Wednesday, May 30, 2007
1 Corinthians 6:11 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
SPIRIT OF POWER
When I do the laundry -- which admittedly is not very often at our house -- I use laundry soap. No soap, no washing -- even with a washing machine.
Now, let's talk about a washing far more serious and far more important. So serious that, even when God portrayed it in the Old Testament, animals died and blood was shed. In fact, the inspired writer to the Hebrews notes that in the temple rites, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin]" (Hebrews 9:22). When the time came for the actual redemption of this world of sinners, the very Son of God gave His life and shed his blood.
So, when the Scriptures say that we sinners are washed and made clean (sanctified) by the Holy Spirit, we are also told it is "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ". In His name = by His authority. We're back to the blood, aren't we? His blood. No blood, no washing.
We apply soap in order to get clothes clean. The Spirit of God applies the shed blood of Christ to human hearts to cleanse us of sin. He does this, of course, by announcing to us the good news of Jesus' redeeming work on our behalf -- AND by enabling us to believe it.
Talk about "power-washing"!
Holy Ghost, with power divine
Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;
In Thy mercy pity me,
From sin's bondage set me free.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 234:3)
