What does the Bible say about purity?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that purity is a gracious work of God that calls His people to wholehearted devotion in thought, body, and conduct, trusting Christ for cleansing and strength. Jesus blesses the pure in heart, who will see God (Matthew 5:8), and Psalm 119:9 directs the young to guard their way by God’s word. Believers are to flee sexual immorality, honor marriage, and put to death sinful desires (1 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 13:4; Colossians 3:5). Yet purity is not earned by self-effort: David prays, “Create in me a clean heart” (Psalms 51:10), and God forgives and cleanses those who confess their sins through Christ (1 John 1:9).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Matthew 5:8

    Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

  • Psalms 119:9

    How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

  • 1 Timothy 4:12

    Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

  • Psalms 51:10

    Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

    [3] For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, [4] that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, [5] not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God;

  • 1 John 1:9

    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  • Colossians 3:5

    Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

  • Galatians 5:19-21

    [19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

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