Some Special Words - Pt 3

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).

Our third word is “cleansed”; it is the Greek word καθαρίζει. It only occurs once in the New Testament, here in our reading today. Strong’s defines it as making pure ("clean"), removing all admixture (intermingling of filth). There have been many illustrations of this word offered; and, it is a very common word in our vocabulary. However, as we typically think of terms of “clean” or “cleansed” the use of it by the Apostle John goes further than we typically think of in our normal use. I read a typical example of the prevailing belief of the cleansing of the New Testament. The author said, “Sin is like pounding nails into a board, and forgiveness is pulling out those nails. But you still see the holes.” That view seemed to give him the right to hold a grudge. This is not the picture the Bible uses to describe either God’s forgiveness or ours. They are related (cf. Matthew 6:12, 13-15). In the Bible’s picture, sin is like a repulsive, filthy garment (cf. Isaiah 64:6; Zechariah 3:3). In his forgiveness, God takes our garments and washes them clean. When you look at them after washday, you would never know they were ever dirty; they are spotless and sparkling white. Sins are “washed away” (cf. Acts 22:16). An amazing miracle takes place. In our world, nothing washed in blood comes out white; blood, after all, stains. But in God’s forgiveness, he washes us in the “blood of Jesus His Son” and so “cleanses us from all sin.” And, the Bible’s description of the saints around the heavenly throne in Revelation says that they “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (cf. Revelation 7:14). No wonder David asks for forgiveness in these terms after the conviction and repentance from his sin through the adultery and murder he committed. He cries out to God: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:7-10 ESV). Now, that’s clean! Hallelujah! What a Savior!