When reading Exodus 30:17-21, you'll see that each time before the priests had to make offerings, they had to do the ablutions, that is, the washing of their hands and feet. They had to be 'clean' in God's presence. They did this at the Tabernacle Laver. This is a symbolic principle for us today. First of all, we can only come into a relationship with God when we are 'clean'. When we have accepted God's offer of salvation and 'cleaning' through Jesus Christ.
"The blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleans us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
Theologians use the term "justification"; a big word meaning 'just as if I'd never sinned'. Not too sure who coined that meaning but it's an easy one to remember. God imputes His righteousness to those who have accepted this forgiveness of sins (Romans 4:6; Philippians 3:9).
"..just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works..." (Romans 4:6 KJV).
Another version, the NIV, uses the term "credits" in lieu of "imputes". God gives us His righteousness as we have none of our own and are helpless to earn it on our own.
On the flip side of 'justification' is the word 'sanctification'. The first term involves God's sovereignty; this later 'sanctification' term is generated by man's responsibility.
God wants us to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16) and as we still have our sinful nature embedded in us til we reach the glory of God's presence in Heaven, we still have to deal with sin daily.
Therefore, we have that blessed verse in 1 John 1:9 which reads,
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
The 'if' depends on us. If we are humble and willing to admit our shortcomings and misdemeanors and sin, then God is right there, standing by, ready and willing to forgive and purify. This is where the picture of the priests' daily ablutions triggers the advent of examining ourselves and allowing God to purify us how He will. He is faithful in keeping His promises; if we confess our sin...He will forgive and purify.
The priests' daily ceremonial washings, repeated time and time again, portrays our need to come to Jesus time and time again in repentance and confession.
Don't be misled. I'm NOT saying to 'get saved' again and again. NO. Justification is a done deal. It's sanctification that is a process; so take heart for the long haul and you will slowly come to some maturity in Christ. This is Christian living.
The saying, "God loves us just the way we are but refuses to leave us that way" (Max Lucado), seems to explain it all. To top it off, God has given us His Holy Spirit to aid us in that process. Listen to Him and read God's Word to learn God's will and ways. Obey them.
When we are called to be "with Christ" we will no longer be plagued by our sinful nature (Revelation 21:4, 8, 21). Won't that be wondrous!?
~ERC 2017~
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