“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
John 15:3
For something to be made clean implies that its former condition was unclean.
• “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Ps. 51:5
• “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Tit. 3:3
• “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works…” Col. 1:21a
• “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Eph. 2:2-3
That was my condition. Shaped in iniquity, disobedient, deceived, serving my own lusts and pleasures, alienated, an enemy in my mind, and was by nature a child of wrath – a life born in sin, unclean. Where is Hope?? How can I be changed from unclean to clean!
• “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.” Job 14:4
For something to be made clean, it is dependent on a source outside of itself to make it clean.
• “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I Cor. 6:11
• “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Eph. 2:11-13
• “But after that the kindness and love of God our savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Tit. 3:4-7
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
John 15:3
Who is Jesus talking to? Well the conversation that we jumped-in on in chapter 15 actually started in chapter 13 with Christ washing his disciples’ feet. We know, however, from John 13:10-11 that not all of them were clean (speaking of Judas Iscariot, who would betray him). How did Peter respond at first when Christ was washing his feet? “Lord, you’re washing my feet? You shall never wash my feet!” And what was Christ’s answer? “If I wash you not, you have no part with Me.” (Jn. 13:8) Then, per usual, Peter goes to the other extreme of his statement, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” (vs. 9)
What does it take to be made clean, washed in the righteousness of Christ’s blood, to redeem me from my unclean, sin-stained state? It takes believing that what Christ has said will make me clean will make me clean, indeed – not adding to it or taking from it (“Wash my hands and my head, too, Lord!” vs. 9-10). It takes receiving. Unless Peter received Jesus washing him, he would have no part with Him.
And what is “the word” that He has spoken? The question is not ‘what’, but ‘Who’. The Word is Himself, Jesus Christ.
As I was praying and meditating on this verse, another passage came to mind concerning believing and receiving:
“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Matthew 8:1-3
He is willing, beloved! May we believe and receive it by faith in Christ Jesus for our justification (Rom. 3:21-27), sanctification (I Thess. 5:23-24), and glorification (Eph. 5:25-27), “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6)!
-Sophia F
That is so encouraging, Sophie! The many Scriptures here were cleansing in themselves! Believe and receive the Word Who cleanses. I need His washing and I can’t add to it. Simply receive it. Thank you for the truth!