March 16, 2012 | Leave a comment Today, Friday March 16, 2012, is the twenty-first day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” lust and “put on” pure desires. The most famous mention of “lust” in Scripture is by Jesus when He said: 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27–28 (NIV) Jesus’ teaching on adultery takes many by surprise. Many have tried to find an alternate meaning in this passage, especially men. Based on my extensive study of the Scriptures I can announce that this verse means what it says. The Jewish people of Jesus’ time thought that they were morally and ethically superior to individuals from other societies because they were the recipients and interpreters of the law of Moses. Jesus is teaching in this passage that the ethical standards in His kingdom are much higher than those of the Pharisees and the other Jews in His audience. Jesus states that this is His intent earlier in this passage: 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (NASB) Thus, I need to “put off” lust and “put on” pure desires. This teaching presents any honest observer with an obvious question, “How do we achieve such high ethical standards while living in a fallen world?” By allowing God the Holy Spirit to live in and through us. While we will continue to sin, we are to cease practicing sin. Peter explains how we are able to achieve living by Jesus’ higher ethical standard of the kingdom. 4 . . . He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:4 (NASB) Peter is teaching us that through God’s promises we become partakers of His divine nature. When I have this nature I am able to “put off” lust and “put on” pure desires. While sin will still plagues me in this life I am to be in the process of becoming like Christ as I am being sanctified. This sanctification process will ultimately lead us to escape the corruption of this world. Why should I be concerned about this sanctification process? Because it is God’s will! 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 (NIV) Did you get that? The sanctification process is not automatic. It requires you and I to “avoid” and “learn to control.” We are to avoid sexual immorality, which comes from my lust, so I need to “put off” lust. Peter says more, however, I must also learn to control my body so as to be holy and honorable, so in addition to “putting off” lust I need to also “put on” pure desires. To reject this instruction Peter says is to reject God. Our society is continually being built on those who use their bodies in dishonorable ways. The porn industry made $10.0 billion in revenue in the latest year I could find statistics (bigger than the NFL, the NBA and Major League Baseball combined) and General Motors, AOL Time Warner and Marriott quietly share the profits. 89% of porn is created in the U.S. $2.84 billion in revenue was generated from U.S. porn websites in 2006 $89/second is spent on porn 72% of porn viewers are men 260 new porn sites go online daily Young girls are being continually bombarded with messages by the media that their bodies are not the right size or shape. Girls are becoming weight conscious as young as 8 years old 80% of 9 year old’s are on diets Eating disorders have grown 400% since 1970 27% of the girls felt that the media pressures them to have a perfect body (Survey by Teen People magazine). While this may not be popular, I am coming to realize more and more that a proper understanding of biblical stewardship must extend beyond our bank accounts and time management to include our physical bodies as well. The primary motivation for you and I to “put off” lust and “put on” pure desires is not for our own salvation, however. Our primary motivation is to be vessels of honor which are fit for our Master’s use. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:21–22 (NASB) One purpose of our salvation is to become sanctified, so that we may be glorified and enter God’s presence. People who claim to be saved yet do not change their lifestyles misunderstand the doctrine of salvation. They are confusing God’s offer of salvation with the purchase of fire insurance. Too many think that by simply praying a prayer they will be eternally secure from suffering the fires of hell. Such thinking represents a serious misunderstanding of God’s offer of grace. God saves me independently of my works, however, because I am saved I have come to love God so that I no longer have the same desires which I once had and now seek to honor Him by my works. Living life in the same manner with the same desires after my salvation as I did before I received the gift of God’s saving grace indicates that I have never been genuinely converted. Whenever someone is genuinely converted their old desires change, sometimes abruptly and sometimes over time, but old desires change; being replaced by new godly desires which lead us to desire to be a vessel of honor, sanctified, useful and prepared for His good work from a pure heart. This desire to be holy as God is holy, or said another way to become sanctified, causes me to “put off” lust and to “put on” pure desires.