‘ONLY’ JESUS can CLEANSE us COMPLETELY!
February
4 Bible Reading: Leviticus Chapters 13-15
‘ONLY’ JESUS can CLEANSE us COMPLETELY!
“Thus you shall separate the children of
Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they
defile My tabernacle that is among them." (Leviticus 15:31)
God’s
intricate laws concerning leprosy and bodily discharges have been detailed in Leviticus
chapters 13-15 to inspire the Israelites with a profound reverence for holiness.
Being holy, God desired holiness within the Israelite camp and His tabernacle
that were already consecrated by His
presence. God required complete purity
from the children of Israel, and did not allow them to come before Him when
defiled in any manner. Actually, God was
training His people to live in His presence like the priests who were devoted
to His service!
Bodily
discharges (Lev. 15:2–15) were not evil, but they did render people “unclean” and therefore temporarily disqualified them from
approaching a holy God. God was clearly
concerned about His people’s health
and hygiene. No doubt sanitation was part of these laws, but
fundamentally God was teaching His people how to live separate from defiling
themselves.
Our bodies
are not sinful by themselves, and our bodily functions are not morally
defiling. But our nature (“the flesh”) is sinful and produces what is sinful
and defiling (Mark 7:20–23; Gal. 5:19–21). If we are not careful with what we
say and do, and what we are; we will touch others and defile them as well (vv.
5–12; Matt. 23:25–28).
God made
provision for Israel’s ceremonial uncleanness, and He has made provision for us
as well. Jesus cleanses us when we go to Him in contrition and confession (1
John 1:5–2:2). He keeps us clean
through His blood (1 John 1:7) and
through the cleansing power of His Word
(John 15:3; Eph. 5:25–27).
We should
note that Jesus Christ healed those who suffered exclusion from His presence
under these Old Testament rules (Matt. 9:20–22), and they revealed the full redemption that was accomplished ‘only’ through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:24,
25). Today, let us understand one thing: our
sanctification is the will of God and ‘only’ Jesus can cleanse us
completely!
