A Lick and a Promise

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV). I have a confession to make. While I clean the house a little, I don't like to really clean. In fact, Mary always does a more thorough job of cleaning. She says I clean “with a lick and a promise.” I guess the “lick” is a quick swipe of a damp cloth; and, the promise is “I’ll do it better later. Of course, later never really seems to come. That is sort of the way I clean things. I know that’s not very good, but I really don’t like to really clean. In the Old Testament, God established that the sins of individuals would be symbolically transferred to an animal that would die in his or her place (cf. Leviticus 1–8). This atoning sacrifice was necessary to meet the righteous demands of a holy and just God. In the Old Testament, the word atonement can be translated to say, "a covering" or "to cover over something." While this atonement provided covering, it didn't get to the root of the problem. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross did. His atoning sacrifice washed away, eliminated, and wiped out all of our sins. Jesus was the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament pointed toward. He became the final sacrifice. Jesus was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (cf. John 1:29). When Jesus uttered the words, "It is finished," it could also be translated, "It is made an end of." Or, "It is paid." Or, "It is performed." Or, "It is accomplished." Our sins and the guilt that accompanied them were made an end of. The price of our redemption was paid in full. The righteous requirements of the law were fully met. The work the Father had given Him to do was completely done. Jesus didn’t clean us with a lick and a promise. His work fully cleansed us from every sin, past, present, and future. As Peter wrote, “By his wounds have we been healed.” Did you notice there are no limits on that healing? He did not say we are healed if we do something to help. We can do nothing that can help. Clean yourself all you want and you will still be dirty with sin and guilt. Be washed by the blood of Christ and you will be completely clean! Isn’t it time for you to really clean? Trust in him alone!