. • Intentional obedience – John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Active separation from known sin patterns – 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Come out from among them and be separate.” • Cultivated worship – 2 Corinthians 3:18 shows we are transformed as we behold the Lord’s glory. Hope That Fuels Perseverance • Romans 8:18: “Our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.” • 1 Peter 1:3-4 promises “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you.” Encouragement as We Look Ahead Clinging to Christ’s finished work, depending daily on His Spirit, and pursuing practical holiness align our lives with the crystal-clear radiance of the New Jerusalem. The purity we cultivate now is preparation for the city where “the Lord God will illuminate them, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). |
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