James 1:21 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

In our past there has been an understanding that we must clean ourselves up to be accepted by God. This verse in James may have fed those feelings. As with all things spiritual, we must look at them in the light of truth and not supposition.

Look at the last element of this verse, the saving of a soul. If we look at salvation as a single event then cleaning up our act would be deemed necessary for salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:30-33 English Standard Version

³⁰ Why are we in danger every hour? ³¹ I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! ³² What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ³³ Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

If spiritually speaking Paul died every day then salvation is renewed every day. The issue here is found in the behavior of keeping bad company. Putting away every filthy thing can be seen then as a call to stop hang out with people that will rub off on us.

Then again we are called to witness Christ to the lost and it seems we cannot get away from every filthy thing since we are called to do that. So once again we are asked to search the scriptures in how to do both.

Matthew 10:11-14 English Standard Version

¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹² As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

Let the peace of God lead us.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 English Standard Version

¹⁰ You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, ¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God^[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Continuing on from yesterday with the thought that we should know the truth, let us begin here.

For most of us verses 16 and 17 might seem enough for supporting the need for reading and understanding the Word of God. We all need to validate what we believe. We must go over the Word time and time again to validate our thoughts and beliefs. We are subjected to errors and lies from many sources, but the Word of God is our source of truth.

What is included here in 10 thru 15 is of important significance because the life lived by faith is evidenced by the outcome. Nothing was done in secret, every point of Paul’s life was well documented by those who traveled with him and ministered with him and to him. A life of faith is the evidence of the degree of understanding we have in truth. It is our validation.

John 14:6a English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”