THE CLEANSING

The cleansing from sin and its guilt is an important part of Christianity. Without the cleansing power of the blood none of us would be able to stand before God. Christians should constantly praise God for such grace.

 

But there is another important cleansing that is to take place in the life of a Christian. We might call it a do-it-yourself cleansing. It is our responsibility to clean up our own lives. Paul wrote, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) James put it this way, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7) The prophet Isaiah called on his contemporaries, saying, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.” (Isaiah 1:16) It is our duty to eradicate sin form our lives.

 

Of course, we are not in this alone. God is on our side. Paul tells us, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) And in another place he wrote, “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

 

Claude