2 Corinthians 11:1-3
1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
In verse 2 Paul says of the Corinthians, "I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ". The phrase "pure virgin" in this context is not just a reference to sexual virginity, as later verses apply this to the gospel we believe, but neither is it totally separate from our sexuality. Paul's desire is that we have a "pure devotion to Christ", and that doesn't happen when our thoughts are "led astray" (verse 3). To be pure requires focus and clarity, not being mixed with substances. Lustful thoughts and sexual immorality cloud our desires and devotion. They lead us astray as rather than focusing our minds and devotion on Christ, we are at least partially devoted to an idolatrous relationship.
God, help me to be pure before You.
1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
In verse 2 Paul says of the Corinthians, "I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ". The phrase "pure virgin" in this context is not just a reference to sexual virginity, as later verses apply this to the gospel we believe, but neither is it totally separate from our sexuality. Paul's desire is that we have a "pure devotion to Christ", and that doesn't happen when our thoughts are "led astray" (verse 3). To be pure requires focus and clarity, not being mixed with substances. Lustful thoughts and sexual immorality cloud our desires and devotion. They lead us astray as rather than focusing our minds and devotion on Christ, we are at least partially devoted to an idolatrous relationship.
God, help me to be pure before You.