Cleansing

One of the most valuable truths I learned as a young Christian was how to receive cleansing. 1 John 1:9 became an important verse to me that I went back to many times, as I felt the need for cleansing over and over. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We need to be cleansed, and washed from our sins. Jude 22,23 talks about "hating even the garment stained by the flesh". It is important that we hate sin, and desire to be cleansed from it. I heard a man speak who said that he had gone on a hunting trip for 9 days, and wasn't able to have a bath or shower for the entire time. He said that when he was able to have a shower, it was one of the greatest feelings he had ever had in his life. Jesus was teaching the disciples the need for cleansing when He washed the disciples feet. The washing of the disciples feet in John 13 was more than the need for clean feet. Jesus said, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Jesus was showing the disciples the difference between coming to Christ initially to be saved, and learning to walk in cleansing as a follower of Christ. "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." The washing of our hands and feet symbolizes the need for daily cleansing from sin and defilement. The bronze laver of Moses' tabernacle illustrates for us the need for washing of our hands and feet - cleansing of our works and walk. The detailed system of sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament shows us how much we need cleansing. Hebrews chapters 8 - 10 is an explanation of why we need cleansing, and the difference between the Old Testament process and the New Testament solution. "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified," Heb. 10:14. Our perfect standing with God is accomplished by the one offering of the Son of God on the cross. Our standing with God is perfect through Christ. It is finished, and nothing can be added to make our standing any better. However, as we walk in this new salvation, we get defiled, and need to be cleansed. The cleansing agent is the blood of Jesus, as we see in 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." God desires that we walk clean before Him, and He is at work in our lives to bring cleansing and purity into our lives. He desires, "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." Removing spots and wrinkles requires some scrubbing, and some pressure, and some heat. By submitting to the Holy Spirit's work in us, the cleansing takes place, and we are delivered from the snares and stains of sin, as it tries to take hold in our lives. Let us walk in the cleansing that God has provided for our lives.