"Unless I Wash You"

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #131au Re-Written 29APR09

Save Me Today—Part Forty Seven: “Unless I Wash You”

by rev dave c

John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 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, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives (NIV).

The first step in coming to repentance, to accepting Christ’s forgiveness and receiving the gift of salvation, is the recognition and confession that we are guilty of sin—that we are sinners—and that there is nothing in and of ourselves (individually, or collectively) that we can do about it. We pass below what Francis Schaffer calls “the line of despair.” At that point of confession, we each either choose faith in the claims and promises of Jesus Christ, or we choose to accept that sin and sinfulness is an integral part of life. If we choose the latter, we variously become philosophical, or cynical, or victimized, or combative, or religious, or we adopt any number of other attitudes in an effort to cope with reality, or to “win.” Whatever our choice within the World, sin disappears into terms and phrases such as “mistakes,” “a lapse in judgment,” “life lessons,” or “antisocial/criminal behavior”—we can call it absolutely anything as long as we do not call it a sin that is being committed before an Almighty Creator, a Faithful Sustainer, and a Righteous Judge.

On the other hand, every Christian has known the absolute joy of having all his or her sins forgiven, the thrill of knowing that the Holy Spirit has come to dwell within their person, and that heaven awaits. Amen. Sin for the non-believer is like a systemic bacterial infection that inevitably, irrevocably leads to a slow and painful death that extends into forever. The New Testament tells us that the only medication, the only treatment that is powerful enough to cleanse us of that infection, is the blood of Jesus. The word purify in 1John 1:7&9 is translated from the Greek word katharizo (#2511) which means to cleanse (literally or figuratively). Our English word catharsis (to purge, or “wash clean from the inside,” physically, or emotionally) is derived from the same Greek root.

The blood of Jesus purged all sin from our system at the time we first called on His name (we were saved from the penalty of sin through justification) and we were inoculated (sealed) by the Holy Spirit. This is the meaning of verse 7&8 quoted in the opening verses. From that point onward in our Christian life, we may stumble into sin—we may make bad decisions—we may even willfully, intentionally disobey the Word of God—but those sins are no longer intrinsic; they are no longer a natural part of our existence. They are more like a disgusting filth that accumulates on the outside of a believer. This, then, is what John is referring to in verse 9 above, and in The Gospel of John beginning with 13:5 After that, he [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me [fellowship]." 9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean (NIV). Even though Jesus cleansed/purged me of all sin at the beginning of my salvation relationship with Him, I must daily submit myself to the ministering of His lordship in order that I might have today’s dirt washed from those parts of my existence that come into contact with the World (my head, my heart, and/or my hands).

No matter how intelligent, how talented, or how educated they may be, all who dwell within the World who deny the very existence of personal sin are lost in darkness, but the blood of Jesus can purify them from all sin. They need only ask and believe, because …now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Ro 3:21-24; NIV).

As believers, when we stumble, fall, or even jump—if we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9; NIV). Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (Ja 5:13-16; NIV). When [Jesus] had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (Jn 13:12-17; NIV). Amen.