Washed, Sprinkled Clean and Assured

Assurance. How can I be sure how God our Father thinks of me and beholds my person? This is the question asked of me many times. To what shall I refer for it is normally asked by a believer in Jesus who is coming to grips with being a sinner. The sin maybe one that seems huge or the so called little sins of not being able to forgive another person for some wrong done. Perhaps it is not being content with what the Lord is providing in either lack of things or suffering disease. Or some other sin of the heart which is a constant plague which takes the assurance out of life.

We are indeed by nature turned against God. The sins we commit do not make us sinners but rather are sure proof that we have fallen short of the glory of Jesus. This is the war that is, and should be, ongoing in our persons. It is a necessary battle to keep our inner brat from taking over and once again ruling our lives. This old nature can never be reformed or instructed in righteousness. This will be with us until our departure from this fallen and dying world.

With this battle raging and so many teachers out there proclaiming the victorious and ever improving life for the believer one can really get concerned about assurance of our Father’s favour. Some have actually preached that if you have a habit of sinning daily you cannot be a real Christian. This is a clear contradiction of clear teaching in scripture that we are at the same time saint and sinner. And one is tempted to enquire of the preacher whether he sinned yesterday, will sin today and tomorrow. If he or she says no then we know we are dealing with a person who is lying to his or her self. No good news there. The glorious good news is that we are, in Father’s sight in Jesus a true saint against whom will not call us into account for our sin.

Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ESV

There! A wonderful section of scripture which shows our salvation is not based upon anything whatsoever we may or may not do. By the blood of Jesus we enter the holy places of God. We have sweet communication with our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus. This refers in part to the former partition in the Temple to the Holy of Holies which is the flesh of Jesus. The Lord has exited that space and now comes to us first when he took on human flesh and finished his work. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper Jesus comes to us in his real presence to once again assure us of his abiding with us. No more waiting till the last day to have our Jesus with us but he has located himself for us in his supper. This renewal is such a wonderful gift of assurance that the false teaching that we anything whatsoever to do with our salvation need be rejected and rebuked on every occasion.

Jesus, due to his perfect life, death, burial and resurrection has become our great high priest. As this priest he offered himself as a one time payment for the sin of the entire world. The fruit of this sacrifice is delivered to us initially in our baptism. Throughout the toils and troubles of this life we can remember those promises and go forth in newness of life realizing our bodies washed with water and the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit. No more evil conscience that is turned against our God and in unto ourselves. And a heart which sincerely desires to love our Creator with our whole heart and our neighbour as ourselves. We are true children of God in whom he delights in and because of Jesus for us.

In the name of Jesus. Amen †