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Washed In The Blood
July 18, 2010
We sometimes forget or minimize the fact that it is the blood of Jesus Christ that washes us clean, removing our sins, providing forgiveness, restoring us to the good graces of God Almighty. Today, we revisit the basic truth that we are purified from past sins when we are washed in the blood of Jesus. When we repent and are baptized, the blood of Jesus scrubs us clean so that we enter a new -- renewed -- relationship with God. This also means that our own consciences are cleansed. This being true, we must lay aside guilt over the burdens of past sins, else we will not be able to serve as we should.
Bernie Parsons
Washed In The
Blood
By
Bernie Parsons
Presented to Load church of Christ on 07-18-2010
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 07-25-2010
I am amazed and distressed by the number of Christians, even those who have been in the body of Christ for many years—even decades—who carry a burden of guilt. Often, the guilt is about sins committed in the past, even before they became Christians. In others, it is a general sense of being unworthy of the name of Christ.
We are all unworthy. Jesus told His disciples as much.
Luke 17:10 "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
The apostle Paul also confirmed that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
But Paul also shows us the answer to our dilemma.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Propitiation means that which returns us to a state of favor or good will. By the blood of Jesus, we are returned to a favorable state, a state of good will, with God. Our past sins are remitted, which means that we are restored to a sinless state--not because we are not sinners, but because our faith in the blood of Jesus takes our past sins away, freeing us from guilt.
Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
We are justified by the blood of Jesus, we were reconciled to God by His death. Now, we are saved by His life. We are at one with God through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. To reconcile means to reunite, bring back into harmony, restore to a state of goodwill.
The blood of Jesus returns us to a harmonius relationship with God, putting us into a state of oneness of purpose. What God wants is what we want. What God says, we do.
Colossians 1:20 "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"
Wicked works alienate us from God, but the blood of Jesus returns us to a state of grace. Sin, or wicked works, start in the mind as we contemplate doing evil.
Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
Matthew 15:18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"
We need a clean mind, thinking good and pure thoughts, in order to be in harmony with God. The blood of Jesus cleans our hearts, but it is up to us to maintain a good heart.
1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"
Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
To purge means to purify, or to remove that which is unwanted, that which produces guilt. Our conscience is purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. He removes the past sins, that unwanted burden that frees us from our guilt.
The apostle Paul, mentor to a less experienced Timothy, gave the following advice:
1 Timothy 1:3 "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm."
He warned Timothy to beware of men who tried to teach the scriptures without understanding what they meant. Such men raise unnecessary questions, delving into areas that should be left alone, expounding on things that they do not understand. Instead, Paul points out that when the whole idea of serving God is boiled down to its essence, it is this:
“Charity our of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned”.
In other words, love your neighbor as yourself—because it is the right thing to do—keep a clear conscience, and have a deep and abiding faith.
Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
1 Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
The blood of Jesus has cleansed us of our past sins, and we need to keep our minds clean, focused, and meditating upon what is good and right. We have put on Christ. We wear Christ. We walk in Him. To the world that lies in sin, we are Christ. That is why the deceivers of the world try to corrupt Christians. They realize that if they can bring us down, that they have successfully attacked Christ, that which that He taught, and that for which He stands.
1 John 1:5 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
We know that we sin. That brings guilt into our hearts, defiling our consciences. We also know that when we are baptized into Christ, His blood cleanses us of our past sins, and we wear Him, we walk in Him. He is our propitiation, our reconciliation, our salvation. His blood cleanses us, making us pure. If we are pure, we need to put the guilt of past sins out of our hearts, and concentrate on removing sin from our hearts, and from our lives.
Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
Colossians 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
Thank God, our sins are forgiven through Jesus! We can rest in this blessed assurance.
Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
God does not intend for us to bear all the cares of this life, to be burdened by worry and guilt. Through the blood we are cleansed and purified, and can lay those burdens down.
Hebrews 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
The purifying blood of Jesus Christ allows us to boldly approach the throne of God with our petitions and prayers. As we forgive, we shall be forgiven.
Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
