2 Corinthians 7:1

2 Corinthians 7:1 says, Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  I believe that the promises that Paul referred to were that by our faith in Christ we would have the Holy Spirit living in us and that we would be the sons and daughters of God.  Paul said this should lead us to remove all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, which I believe would be our thoughts or motives, from our lives.  We need to remember that Paul did not divide his letter in to chapters and verses, and that this verse follows God's saying we would be His sons and daughters.  Verse two adds, Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.  Paul asked that they be accepted by the church at Corinth because they had neither wronged, corrupted, nor defrauded anyone.  Hopefully, as followers of Christ, we can have the same testimony today.  Verse three continues, I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.  Paul was not writing to them with an attitude of condemnation, but with an attitude of love and concern.  If we today feel the need to point out something that is wrong in the life of another believer, or even in a congregation of believers, we must be certain that God is directing us and that we do so out of love.  Verse four states, Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.  Paul said he had a great boldness in what he said to them, because he was writing what God directed him to write.  Paul said he was full of comfort, not because of his physical state, but because of his relationship to God.  He was joyful in all their tribulations.  We need to be bold in our witnessing today, even being joyful in our tribulations, because they are but temporary.  Verse five adds, For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.  Once more, Paul spoke of the trouble they had in Macedonia, which left them with no rest.  There were fightings without and fears within.  Still, he was grateful.  Too often when we have fears and doubts, we grumble and complain or live in fear, but we need to rejoice in our salvation instead.