| James 4:8 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts,2 you double minded. [James tells those in the churches who are still sinning to purify their hearts by drawing near to God; which occurs by persistently and patiently waiting on Him, listening and obeying what you hear the Lord command you.] | 2 Corinthians 7:1 1 Therefore having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.1 [Richard Claridge, an outstanding early Quaker, profoundly wrote: "The real happiness of man consists in being truly religious, or holy, in our measures, as God is holy; for holiness and happiness are so nearly related, that the one cannot be, or subsist, without the other. Holiness is happiness begun, and happiness is holiness in perfection." From the Word of the Lord within: "There came a view that happiness and holiness are separable."] | Acts 15:9 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.2 [Little by little each spoken word from Him that you hear is engrafted into your heart and imparts the life of God to you making you a little more pure.] | |||||||