“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them… I will also save you from all uncleanness and I will call for the corn, and will increase it and lay no famine upon you” Ezekiel 36:25-27 & 29.
LIGHT FOR NOW: In Jesus is a humanity of men who have been cleansed.
Finally, on our studies in the subject of forgiveness in the light of the new birth, we will be observing the cleansing which is separation from filth/sin as implied in Ezekiel’s prophecy explained by Apostle Paul’s letter in his first epistle to the Corinthian church. “And such were some of you but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:11). Recall how the amplified version rendered this text…. You are washed cleaned…” Now, an understanding of the word “washed” will bring our subject of discuss to the light. The word “washed” was translated from the Greek word “apolouo” which is a combination of two words.
• “apo” which is a prefix usually used by Paul to qualify Christ’s work as complete.
• “louo” which applies to washing; that is, to be cleansed.
Bringing the two words together, the word “apolouo” refers to the complete washing or complete cleansing. Notice, Paul showed us how the washing was done in the text, he says “…in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God”!!! Note when he said “and by the spirit of our God”, it was to further explain in the name of our Lord Jesus; hence, it can be better understood as “…in the name of our Lord Jesus; that is, the spirit of our God”. Thus, Paul clearly stated that the cleansing and sanctification is by the spirit of God which points to the new birth. And in the subsequent verse (verse 19), he calls it the indwelling of the spirit” “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have God, and ye are not your own” (1Corinthiians 6:19).
Thus, the believer in Christ has been cleansed completely from sin or washed completely from sin. Ezekiel’s prophecy has been fulfilled in Christ and affected in the life of a born-again man. Other references in the epistles where cleansing from sin (forgiveness) was taught in relation to the giving of the spirit (that is, new birth) include: Galatians 1:4, 5 & Galatians 5:22-25. You have been completely cleansed from sin; there is no filth in you; you are pure, holy sanctified before God; God does not see filthiness in you because you have been completely washed. Let this realities occupy your thoughts and your Christian life will be more effective than ever.
INSTRUCTION: Acknowledge your realities.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord for my realities revealed to me in your word; thank you for washing me by your blood, making me pure clean and holy; I walk in the consciousness of these realities like never before, in Jesus Name, Amen.
For More Light; get the message, “Redemption” by Dr. John Linus
QUOTE: The quality of your Christian Walk is a reflection of the quality of knowledge you have.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2; EVENING: COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 