[Biblemat] A> Am I Clean?

[Steven C. Harper]

From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. 
Editor: Steven Harper 
April 15, 2007

Am I Clean?

 

     It has been a running joke [at least I think it is] for some people to say it is time to take their monthly bath. We say it as somewhat of a joke because in this country we tend to spend more time keeping ourselves physically clean than just about anywhere else on earth. Many people cannot go a day without taking a bath or shower and some who have obsessive-compulsive behavior will wash themselves frequently throughout the day. [Those with OCD have a deeper problem than cleanliness, though.] Europeans are happy with a weekly washing, and in some Middle Eastern countries, that yearly bathing is not a joke!

     John Wesley is attributed with the statement, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." [Some attribute the statement to some writings of an ancient Jewish Rabbi.] Some people believe that statement is found in the Bible itself! [It is not, in case you were wondering.] This perception of the need for physical cleanliness [at least here in the United States] sometimes becomes something near an obsession and the amount of body cleansing supplies that are available on the market testifies to this. Sadly, more people are concerned with their physical cleanliness than they are with their spiritual cleanliness.

     But spiritual cleanliness is a far greater matter than the physical cleanliness. [That is not to say we ignore the physical part altogether, however.] Neither part should be ignored while focusing exclusively on the other, but spiritual cleanliness is by far the more important matter. The Pharisees, as we might have guessed, got the two mixed up and complained about the fact the disciples of Jesus did not wash their hands according to the traditions of the fathers (Matt. 15:2), but Jesus rightly condemned them for paying too close attention to the physical, outward washing while ignoring the inner man [the spiritual part of man] and his filthiness (Matt. 23:25-28).

     Paul describes the Corinthian brethren [those who were Christians] as ones who had been "washed,.sanctified,.[and] justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11) - a proper description of all who are in Christ Jesus. Without a doubt, one who is in Christ is one who has been cleansed from his past sins (2 Pet. 1:9), and who has the privilege of going to God in prayer and asking to be cleansed again should he sin again (1 John 1:9; Acts 8:22). This spiritual cleansing is nothing we can do in and of ourselves and is like the illustration I frequently use where one covered in mud is trying to wipe himself clean: It can't be done! We need someone who is clean [Jesus] to wash us, and He has done that.

     I certainly encourage you to be ensure you have received the spiritual cleansing made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, a cleansing made effective when one is baptized in to Christ (Col. 2:11-13). This is not something we may simply ignore because "our preacher" said it was not necessary for salvation or because our parents didn't do it, or for any other excuse. If we seek spiritual cleansing, we must abide by the commandments of the One who does the cleansing, should we not?

     But for all this discussion of spiritual cleansing, this is not my main purpose in this article. Today, I would like us to consider a different type of cleanliness that is also important in the sight of God. To set up the rest of the article consider the following text:

     In Acts 18, the apostle Paul has come to Corinth to preach the gospel (v. 1), and he does so with earnest as he "reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath" (v. 4). When Paul started trying to teach that Jesus was the Christ (v. 5), the Jews "opposed him and blasphemed" (v. 6). It was then that Paul "shook his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" Paul said this, possibly remembering the words of God to Ezekiel, when He told him, "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul" (Ezek. 33:8, 9). With Ezekiel, with the apostle Paul, and - more importantly - with me as a disciple Of Jesus Christ, those words of warning are not to be taken lightly. So, can I say I am clean? That is, can I say that I have spoken God's Word to those about me and warned them of the Judgment to come? Have I told them they are in sin and have I given them the answer to their condition?

     Am I clean?

     The only way I can honestly say "Yes" is if I have spoken God's Word when I had opportunity. When Paul said that he was "clean", he meant that he was innocent of their blood; he had done what God had required, but they had rejected the message. Now, he was no longer responsible for their spiritual condition, but they were. Having done all he could and all God required, Paul could leave and "go to the Gentiles" as he said he would ­- without guilt. Can I say the same thing?

     But let us consider what Paul meant when he said he was "clean" and how we can fail to make sure we are "clean" in the way Paul meant. Knowing these things will help us to do what we should, correct our shortcomings, and - more importantly -be able to say we, too, are clean.

     Saying nothing at all. No doubt, if Paul had said nothing at all to these people, he could not claim to be clean. God has given us a message to proclaim - the gospel - and it alone is the power of God to salvation (Rom. 1:16). If we do not proclaim that message, how then can the lost be saved? How sad it will be to stand before God and Christ and hear our neighbor say, "You never mentioned Him to me."

     Saying something less than the whole truth. It is a sad state that we have come to when we - as those professing to be disciples of Jesus Christ - are afraid to speak the words of our Master! Sadly, the world has exerted enough influence on some that they will no longer talk about certain portions of God's Word because it is deemed 'offensive' by the world and some, in an effort to curry favor or appear 'noble', do not talk about those controversial topics.

     But Paul could not have said he was "clean" if he had done this! Paul spoke the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He reminded the Ephesian brethren that he had "kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you" (Acts 20:20), and would later say he had "not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God" (v. 27). Friends and brethren, unless we speak the whole truth of God's Word, we cannot claim we are 'clean' of the blood of unbelievers!

     Saying the wrong thing. I hope we all realize that just because someone claims to be teaching the truth does not mean he is teaching the truth. Jesus warned of false teachers coming in as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15-20), John warned that we should test every spirit because many false teachers have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1), and Peter warned against false teachers who would come in among God's people bringing in "destructive heresies" (2 Pet. 2:1). The sad result of the false teachers' teaching is that they will not lead anyone closer to God, but further away from God! The lost will remain lost!

     But let us also consider the fact that good intentions are not enough to save a lost soul, either. I may be genuine in trying to lead others to Christ to be saved, but if I speak to them the wrong thing, I have not helped them one bit! The only way I can say I am 'clean' is to speak to them the words of Jesus Christ because it is through Him alone that anyone can be saved (Acts 4:12).

     Brethren, let us strive to be 'clean' when we stand before Christ, blameless of the blood of those now lost.     -- Steven Harper
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