pictured, 2 Kings 5:1-14Washing
When you look at the two gospel sacraments (or ordinances, as some prefer to say) which Jesus left us, you realize that they are just slices of ordinary home life—a meal, with a wash preceding. Jesus’ choice of these two everyday events to be signs of saving grace shows us that as without washing and eating our physical health suffers, so without their evangelical counterparts spiritual health is not found.
Cleansing from Sin
What is the evangelical counterpart of washing? Being cleansed from the guilt and filth of sin. Without this “heavenly washing,”1 our holy Creator will not accept us. Like parents who will not have their children at the table till they have washed their hands, God will not have us at his table—that is, in his fellowship—till our dirt is off.
We have to realize that the arrogance, selfishness, meanness, and sheer perversity of our unloving and unlovely lives is to God something impure, offensive, and repellent, and he recoils from it as we do when we are faced with dirt where we had a right to expect cleanliness. If in a restaurant you were offered food on a plate that had obviously not been washed, you would feel disgusted and decline to accept it. Similarly, according to Scripture, our Maker’s attitude to persons dominated by the anti-law, anti-God syndrome called sin is one of resolute rejection, “wrath,” to be shown forth in “righteous judgment” when the day comes.
“The wrath of God,” says Paul, “is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men.” “God’s decree [is] that those who do such things deserve to die.” “When God’s righteous judgment will be revealed . . . he will render to every man according to his works . . . there will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil” (Romans 1:18, 32; 2:5ff., 9).
The first thing that Jesus’ prescription of baptism for all disciples (Matthew 28:19) shows us is that we all need “heavenly washing.” Baptism is a standing witness against any playing down of this need by querying whether God takes note of our guilt and uncleanness, or whether his wrath is “for real.” But it shows more! Baptism shows that “heavenly washing” can be real for all.
Blood, Faith, Baptism
This washing is momentous. It includes both the canceling of guilt by pardon and the breaking of sin’s dominion—that is, our enslavement to motives which, by exalting and indulging self, defile and pollute our whole lives. What cures this bondage is inward renewal, that is, regeneration, of which more later.
How can this washing be? “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Well did Toplady pray that Jesus’ sacrificial death would “Be of sin the double cure,/Cleanse me from its guiltand power.” Christ’s blood (that is, the power of his death) will “purify your conscience from dead [that is, guilty and therefore death-dealing] works to serve the living God” (through sin’s reign over you being broken) (Hebrews 9:14). “If I do not wash you,” said Jesus to Peter, speaking of this inner cleansing, though Peter missed the reference, “you are not in fellowship with me” (John 13:8, NEB).
When are we thus washed? When we believe—that is, commit ourselves to Christ. What then has baptism to do with it? Three things. First, baptism symbolically pictures it, for our learning, as we saw. Second, baptism visibly promises it, proclaiming that whoever has faith in Christ will receive it. Third, baptism formally presents it, and so assures the believing recipient that he really has it, just as pre senting the hood at graduation assures the student that he really has secured his degree. It is in these terms—picture, promise, and presentation— that we should understand Peter calling Jews to baptism “for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38), and later defining baptism “ . . . not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience” (1 Peter 3:21), and Ananias urging Paul, “Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on (Jesus’) name” (Acts 22:16).
“You were washed,” said Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6:11). Are you washed, as they were? Like me, you need to be.
Note:
Further Bible Study
Cleansing from sin’s uncleanness:
pictured, 2 Kings 5:1-14
promised, Ezekiel 36:22-32
realized, Titus 2:11-3:8
Questions for Thought and Discussion
How is sin described in this chapter? What does this mean?
Why do we need more than pardon alone?
Why can we not have fellowship with Christ without being spiritually washed?