Churchwork
04-12-2006, 02:33 AM
Does not 1 John 1.7 say that "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin"? Indeed, that Scripture passage so says, but we still need to remember that the cleansing of sins by the blood always refers to a cleansing before God. What are the words which precede these words in this verse? "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another"; and then there follows, "and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin"—thus showing that the cleansing is before God. The effect of the blood is wholly Godward. It is God who demands the blood, and hence the blood is brought before Him.
Some may inquire about the verse in Hebrews 9 which declares this: “How much more shall the blood of Christ . . . cleanse your conscience” (v.14). Let us realize that the cleansing here refers to the cleansing of the conscience, not the cleansing of the sinful nature. Our sinful nature is never cleansed by the blood. The word of God never says that the blood cleanses the old nature, or the flesh. The blood only cleanses us from our sins before God. It only cleanses our conscience that we may have boldness before Him. “Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” With the blood sins are forgiven, and therefore we have peace. By the blood of the Lord Jesus we have boldness to enter the holy place through the way which He dedicated for us, that new and living way (Heb. 10. 19,20). Hence it is the blood which is brought to heaven; the cross is not brought to heaven. The Bible affirms that the Lord Jesus shed blood, not that we ever shed blood with the Lord. It is well if we lay hold of this fact that the blood secures for us forgiveness before God because it takes away our sins.
Many people do not have liberty and boldness before God because they misunderstand the effect of the blood, taking it as cleansing the sin within them. As a consequence they fail to see the efficacy of the blood. The cleansing in 1 John 1.7 does not apply to the sin within, as though it cleanses even the root of sin. This verse is only speaking of the cleansing before God. He alone demands the blood; and the blood of the Lord Jesus alone satisfies God’s heart. Because of this, we freely draw nigh to Him by the blood at any time. No matter how we feel about our sins—whether they are great or small, rough or refined, forgivable or unforgivable—all these sins have been cleansed before God. "Though your sins be as scarlet," says the Bible, "they shall be as white as snow" (Is. 1.18). What does this mean? It means God is able to erase every scar and trace of sins as though you had never sinned. This of course points to your condition before Him. Although you are still no good inside, yet before God your sins are all taken away from before His eyes.
Some may inquire about the verse in Hebrews 9 which declares this: “How much more shall the blood of Christ . . . cleanse your conscience” (v.14). Let us realize that the cleansing here refers to the cleansing of the conscience, not the cleansing of the sinful nature. Our sinful nature is never cleansed by the blood. The word of God never says that the blood cleanses the old nature, or the flesh. The blood only cleanses us from our sins before God. It only cleanses our conscience that we may have boldness before Him. “Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” With the blood sins are forgiven, and therefore we have peace. By the blood of the Lord Jesus we have boldness to enter the holy place through the way which He dedicated for us, that new and living way (Heb. 10. 19,20). Hence it is the blood which is brought to heaven; the cross is not brought to heaven. The Bible affirms that the Lord Jesus shed blood, not that we ever shed blood with the Lord. It is well if we lay hold of this fact that the blood secures for us forgiveness before God because it takes away our sins.
Many people do not have liberty and boldness before God because they misunderstand the effect of the blood, taking it as cleansing the sin within them. As a consequence they fail to see the efficacy of the blood. The cleansing in 1 John 1.7 does not apply to the sin within, as though it cleanses even the root of sin. This verse is only speaking of the cleansing before God. He alone demands the blood; and the blood of the Lord Jesus alone satisfies God’s heart. Because of this, we freely draw nigh to Him by the blood at any time. No matter how we feel about our sins—whether they are great or small, rough or refined, forgivable or unforgivable—all these sins have been cleansed before God. "Though your sins be as scarlet," says the Bible, "they shall be as white as snow" (Is. 1.18). What does this mean? It means God is able to erase every scar and trace of sins as though you had never sinned. This of course points to your condition before Him. Although you are still no good inside, yet before God your sins are all taken away from before His eyes.