Ephesians 4:3-6; One baptism, part 5. Cleansing by the blood of Christ makes us holy before God.

Class Outline:

Ephesians 4:3-6; One baptism, part 5. Cleansing by the blood of Christ makes us holy before God.

 

God’s kingdom is not centered on marble and stone structures, or any other shows of financial and military strength as are found in the kingdoms of men. God’s kingdom is centered on men; men of righteousness, made so by faith, who love God.

 

1KI 8:14-16

Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, 16 'Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.'

 

Man must be in the presence of the Lord. It’s the only place where the good stuff is.

 

PSA 96:5-6

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

 

All believers in the age of the church live in God’s sanctuary. Why are we there? Christ made us clean by His own blood.

 

HEB 10:19-22

Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Holiness before God, cleansing from all iniquity, filthiness, and detestable things, is necessary to be with Him. Removal of idols, the removal of all things that are loved more than God, is also essential to existing as a member of His kingdom. Holy before Him and loving Him purely and devotedly is the glory of the kingdom of God. What God so wonderfully wrought in this age, though Israel rejected her Messiah, was to give us the New Covenant (Jews and Gentiles), making us clean and pure and holy, not ritualistically or ceremonially, but truly by nature so that we might walk through life in the love and obedience of God and soak up the joy it brings.

 

Now, we know how this cleansing came to us, and it was no ritual. Water baptism couldn’t ever clean anything besides the outside. The cross of Christ, represented by the phrase the blood of Christ, was the means of our cleansing.

 

EPH 2:13-14

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.

 

HEB 9:13-14

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing [katharotes - purification, cleansing] of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

Being baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit is intimately connected to cleansing, purification, forgiveness of all sin, sanctification, holiness, spotlessness, and the freedom to love God with abandon.

 

EPH 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

 

1PE 1:13-21

Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."[God calling us to be with Him] 17 And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.