Let's Go Deeper

Aim: To reflect on what alienated us from God, and to more fully repent of it.

Doctrine: Proper order provides the context for fuller repentance. From the ''building'' (verb and noun) of the church arises the memory of past failures, which then humbles us before our gracious God.

Exegesis: Dealing with heart issues: ''ceremonial'' holiness does not equal real holiness (vv. 10-12); our fallen flesh pollutes everything about us (v. 13); all of this calls for sincere faith and repentance (v. 14).

Further application: How to respond to texts like these: do not despair, nor retreat, but press on with faith in the goodness and sufficiency of Christ.

Key verse: v. 13 ''And Haggai said, 'If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?' So the priests answered and said, 'It shall be unclean.'''