DRAWING NEAR -- Tomorrow:
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb 10:19-22)
Devotion 11 of 16
" . . . let us draw near with . . . our bodies washed with pure water."
We come to the Father as those whose bodies have been "washed with pure water." The concept of "washing" was developed under the Law – particularly in the tabernacle service, which was a "pattern" of the approach to God. Before coming into the presence of the Lord, the priests of old had to be washed (Ex 40:12). This was the purpose for the "laver," which stood between the tabernacle and the altar (Ex 30:18; 40:30). Before entering the tabernacle Aaron and his sons had to be "washed with water" (Ex 29:4). With them, the act was ceremonial.
With us, washing is in actuality – that is, it has a very real inward effect upon the individual. Our "bodies" have been "washed with pure water." The water itself was "pure," sanctified by the Lord for an intended purpose. It is not purifying water, but "pure water," indicating this is a means used by God to accomplish an acceptable cleansing in His sight.
Our text is a reference to our baptism into Christ. When Saul of Tarsus was confronted by Ananias, his deep contrition was so evident he was told, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and WASH away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). This is the "washing of regeneration" referred to in Titus 3:5.
Peter refers to our baptism as being more than a mere ceremony, like the washing under the Law. "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were SAVED BY WATER. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 3:20-21). The "putting away of the filth of the flesh" does NOT refer to taking a bath for bodily cleansing. Rather, it refers to the ceremonies of the Law. Peter's meaning is that baptism is not a mere ceremony, but rather associates us with the resurrection of Christ, thereby producing an inward cleansing and confidence. Thus baptism is said to save us "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
The "good conscience" is appropriated in this "washing of regeneration" (Tit 3:5), thereby enabling us to approach the Father confidently. In baptism, there an appeal to God for a good conscience – that is, a cleansed conscience. Once that conscience is appropriated, the person can come confidently into the presence of the Lord.
Those who deprecate baptism, an ordinance given by God, adversely affect the confidence with which their hearers approach the Lord. The knowledge that our bodies have been "washed" in a sanctifying sense by "pure" or Divinely approved and instituted water, has a great bearing on how we approach the Lord. In our baptism, whether we knew it or not, we "put on Christ" (Gal 3:28), which qualifies us to come to God. If men remonstrate, saying this has no reference to our baptism, let them tell us in what sense, then, our "bodies" are "washed with pure water." The one unacceptable part of us, our "vile bodies" (Phil 3:20), have thus been set apart to God, and are even now "the members of Christ" (1 Cor 6:15). Our bodies are "the members of Christ" because they have been "washed with pure water." Who, in this knowledge can hesitate to come to the Father through Jesus Christ
Here, then, is the means by which we come boldly and confidently to God. It is in an acute awareness that we have a great High Priest over the house of God, who has paved the way for us. A true, sincere, and whole heart enables us to approach Him, for He values such a heart. The assurance generated by unfeigned faith impels us to run swiftly to Him, while the absence of a condemning conscience enables to come with joy and great expectation. Even our bodies have been sanctified, washed with pure water. God's great salvation is gloriously effective to accomplish His purpose! As we rely implicitly upon that effectiveness, we will be kept by the power of God, and be effective and adequate in our own ministries. It all depends upon us coming to God.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the privilege of having my body washed with pure water, thereby qualifying me to come into Your presence.