Being Made Clean, Part 1 - Our Unrighteousness, Christ's Blood and Our Salvation

As we continue to read thru the Bible this year at Zion, I find myself falling behind.  However, though it may take longer than a year, I continue to read, and constantly find a picture of our Christian faith in the Israelite nation long ago.  Someone I recently met pointed out Galatians 3:24 to me as he tried to explain to me some of his beliefs.  This verse pretty well explains why we still have the Old Testament today, to not only use as an example to how God worked with his chosen people, but how He continues to work with us today thru Christ. (I've chosen the Amplified version, because it highlights and stresses particular words found in multiple versions and translations, and "amplifies" or expounds the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew into English.)

"So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith." Galatians 3:24

Today's thought comes from Leviticus 15:31.  After working through what makes a person unclean in the chapters before, and how to become cleansed by the priest, comes this verse:

“‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’” Leviticus 15:31

In part 1 of this 2 part message, we will discuss unclean things and how Christ reacts to them.  First and foremost, this scripture above does not just apply to the Israelites of the Old Testament.  It still applies today, albeit in a much different manner.  It Part 2, we will discuss how we can fully trust Jesus for our freedom and salvation.

Listed in Leviticus alone, the Israelites in the Old Testament (under the old covenant), could become unclean by:

• Improperly eating the fellowship offerings - Leviticus 7:15-21
• Eating fat or blood - Leviticus 3:17; 8:22-27
• Eating the wrong animals like rabbits, pigs, vultures, owls,rats, lizards - Leviticus 11:1-30
• Eating or touching a dead animal - Leviticus 11:31-40
• Childbirth - Leviticus 12
• Being exposed to a skin disease like leprosy - Leviticus 13:1-45
• Being exposed to mold - Leviticus 13:46-59
• Having bodily discharges - Leviticus 15

These things above may not be sin or the result of sin itself, but is a case of something impure which our holy God cannot accept.  Holiness means to be "set apart" or "dedicated to God."  God, in His holiness, cannot fellowship with us if we are not "set apart" toward him.  He cannot fellowship with the uncleanliness of this world.  The Israelites were held accountable for their unclean acts or their exposure to unclean things.  

" I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. " Leviticus 11:44

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." Leviticus 19:2

" This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light;in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth." I John 1:5-6

How does this apply to us today?

First, there are still unclean things in this world we have to avoid as Christians.

We are to avoid (to name just a few):

• Giving into sensuality, deceipt, unholy anger, stealing, unwholesome talk, bitterness, brawling and slander (Ephesians 4:17-34)
• Adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, envy, murder, drunkenness, heresies (Galatians 5:19-21)
• Homosexuality, covetousness, pride, disobedience, merciless, maliciousness, hatred of God (Romans 1:26-32)
• Judging, causing our brother to stumble in their faith, anything not done in faith (Romans 14)

This list includes a list of sins that are a blatant disregard for God's holiness and His instructions of holiness to us.  We also need to consider the following:  what is sin to us may not necessarily be sin to our brother, and vice versa.  Certain things are sinful by nature.  Others are not, but are sinful when not done in faith.

"I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..." Romans 14:14-17

I have adopted several beliefs based on these verses.  For instance, dealing with the consumption of alcohol.  At one time, I did not consider it a sin when it was done in moderation.  However, when this belief led another to stumble, it then became sin.  Also, the enjoyment of my Christian faith in modern music.  There are those I have come into contact that truly believe this type of music is sinful.  For me to listen to this "contemporary" music in their presence would be considered sinful.

Second, we will be held accountable. The Israelites were held accountable for their unclean acts or their exposure to unclean things. They sometimes needed to offer a sacrifice or offering. Sometimes they needed to be cleansed by the priest. And sometimes they were exiled from their families and friends. Today, we have an easier way to become clean once again - through the blood of Christ.

What is the difference between the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and us as Christians today following the new covenant?  It is Jesus Christ!

First, Jesus can overcome the physically unclean things this world contains.  Since Jesus is the Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), all creation is subject to Him.  Thus purifying or healing something that was considered unclean in Old Testament times is of no consequence to Him.

For instance, in Luke 5, Jesus healed a man stricken with leprosy, considered unclean according to Leviticus 13. Jesus recognized this, but He healed the man regardless.  Then, in verse 14 it says, "Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”  Jesus recognized the importance of the law to guide unbelievers toward himself (see Galatians 3:24 above).  Furthermore, scripture instructs us:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17

Further examples of Christ healing unclean things:

• An unclean woman, from her flow of blood (i.e. Leviticus 15) - Matthew 9:20-22
• An unclean spirit - Mark 9:14-29
• 10 lepers - Luke 17:11-19

Second, Jesus can overcome the spiritual uncleanliness of our souls.  His blood can wash us clean, just as in the Old Testament, the sins of the sacrifices washed the Israelites.  The difference is that the Old Testament sacrifices covered up the sin, so the Israelites could fellowship with God.  Jesus can permanently cleanse us from our unrighteousness.  But only if we trust Him.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:1-4

"“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”" I Peter 2:24

" But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:7

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:19

In conclusion, God still requires us today to be holy.  The application of how we become holy, though changed with the nails and the cross.  We will discuss more of this in Part 2 of this message.  In the words of Peter:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." I Peter 1:3-9

But, though we enjoy this offer of salvation in Jesus today, we find this reminder from the Old Testament still ringing true today:

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”"  I Peter 1:13-16