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The central theme of this song and these scriptures is very clear: God has called His people to holiness, grounded in His promises and expressed through separation from all that defiles.
Let us look at what the Word of God says. The key verse that shapes the whole song is:
> “Since we have these promises, dear friends,
> let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,
> perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
> — 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)
And again:
> “Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord.
> ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
> I will be a Father to you,
> and you will be my sons and daughters,’
> says the Lord Almighty.”
> — 2 Corinthians 6:17–18 (NIV)
These verses confront us with three great realities:
1. The promises of God – “Since we have these promises…”
2. The responsibility of believers – “let us purify ourselves…”
3. The goal of God – “perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Many Christians want the promises of God, but they do not want the conditions. Yet in scripture, promise and condition are often inseparable. This passage ties God’s intimate Fatherhood—“I will be a Father to you”—to our obedience in separation and holiness.
The song turns these scriptures into a corporate confession: we acknowledge the promises, we accept the call to cleanse ourselves, and we respond to God’s command to “come out and be separate.” This is not legalism; it is the fruit of grace. It is God drawing us into deeper intimacy, on His terms, in His holiness.
These words in 2 Corinthians were written by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth—a gifted, but very troubled congregation. Corinth was a major city in the Roman Empire: rich, immoral, idolatrous. The church there had been saved out of a culture soaked in sexual immorality, temple prostitution, and pagan worship.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul had already addressed many disorders:
By the time Paul writes 2 Corinthians, he has gone through a painful process of confrontation and discipline with them. Some had repented; others still questioned Paul’s authority. In chapters 6 and 7, Paul opens his heart, appeals to them in love, and then gives them a firm call to separation.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14–16 he warns:
> “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
> For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
> Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
> What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
> Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
> What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
> For we are the temple of the living God…”
The issue is spiritual mixture. They were trying to combine Christ with idols, righteousness with lawlessness, the temple of God with the temples of demons. Paul declares this to be impossible.
Then he quotes from the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah 52:11:
> “Depart, depart, go out from there!
> Touch no unclean thing!
> Come out from it and be pure,
> you who carry the vessels of the LORD.”
> — Isaiah 52:11 (NIV)
Isaiah spoke to the exiles coming out of Babylon and returning to Zion. They were to come out clean, undefiled, because they were bearing holy vessels.
Paul takes that word to Israel and applies it to the church. We, as New Covenant believers, are called out of spiritual Babylon—this world system under Satan’s control—and we are to come out clean, because we carry something far more precious than temple vessels: we ourselves are the temple of the living God.
So the sequence is:
The song simply walks us through that divine pattern.
To understand this call deeply, we must examine two key terms: holiness and defilement.
### 1) “Holiness” – Greek: *hagiosynē* (ἁγιωσύνη)
In 2 Corinthians 7:1, “perfecting holiness” uses the Greek word *hagiosynē*.
Holiness is not primarily a negative concept—“do not do this, do not do that.” It is first positive: belonging exclusively to God. It means:
Thus, “perfecting holiness” means:
We could say: holiness is separation unto God that produces likeness to God.
### 2) “Defilement / Contaminates” – Greek: *molusmos* (μολυσμός)
“Everything that contaminates body and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1) translates the Greek *molusmos*.
In the Old Testament background, to be defiled meant you were unfit for God’s presence or for temple service. God is not casual about defilement. It blocks fellowship with Him.
But note carefully: Paul says “everything that contaminates body and spirit.” Defilement is not just outward behavior in the physical body, nor merely inward attitudes of the spirit. It includes both:
This deepens our understanding of the lyrics. When we sing of cleansing from all defilement of flesh and spirit, we are confessing that God is claiming every dimension of our being—body and spirit—for Himself. Holiness is not selective; it is comprehensive.
Let us walk through the themes of the lyrics and see how scripture interprets scripture.
### Verse 1
> “Since we have these promises, dear friends,
> let us purify ourselves from everything
> that contaminates body and spirit,
> perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
This is almost a direct quotation of 2 Corinthians 7:1. Notice the order:
1. “Since we have these promises”
What promises? The immediately preceding verses:
> “As God has said:
> ‘I will live with them and walk among them,
> and I will be their God,
> and they will be my people.’
> …
> ‘I will be a Father to you,
> and you will be my sons and daughters,’
> says the Lord Almighty.”
> — 2 Corinthians 6:16, 18 (NIV)
These are covenant promises:
This is the highest intimacy possible between Creator and creature. But it is on God’s terms.
2. “Let us purify ourselves…”
This reveals our responsibility. Notice the wording: *let us purify ourselves*. There is a cleansing that only the blood of Jesus can accomplish (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). That is foundational and non-negotiable. But here, Paul addresses our active cooperation.
There are things in our lives that we must actively renounce, reject, put away, separate from. God does not do that for us against our will. We must:
3. “From everything that contaminates body and spirit”
This includes:
4. “Perfecting holiness out of reverence for God”
The fear of God (*phobos theou*) is not terror of a cruel master. It is profound awe and respect for a holy God. Proverbs 8:13 defines the fear of the Lord practically:
> “To fear the LORD is to hate evil.”
Perfecting holiness, then, means:
The Psalmist says:
> “You love righteousness and hate wickedness…”
> — Psalm 45:7 (NIV)
That is the heart of true holiness.
### Chorus
> “Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate,’
> says the Lord.
> ‘Touch no unclean thing,
> and I will receive you.
> I will be a Father to you,
> and you will be my sons and daughters,’
> says the Lord Almighty.”
This is the heart-cry of God in this passage. It combines command and promise.
1. “Come out from them and be separate”
This echoes Isaiah 52:11, originally spoken to Israel in Babylon. Babylon represents the organized system of rebellion against God, religious and commercial, under demonic control (Revelation 17–18).
To “come out” means:
This does not mean physical isolation from all unbelievers. Jesus prayed:
> “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
> — John 17:15 (NIV)
The issue is not geographical but spiritual yoking—where our primary loyalties, partnerships, and identity are found.
2. “Be separate” – Greek: *aphorizō*
*Aphorizō* means “mark off by boundaries, separate, set apart.” In Romans 1:1 Paul describes himself as:
> “set apart (*aphōrismenos*) for the gospel of God.”
The same principle: being separate is not just from something; it is unto something. We are separated from the world to belong fully to God and His purposes.
3. “Touch no unclean thing”
This includes both ritual and moral uncleanness. In the Law, to touch what was unclean made you unclean. Spiritually, if we willingly handle what God calls unclean—pornography, occult games, idolatrous rituals, demonic objects, corrupt entertainment—those things contaminate us.
Ephesians 5:11 says:
> “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
4. “And I will receive you… I will be a Father to you…”
Here is the pattern: separation leads to reception.
This is not about losing salvation. It is about the quality of relationship and depth of fellowship. Many believers live as if God is distant, unmoved, uninvolved. Yet they tolerate mixture, unclean influences, and disobedience. God has not changed. He still says, “If you come out, I will receive you. I will relate to you as Father in a deeper, manifest way.”
### Verse 2
> “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement
> of flesh and spirit,
> bringing holiness to completion
> in the fear of God.”
This restates and intensifies verse 1. Two things to notice:
1. “All defilement” – not partial, not selective.
We are not permitted to keep a little private uncleanness in one corner of our lives. Holiness is not compartmentalized. James 1:8 says:
> “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
The Holy Spirit presses us towards completeness. The same Greek root appears in “bringing to completion” (epitelountes). God’s desire is not minimum compliance; it is maximum consecration.
2. “Of flesh and spirit”
This confronts a common deception. Some say, “As long as my spirit is right, what I do with my body does not matter.” Scripture rejects that. Your body is:
> “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Others focus only on outward behaviors and neglect inner idolatry and rebellion. Scripture rejects that as well. God says:
> “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
> — 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
Holiness must reach both realms: the visible and the invisible, body and spirit.
### Verse 4
> “Because of these promises,
> let us live clean and holy,
> perfecting reverence for our God.”
This verse summarizes the entire teaching:
We do not pursue holiness to earn salvation, but because we have received great promises: God dwelling among us, God being our Father.
Holiness is not a theory. It is a way of life. Hebrews 12:14 declares:
> “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
True reverence is not a mood in a church building. It is expressed in obedience, separation, and purity. Psalm 34:9 says:
> “Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
> for those who fear him lack nothing.”
Holiness and the fear of the Lord belong together. Where the fear of God is lost, holiness decays. Where holiness is pursued, reverence grows.
Holiness is not an abstract ideal. Scripture always points us to practical steps. Let me outline four clear responses.
### 1) First, we must accept God’s standard of holiness
We do not define holiness; God does. He says:
> “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”
> — Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16
This means:
A practical step:
Take time to read 1 Peter 1–2 and Hebrews 12. Pray: “Lord, I submit to Your standard. Show me any area where I have lowered the standard or made excuses.”
### 2) Second, we must identify and renounce all sources of defilement
Paul says, “let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” This calls for honest self-examination.
Ask the Holy Spirit specific questions:
When the Holy Spirit shows something, we must:
1 John 1:9 gives the promise:
> “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
### 3) Third, we must break unholy yokes and come out of wrong alliances
2 Corinthians 6:14 says:
> “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers…”
A yoke is a binding relationship where two walk together under a common load. This can include:
We must ask:
God’s command is clear: “Come out from them and be separate.” That may mean:
This step requires courage, but the promise is:
“If you obey, I will receive you. I will be a Father to you.”
### 4) Fourth, we must actively cultivate the fear of the Lord
Holiness is “perfected… in the fear of God.” The fear of the Lord is not automatic. It is learned and chosen.
Practical ways to cultivate it:
1. Meditate on God’s holiness
Read passages like Isaiah 6; Revelation 4–5; Psalm 99. Let the vision of God’s holiness shape your inner world.
2. Guard your eyes, ears, and tongue
Psalm 101:3 says:
> “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.”
Holiness begins with what we allow to enter through our gates—what we watch, listen to, and speak.
3. Practice immediate obedience
When the Holy Spirit convicts, respond quickly. Delayed obedience hardens the heart and dulls the fear of the Lord.
4. Choose companions who love holiness
Proverbs 13:20:
> “Walk with the wise and become wise,
> for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Surround yourself with believers who take God seriously, who love purity and truth.
As we do these things, we are not earning God’s love. We are responding to it. The promise stands: if we come out and are separate, He will be a Father to us in deeper ways than we have yet known.
### Proclamation
Say this aloud, deliberately, as a faith confession based on these scriptures:
> I proclaim that I have the promises of God:
> He will live with me and walk among me.
> He will be my God, and I will be His.
> He will be a Father to me,
> and I will be His child.
>
> Therefore, in obedience to His Word,
> I choose to come out from all that is defiled and idolatrous.
> I separate myself from every unclean thing,
> in body and in spirit.
>
> I renounce every form of defilement,
> every unholy yoke,
> every alliance that compromises my loyalty to Jesus Christ.
>
> I declare that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,
> and my spirit belongs to God.
>
> By the blood of Jesus,
> I am cleansed from all sin and all unrighteousness.
> With the help of the Holy Spirit,
> I pursue and perfect holiness
> in the fear of God.
>
> The Lord Almighty receives me.
> He is my Father.
> I am His child.
> I am called to holiness,
> and I answer that call.
> In the name of Jesus.
> Amen.
### Prayer
Lord God Almighty,
You are holy, and there is no other like You.
You have promised to dwell among Your people,
to walk with us, to be our God, and to be our Father.
I ask You now to send Your Holy Spirit upon me in fresh conviction.
Search my heart, my body, my spirit.
Reveal to me every form of defilement,
every compromise, every unholy yoke.
Give me the grace to obey Your command:
to come out, to be separate, to touch no unclean thing.
I choose Your standard of holiness above every human opinion.
I renounce all sin, all occult involvement, all idolatry,
all impurity of body and spirit.
I receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus.
I yield myself to the Holy Spirit
to work in me the completion of holiness
in the fear of God.
Father, as I respond to Your call,
I ask that You receive me in a deeper way.
Manifest Yourself to me as my Father.
Draw me into the fullness of what it means
to be Your son, Your daughter.
Let my life be a dwelling place for Your presence,
a temple fit for the living God.
Use me as a holy vessel for Your purposes in this generation.
I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Amen.
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