My youngest son Braxton has been very inquisitive lately, asking me for definitions of everyday, common words even though I think he knows what they mean. Most of the time they are hard to define because I cant figure out how to say what it means without actually saying the word he is asking about in the definition of it. The other day, though, he asked me the definition of something I could actually define.
Mommy, what does wash mean? he inquired.
I thought for a second, and then said, To make something clean.
As soon as I said that boom – Jesus came to my mind and how that was exactly what He did for me. He washed me and made me clean. Now the cleansing we receive from Jesus is like no other. When you wash any other thing it can become dirty again, but not when you are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. You are forever clean. How is that possible?
I need to explain a few things so it can be clearly understood because this crucial for a Christian to understand so you can walk in the forgiveness His blood purchased for you. And if you arent born again hopefully this wonderful news of our loving Savior can help you to receive Jesus as your Savior.
We first need to understand that all people are three part beings: spirit, soul, and body. The spirit is the deep, inner part of you that cant be felt. Your soul is your mind and emotions, and then you have your physical body. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, all people born now have a corrupted spirit. No amount of right living and good works can make that sinful spirit clean. It takes a new birth, a new spirit, which is what happens when we receive Jesus as our Savior. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
All things in our old corrupt spirit have passed away, and have become new with the very spirit of Jesus living inside of us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus literally took our dirty, sin stained spirit and gave us His righteous spirit. Isnt that the absolute best gift that could have ever been given?
This is why as Christians we can boldly proclaim, As He is, so I am in this world. – 1 John 4:17. Is Jesus a dirty old sinner? No, and we arent either because He has forever made us clean. What God has washed and made clean no amount of sin can dirty again (No, I am not condoning sin at all, just stating a fact). Ephesians 1:13 says we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. When we received Jesus and His spirit, the Holy Spirit sealed that new spirit inside of us, so when we mess up and sin it cannot penetrate into our perfect spirits.
What a glorious truth it is to know I am forgiven completely, and when I mess up it doesnt change who I am in the eyes of God because He is looking at Jesus in me, not the sin. I pray for believers everywhere to grasp this life-transforming truth. We need to daily do as Ephesians 4:24 says, and put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. We need to put this on in our mind, every day, every hour, every minute if we have to until we truly understand it. Renewing of our minds is essential. Renew your mind to how you now are because of Jesus – righteous and holy. Stop seeing yourself as a dirty old sinner. If God doesnt see you as dirty anymore then you shouldnt see yourself that way anymore either. When you can see yourself as righteous and holy because of Jesus living in you is when you will act like the righteous and holy person you have been created to be. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 27:17)
This has revolutionized my life. My relationship with God is no longer based on myself and my performance but based on what Jesus has done for me. It has given me such peace and joy and lifted the tremendous burden of self-effort that I had been carrying around. It has gotten my eyes off of myself and onto Jesus and what He has done for me. I am passionate about Jesus, and if you can understand these truths it will do the same for you.
Amber can be reached at amberdeemiller32@gmail.com, www.ambermiller.tateauthor.com, or through her AmberRiceMiller Facebook page.
