Many Christians want to get cleansed in the blood of Christ, yet totally reject what Jesus actually told on how to get cleansed. While its not wrong in mentioning the blood of Jesus allegorically, but it is important to understand what it really means to get cleansed. In this post, we will explore what God said about getting cleansed.
Giving alms cleanses us
Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
Luke 11:39-41
Jesus taught us how to get cleansed both on the inside and the outside. Here, Jesus is specifically targeting greed and wickedness. The only way a person can get rid of greed is by giving alms to those who need. Jesus is teaching us how to stop the thought of accumulating treasures in this world and begin accumulating treasures in the kingdom of heaven.
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Mark 10:21
Rich man was perfect in following the law, yet Jesus addressed the greed that was inside. In the end, the rich man was unable to get rid of the greed that was inside his heart, even rejecting the kingdom of heaven. Hence, it is important that we all get cleansed by giving alms to the poor and needy.
Jesus will not clean body, only feet
Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash [his] feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
John 13:10-11
When Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples He mentioned that a person who bathed need to wash only their feet. He also mentioned that Judas was not clean and did wash his feet too. Notice that Jesus did not took Judas aside to wash his whole body to make him clean. Nor will He clean your whole body either, but only the feet.
“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
John 12:5-6
Judas was not clean in his body because of his greed and willing to betray Jesus for money. Here, Jesus is symbolising the body as the inside, and the feet as the outside. This is why, Jesus cannot clean Judas on the inside which is full of greed. Nor will He clean the inside of the heart of anyone when their heart is filled with greed and wickedness.
“Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matt 23:26
As Jesus rebuked the pharisees, it is we who need to clean the inside of our heart, which is by removing greed and giving alms.
Conclusion
When we follow Jesus, it is important that we become clean on the inside by giving alms to the poor and needy. Jesus will not bath our whole body for us to be clean, just as He didn’t do that for Judas. He will wash only our feet, which represent the outside of us.
Psalm 51 states that only through repentance and confession unto God is our heart made clean and are we filled with His Holy Spirit which renews a right spirit within us and makes as glad because of recieving salvation. There is no other name under heaven given amongst men where by we must be saved as found in Acts 4. This is the name of the Lord of whom when we call upon we are saved during confession upon repentance and also during baptism.
The problem with many Christians is that, they find ways to reject what Jesus taught so desperately that they are using men’s prayers, men’s words or praises etc. Psalm 51 is a prayer by David for adultery and murder for which he is pleading with God. Are you following David or Jesus?
Btw, as Jesus taught, no one is saved yet. Jesus Christ clearly said salvation is when He comes the second time (Matt 25:31-46). Only our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) when we are worthy (Luke 20:35). But if we become unworthy, Christ will blot our names from the book of life (Rev 3:4-5).