Cleansed

Forgive (by David Peterson at The Rock Of Jesus Church)

John the Baptist is in the Jordan baptizing nearly everyone who arrived from Jerusalem and Judea. At the beginning of His ministry even Jesus asks to be baptized but, in full humility, John objects. Jesus then reasons with him in Matthew 3:15; “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Theologians believe that Jesus identified with the sinners He was sent to save and His baptism was symbolic of His perfect righteousness that He would eventually trade with their sin. John Charles Ryle and Jay Patrick Green, Sr. teamed up to write this about cleansing and righteousness; “The Bible applied to the heart by the Holy Ghost is the chief means by which men are built up and established in the faith, after their conversion. It is able to cleanse them, to sanctify them, to instruct them in righteousness, and to furnish them thoroughly for all good works.”

The words of the Bible, the words of Christ, are indeed purifying and set in place in order to show believers a holy life. In effect, these holy words cleanse the hearts of flesh.

James E. Orr wrote the 1936 hymn “Search Me, O God” and the first and second verses are;

Search me, O God, and know my heart today,

Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;

See if there be some wicked way in me;

Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;

Fulfill Thy Word and make me pure within;

Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;

Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

Orr describes the need for believers to be cleansed of sin and become free of sin. Only our Lord and Savior can do that and we praise Him!

Let us pray: Savior of the world, Christ Jesus, cleanse us from all sin, wash us clean from our wicked ways, and renew a right spirit within our hearts! Amen.