Jesus uses the term, “through my Word.” He does not even mention faith. He
speaks only of His Word. He wants to fix our undivided attention upon the Word.
We are to understand that we are not saved by a faith which grows out of our own
thoughts. We are saved only by that faith which is created in the heart by God’s
Word. When you are worried about your sins, your evil heart, your spiritual
indifference, callousness, and conformity to the world; when you are ashamed of
your own defective life, and then hear the Word about the love of Christ, captivating
your heart, intellect and affections, giving you peace, comfort and hope, it is faith that
has saved you…But at the side of this “clean heart,” we see their corrupt nature
asserting itself in many weaknesses of life. On that very evening when Jesus
designated them as “clean,” He told them beforehand: “All ye shall be offended
because of me this night” (Matthew 26:31), and Peter denied him thrice…And yet:
“Now are ye clean!”
If you have reached the stage of spiritual development when nothing matters if only
you may be His, then your infirmities will not stand in the way of His pardoning
grace…In a word, if you are daily dissatisfied with yourself, your own slow progress
in sanctification, your lapses and shortcomings, but yet believe in Him, and trust His
Word, then are you clean, “altogether clean.”
“But,” you say, “I feel so much impurity in my soul. All kinds of sin are present with
me continually. And that which is the worst of all, I cherish love for a certain sin
which seems to hold me in its grip. I have no deep hatred of the sin, nor have I any
real desire to be rid of it.” Answer: (Granted) that does not sound well. (But) the
very fact that you realize the impurity in you is testimony that the Spirit of God is
castigating the evil in you. You confess at least with the Apostle Paul: “In me, that
is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). The circumstance that you
love a certain sin or certain sins is not strange…But if you are a Christian, you will
realize that you also hate these same sins…The flesh and the spirit are in conflict
with each other, and you cannot do that which you would do (Galatians 5). The fact
that you possess not even the will to be rid of a sin, demonstrates that you have
both hatred and love for that sin – the first, after the Spirit, the second after the flesh.
A Christian is not altogether spirit. He is also flesh. The life of a Christian is a
divided and torn life in daily conflict with itself. For this reason he not only feels the
presence of the clean heart and the holy will, but also the wretched mixture of flesh
and spirit…Hear the moanings of the Apostle Paul and his sighs for redemption
from “the body of this death”; hear him complain of the “law of sin” in his “members”
warring against the “law of the Spirit,” and you shall realize that it is precisely this
soul-conflict which bears testimony to the “clean heart.” The fact that you hate most
the sins which you most love is the surest sign of the clean mind….At one moment
Peter asserted, “I know not the man”; at another, he went out and “wept bitterly.”
If, then, you realize that there are times in your Christian life when the inner
corruption of the heart silences the voice of Christ, then remember that the disciples
had the same experience, in spite of the fact that He spoke to them as being “clean.”
…He designates them as “clean” at the moment when He foretells their defection
and disloyalty.
Oh, let me never forget this blessed fact! Here I see the very heart of the Gospel, its
great central doctrine – justification by faith alone…It runs counter to all reason, that
unclean and sinful creatures such as we all are should nevertheless be clean
before God. In the presence of this stupendous fact, I begin to realize that the blood
of Jesus means more to God than it does to us, more to the angels of heaven than
to us sinners on earth. We have not the eyes to see its overwhelming power.
Oh, if we were in heaven and could see in the light of eternal truth the glory of the
Son of God, we should also see that we are but atoms as compared with the great
Lord of heaven and earth, who gave Himself a ransom for our sins. We would say:
All our infirmities, in reality great sins, are yet but as nothing compared with Him and
the power of His blood. Therefore He could say in righteousness: “He that is
washed is altogether clean.” God be praised! So God declares. He that is
washed is altogether clean, while at the same time he mourns his uncleanness
and regards himself as utterly unclean. Praise to be God eternal! In the midst of
our infirmities we are pure, innocent and glorious in the eyes of God.
Christ Himself has said it. Though I, with my finite mind, do not comprehend the
reasons and the ways of this purification in all directions, I yet see that He has
made this pronouncement regarding such as walked in the weakness of the flesh:
“Now ye are altogether clean.”…Hence I will continue to study and meditate upon
this mystery all the days of my life, and I will never forget that the Lord Jesus, who is
the only one whom I need to ask, has said, “Now ye are clean through the Word
which I have spoken unto you.” Amen.
speaks only of His Word. He wants to fix our undivided attention upon the Word.
We are to understand that we are not saved by a faith which grows out of our own
thoughts. We are saved only by that faith which is created in the heart by God’s
Word. When you are worried about your sins, your evil heart, your spiritual
indifference, callousness, and conformity to the world; when you are ashamed of
your own defective life, and then hear the Word about the love of Christ, captivating
your heart, intellect and affections, giving you peace, comfort and hope, it is faith that
has saved you…But at the side of this “clean heart,” we see their corrupt nature
asserting itself in many weaknesses of life. On that very evening when Jesus
designated them as “clean,” He told them beforehand: “All ye shall be offended
because of me this night” (Matthew 26:31), and Peter denied him thrice…And yet:
“Now are ye clean!”
If you have reached the stage of spiritual development when nothing matters if only
you may be His, then your infirmities will not stand in the way of His pardoning
grace…In a word, if you are daily dissatisfied with yourself, your own slow progress
in sanctification, your lapses and shortcomings, but yet believe in Him, and trust His
Word, then are you clean, “altogether clean.”
“But,” you say, “I feel so much impurity in my soul. All kinds of sin are present with
me continually. And that which is the worst of all, I cherish love for a certain sin
which seems to hold me in its grip. I have no deep hatred of the sin, nor have I any
real desire to be rid of it.” Answer: (Granted) that does not sound well. (But) the
very fact that you realize the impurity in you is testimony that the Spirit of God is
castigating the evil in you. You confess at least with the Apostle Paul: “In me, that
is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). The circumstance that you
love a certain sin or certain sins is not strange…But if you are a Christian, you will
realize that you also hate these same sins…The flesh and the spirit are in conflict
with each other, and you cannot do that which you would do (Galatians 5). The fact
that you possess not even the will to be rid of a sin, demonstrates that you have
both hatred and love for that sin – the first, after the Spirit, the second after the flesh.
A Christian is not altogether spirit. He is also flesh. The life of a Christian is a
divided and torn life in daily conflict with itself. For this reason he not only feels the
presence of the clean heart and the holy will, but also the wretched mixture of flesh
and spirit…Hear the moanings of the Apostle Paul and his sighs for redemption
from “the body of this death”; hear him complain of the “law of sin” in his “members”
warring against the “law of the Spirit,” and you shall realize that it is precisely this
soul-conflict which bears testimony to the “clean heart.” The fact that you hate most
the sins which you most love is the surest sign of the clean mind….At one moment
Peter asserted, “I know not the man”; at another, he went out and “wept bitterly.”
If, then, you realize that there are times in your Christian life when the inner
corruption of the heart silences the voice of Christ, then remember that the disciples
had the same experience, in spite of the fact that He spoke to them as being “clean.”
…He designates them as “clean” at the moment when He foretells their defection
and disloyalty.
Oh, let me never forget this blessed fact! Here I see the very heart of the Gospel, its
great central doctrine – justification by faith alone…It runs counter to all reason, that
unclean and sinful creatures such as we all are should nevertheless be clean
before God. In the presence of this stupendous fact, I begin to realize that the blood
of Jesus means more to God than it does to us, more to the angels of heaven than
to us sinners on earth. We have not the eyes to see its overwhelming power.
Oh, if we were in heaven and could see in the light of eternal truth the glory of the
Son of God, we should also see that we are but atoms as compared with the great
Lord of heaven and earth, who gave Himself a ransom for our sins. We would say:
All our infirmities, in reality great sins, are yet but as nothing compared with Him and
the power of His blood. Therefore He could say in righteousness: “He that is
washed is altogether clean.” God be praised! So God declares. He that is
washed is altogether clean, while at the same time he mourns his uncleanness
and regards himself as utterly unclean. Praise to be God eternal! In the midst of
our infirmities we are pure, innocent and glorious in the eyes of God.
Christ Himself has said it. Though I, with my finite mind, do not comprehend the
reasons and the ways of this purification in all directions, I yet see that He has
made this pronouncement regarding such as walked in the weakness of the flesh:
“Now ye are altogether clean.”…Hence I will continue to study and meditate upon
this mystery all the days of my life, and I will never forget that the Lord Jesus, who is
the only one whom I need to ask, has said, “Now ye are clean through the Word
which I have spoken unto you.” Amen.
We ought carefully to consider the words of the Lord: “He that is washed needeth
not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all” (John
13:10). The Lord distinguishes between the cleanness of their feet, that is, their
daily life, which needs to be purified constantly, and the cleanness which was their
by another washing, by which they were altogether clean.
If we only understand the greatest fact of all in heaven and earth, that God gave His
only-begotten Son as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world, we should not be
in doubt as to the meaning of His words to the disciples, “Ye are clean.” If we only
would recall to our mind that God during a period of four thousand years by means
of numberless bloody sacrifices, purifications and cleansings, portrayed to His
people the coming Sacrifice of Atonement for the sin of the world, we should not for
a moment suppose that Jesus now spoke of any other cleanness to His disciples
than the cleanness resulting from the washing away of their sins by His blood.
If we were in heaven and realized that the one great topic of the glory-song of the
white-robed choir of the redeemed is: “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to
God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and has
made us unto our God kings and priests” (Revelation 5:9-10); if we could realize
that the only-begotten Son of God has shed His blood on Calvary for the remission
of the sin of the world, we would not ask what the Savior meant when, as he was
going to the shedding of His blood, He said: ‘He that is washed is clean,” wholly,
perfectly clean…we would understand that nothing else is great in heaven.
His words clearly show that He distinguishes between two kinds of cleanness. He
first speaks of an imperfect cleanness and a continuous cleansing. Then He
speaks of a perfect cleanness: “Ye are clean,” a cleanness which needs no
improvement.
Finally, we note that Jesus never praises our indwelling cleanness or purification.
He rather warns against glorying about our special gifts and graces…Again we see
this same deprecation of indwelling gifts and graces when the disciples returned
and boasted of the fact that “even the devils are subject unto us through Thy
name.” He corrected their personal glorification thus: “In this rejoice not that the
spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in
heaven” (Luke 10;20). Nothing but their unmerited salvation, the universal grace
common to all sinners, was to be the subject of their rejoicing.
We realize from (this example) that he who rejoices more in God’s gifts and graces
in us than he does in the atonement for sin by the blood of the Son of God, is farther
from the mind of Christ than is he who feels nothing but infirmity in himself and
finds all comfort in Christ alone. He would be all our cleanness and comfort who
has purchased us to God by His precious blood.
We understand, then, what Jesus meant when He said: ‘Ye are clean through the
Word which I have spoken to you.” The meaning is the same as that expressed in
the words of our Lord on the sending out of His apostles: “He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved.” It is the same Lord of whom His apostle said: “That He
might sanctify and cleanse the Church with the washing of water by the Word”
(Ephesians 5:26). Here, then, we have the two Means of Grace – Baptism and the
Word – by which we are cleansed in the blood of the Son of God.
See how Christ confirms the great chief doctrine of the Scriptures – justification by
faith alone. Saint Paul says: “Faith cometh by hearing,” that is, the preaching of the
Word. Jesus says: “And ye are clean by the Word which I have spoken unto you,”
You have done nothing more than that you have heard me preach the Gospel of
salvation. Through my preaching faith has been created in your hearts. As a
consequence you are clean. God regards you in Christ as though you never had
committed any sin. “Ye are clean.” These are the Words of Christ, who shall judge
all men on the Last Day. Every sinner ought to rejoice in his inmost soul that Christ
has said: “Ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” He says
never a word about works and gifts and graces and fine character and our
excellencies as cause for boasting. He speaks only of His Word as the means by
which the disciples are made clean before God. By the Word of God are they made
clean, because the Word has created faith in their hearts, and faith in the Crucified
Son of God brings cleanness and righteousness before God. Nothing else
avails…Rely upon His Word, no matter how defective your life is, not matter how
unregenerate your heart is. If only you take God at His Word and believe what He
says of His Son, Christ becomes your Savior with all the blessedness that act of
faith implies….In this manner are we saved by faith. God speaks a Word to you.
You accept that Word, and you are in possession of that which the Word
contains…We are to remember that in heaven all is well with us through our faith in
the Word of God. The soul is clean and well. Even though we must walk in
darkness of soul, if only we hold fast to the Word, we shall on the morning of eternity
behold with our eyes that the words and promises of God were fulfilled every one…It
is well-nigh incomprehensible what an amount of anguish it costs many a soul to
get away from feelings and emotions to a sturdy faith in God’s Word.
not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all” (John
13:10). The Lord distinguishes between the cleanness of their feet, that is, their
daily life, which needs to be purified constantly, and the cleanness which was their
by another washing, by which they were altogether clean.
If we only understand the greatest fact of all in heaven and earth, that God gave His
only-begotten Son as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world, we should not be
in doubt as to the meaning of His words to the disciples, “Ye are clean.” If we only
would recall to our mind that God during a period of four thousand years by means
of numberless bloody sacrifices, purifications and cleansings, portrayed to His
people the coming Sacrifice of Atonement for the sin of the world, we should not for
a moment suppose that Jesus now spoke of any other cleanness to His disciples
than the cleanness resulting from the washing away of their sins by His blood.
If we were in heaven and realized that the one great topic of the glory-song of the
white-robed choir of the redeemed is: “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to
God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and has
made us unto our God kings and priests” (Revelation 5:9-10); if we could realize
that the only-begotten Son of God has shed His blood on Calvary for the remission
of the sin of the world, we would not ask what the Savior meant when, as he was
going to the shedding of His blood, He said: ‘He that is washed is clean,” wholly,
perfectly clean…we would understand that nothing else is great in heaven.
His words clearly show that He distinguishes between two kinds of cleanness. He
first speaks of an imperfect cleanness and a continuous cleansing. Then He
speaks of a perfect cleanness: “Ye are clean,” a cleanness which needs no
improvement.
Finally, we note that Jesus never praises our indwelling cleanness or purification.
He rather warns against glorying about our special gifts and graces…Again we see
this same deprecation of indwelling gifts and graces when the disciples returned
and boasted of the fact that “even the devils are subject unto us through Thy
name.” He corrected their personal glorification thus: “In this rejoice not that the
spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in
heaven” (Luke 10;20). Nothing but their unmerited salvation, the universal grace
common to all sinners, was to be the subject of their rejoicing.
We realize from (this example) that he who rejoices more in God’s gifts and graces
in us than he does in the atonement for sin by the blood of the Son of God, is farther
from the mind of Christ than is he who feels nothing but infirmity in himself and
finds all comfort in Christ alone. He would be all our cleanness and comfort who
has purchased us to God by His precious blood.
We understand, then, what Jesus meant when He said: ‘Ye are clean through the
Word which I have spoken to you.” The meaning is the same as that expressed in
the words of our Lord on the sending out of His apostles: “He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved.” It is the same Lord of whom His apostle said: “That He
might sanctify and cleanse the Church with the washing of water by the Word”
(Ephesians 5:26). Here, then, we have the two Means of Grace – Baptism and the
Word – by which we are cleansed in the blood of the Son of God.
See how Christ confirms the great chief doctrine of the Scriptures – justification by
faith alone. Saint Paul says: “Faith cometh by hearing,” that is, the preaching of the
Word. Jesus says: “And ye are clean by the Word which I have spoken unto you,”
You have done nothing more than that you have heard me preach the Gospel of
salvation. Through my preaching faith has been created in your hearts. As a
consequence you are clean. God regards you in Christ as though you never had
committed any sin. “Ye are clean.” These are the Words of Christ, who shall judge
all men on the Last Day. Every sinner ought to rejoice in his inmost soul that Christ
has said: “Ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” He says
never a word about works and gifts and graces and fine character and our
excellencies as cause for boasting. He speaks only of His Word as the means by
which the disciples are made clean before God. By the Word of God are they made
clean, because the Word has created faith in their hearts, and faith in the Crucified
Son of God brings cleanness and righteousness before God. Nothing else
avails…Rely upon His Word, no matter how defective your life is, not matter how
unregenerate your heart is. If only you take God at His Word and believe what He
says of His Son, Christ becomes your Savior with all the blessedness that act of
faith implies….In this manner are we saved by faith. God speaks a Word to you.
You accept that Word, and you are in possession of that which the Word
contains…We are to remember that in heaven all is well with us through our faith in
the Word of God. The soul is clean and well. Even though we must walk in
darkness of soul, if only we hold fast to the Word, we shall on the morning of eternity
behold with our eyes that the words and promises of God were fulfilled every one…It
is well-nigh incomprehensible what an amount of anguish it costs many a soul to
get away from feelings and emotions to a sturdy faith in God’s Word.
| Christian Writings: Written by or Recommended by Christian Friends |
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| Some excerpts from Carl Olof Rosenius, A Faithful Guide to Peace with Godreceived from Pastor Don Baron |
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