“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin,…wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:2,7
There is no perfect man, born on this earth, apart from the Lord Jesus, how has not sinned, and does sin. And yet, in the eyes of God, we are called upon to “Be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.” We also discover another reason for not sinning, and it that sin separates us from God. Though never touching our union with Christ if we truly be IN Him, it does affect our communion, or fellowship with God, that blessed attitude of heart and mind, whereby we walk with Him, and He with us, abiding in us, revealing the wonder of His love, joy, and peace in and through us. But how can this be our experience if we are surrounded by a world where unbelieving men sin all the time, and even when in our own hearts, sin is found to the point that we cry with the Apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me from this the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24) The great and wonderful news for the believer, for any who will come to Christ, either the first time, or after very many times, is that there is forgiveness, cleansing, a washing away of sin, setting free the soul to have fellowship with God. But you might say, “If there is so much sin in the world, and so much in my heart, my past, even my present, how can this experience be realized, known?” Is it truly possible to live a consistent life of walking in the light of God’s favor, and blessing, with sin being forgiven, the soul consistently cleansed, so that fellowship can be known, maintained and renewed? All this is blessedly possible because of a single sacrifice, that of Christ, His shed blood, and the ministry of the Spirit. But let’s start at the beginning. What is the basis for believing God for cleansing, renewal, restoration, consistent revival in the heart and life?
It begins where David discovered it begins, at the feet of Christ, of God, where the believing sinner comes, driven by his need to be free from the guilt, penalty, and control of sin. It begins also with the knowledge of the true and living God, who David declares to be a God of mercy, lovingkindness, who out of the greatness of His tender mercies, will blot out transgressions, IF the one coming is honestly, truthfully, seeking God. David discovered that in the clear, concise confession of his sin(s) before God, and the honest appeal to God to meet fully his need, that God in His mercy, IS faithful and just to forgive all sin, cleansing from all unrighteousness. God forgives, forgets, all sin, making the seeking sinner clean as snow. The sinner must grasp and realize that in coming to the merciful Christ, that he will not be turned away. There is in Christ, a perpetual fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness, where alone sin can be washed away, forgotten, deliverance being found from it’s condemning guilt. Here is where Christ would have us abide, living in the reality of the certainty of consistent cleansing from all sin. The great purpose for thorough cleansing is the preparation of the heart to know God, Christ by the Spirit. To know something of the power of Christ’s resurrection, and His abiding life, cleansing is essential.
David trusted the Lord for the cleansing of ALL sin because he discovered that this salvation to which the believer is called is one where God is not only able to cleanse from all sin, but will do so, that fellowship can be known. David learned also that with a clean heart, he needed a renewed spirit. a right whole-hearted faith in God. Christ cleanses, frees, disentangles, removes the burden of sin, to reveal Himself to the heart, and in the life. Cleansing and the strengthening of the heart by faith, provide the means of fellowship.
Dear Father, Keep us clean today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.