In ancient Israel, the Levitical priests were required to maintain purity, being unspotted and without physical defects, as outlined in Leviticus 21, to offer sacrifices or offerings to God. Such defects, categorized as injury, deformity, disease, and surgery, were seen as profaning God's sanctuary if the priest approached the veil or altar. In the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem in 515 BC, the priests purified themselves according to God's instructions in Leviticus, achieving ritual cleanliness through sacrifices and obedience to His law, as noted in Ezra 6:20. In the New Testament church, God calls a spiritual royal priesthood, as described by the apostle Peter, emphasizing that purity remains essential. Unlike the physical rituals of the Levitical priesthood, the spiritual purity required for God's Kingdom involves cleansing the mind and attitude. This purification begins with the blood of Christ's sacrifice, washing away sins at baptism, and continues as an ongoing process to rid the mind of sin. The apostle James defines pure religion as keeping oneself unspotted from the world, meaning unblemished and unstained by sin. Purity is achieved through the spiritual cleansing of the mind by studying and applying God's Word, replacing carnal thoughts with righteous, pure ones, resulting in complete devotion to God. The apostle Peter instructs that souls are purified by obeying the truth through the Spirit, fostering sincere love with a pure heart. God's Word, described as pure and true, facilitates this transformation of thoughts. Christ's life serves as the perfect example of truth and conduct for this purification process. The apostle John states that everyone with hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. As God's royal priesthood, it is our duty to prepare for His Kingdom by purifying our minds with His holy words and thoughts, having been purified from a former life of sin through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The concept of purity is central to the holiness code found in Leviticus, particularly in chapters 17 through 23, which focus on sanctification and the call to reflect God's nature. Purity, as an essential attribute of God, is beyond human imagination, representing ultimate holiness and a vast difference between the divine and human. He is pure in a way that human flesh, tainted by sin, cannot fully grasp or attain in this life, except as seen in Jesus Christ. God's purity demands that His people strive to mirror His character, as He commands, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." This is not achieved merely by following laws, but through His direct involvement, as only He can sanctify and make something holy. Purity is not earned by human effort alone; it begins with His act of setting apart His people, followed by a lifelong process of growing in holiness through His guidance. The holiness code serves as a guide to living as God lives, reflecting His pure nature in thoughts, speech, and deeds. Breaking these laws leads to impurity, the opposite of holiness, as seen in Israel's history when they failed to keep His statutes. However, when approached with the right spirit, these laws help maintain and build holy character, aligning us closer to His purity. Spiritually, purity also applies to how we receive God's Word. Just as one should avoid consuming food that is diseased or torn by beasts, we must guard against ingesting His Word when mixed with falsehood or distorted by external influences. Such syncretism defiles its purity and fails to produce life. God's Word, in its pure form, is what nourishes and sustains holiness within us. Thus, the pursuit of purity, both in conduct and in understanding His truth, remains vital for those called to be His holy people.

God's holiness embodies transcendent purity, a quality so beyond human comprehension that it surpasses all description and understanding. He is the epitome of purity, radiating a light that no darkness can withstand, symbolizing righteousness over evil. This purity is not merely an attribute but the essence of His being, calling us to reflect His image by striving for holiness in every facet of our lives. He commands us to be holy as He is holy, a daunting yet essential pursuit. Purity, equated with light and holiness, stands in stark contrast to the darkness of sin. To walk in fellowship with Him, we must reject sinful ways and purify ourselves, aligning our thoughts, actions, and attitudes with His goodness and righteousness. Every individual who holds this hope must work to purify themselves, mirroring His purity, as it is the only path to fulfill the destiny He has designed for us. Becoming holy is a progressive journey, marked by ever-increasing righteousness leading to sanctification. It is a challenging path, often fraught with difficult choices and trials, yet tailored by Him to be attainable for each of us. His holiness, though beyond grasp, does not overwhelm to crush but to inspire transformation into His likeness. Through a close relationship with Him, established by Jesus Christ, His holiness is communicated to us, reflected in our lives as we yield and submit to His will. His grace sustains this process, providing what is needed at every step toward glorification, when we will shine with His radiant beauty. This grace, ever-present, ensures that the path to holiness, though unique and demanding for each, is never beyond reach. We must cooperate with His will, exerting effort and making choices, understanding that growth in holiness is a shared endeavor between us and Him, balanced perfectly by His infinite wisdom and purity.