No Unclean Thing
God is the Supreme Creator of all things and we see this even through the laws of science. Of course, mankind did not invent these laws, but merely gained truth and understanding through enlightenment and discovery. Johannes Kepler, the father of Physical Astronomy, said it best, “O God, I am thinking Thy thoughts after Thee.” In the temporal universe there are thousands of laws or kingdoms, each one containing its own bounds and conditions which must be obeyed.
For example, the kingdom of water has its own laws. For science explains that water must consist of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. If water is heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be used in a number of ways, such as sterilizing surgical tools or cooking, but it would not be wise to take a bath in it or drink it. Likewise, when water is at 70 degrees, a person could take a bath in it, but it would not sterilize anything or keep anything cold. At 37 degrees, water would not freeze, even if we take it down another 4 degrees, the water still would not freeze. However, if we took the temperature down just one more degree, the water will freeze. Thus, water can serve us, or harm us, depending on whether we abide by its laws or break them.
The same is true concerning the spiritual Kingdom of God. It also has certain bounds and conditions, and if we do not live accordingly, we certainly will not have place within it, neither to enter in nor to remain. No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God [1 Corinthians 3:16-17]. Thus the Gospel of Jesus Christ has entered into the world, that those who believe on His name might enter into the Kingdom and obtain eternal life. For it is through baptism that we are washed clean from our iniquities, it is through the Spirit that we are justified and receive a remission of our sins, and it is through the blood of Christ that we are sanctified to receive life eternal.
Ultimately, the law of God’s Kingdom is the pure love of Christ, a love, or charity that “suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” [1 Corinthians 13:4-7]. For the Master taught that the two greatest commandments were to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:34-40]. Without this love, how can the Spirit of God dwell within us so that we might have place in that Kingdom of Heaven which is to come?
Scriptures to Consider
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV)
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)
6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Matthew 22:34-40 (KJV)
22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Romans 8:6-13 (KJV)
8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
