“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV)

In a passage which speaks of marriage, we find a wonderful reminder of the relationship between Jesus and His church. Paul also gives us a phrase that reminds us of the work of both the Living and the Written Word of God. The phrase is “the washing of the water of the word.”

Let us begin with the Living Word of God. The promise of a Messiah was that He would cleanse the people from their sin. Jermiah prophesied, “I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.”

Jesus demonstrated His ability to forgive when some men lowered before Him a paralyzed man. Jesus then expressed to the man; your sins are forgiven. The teachers of the law complained that only God could forgive sins. Jesus asked, which is easier to say, take up your bed and walk or your sins are forgiven? He then demonstrated that He could forgive sins when He told the man, take up your bed and walk and he did. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah.

Walking in a relationship with Jesus Christ brings us the cleansing, the purification, and the washing as He forgives us of our sins. “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. . .. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7,9)

Now, let us look at the importance of the Written Word of God in our washing. Jesus demonstrated the importance of the Written Word of God when He quoted Scripture when being tempted by the devil. Because Jesus was hungry after fasting for forty days, the devil said, turn these stones to bread if you are the Son of God. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3) Next Jesus was told to jump off the Temple, because God would protect Him. Jesus replied, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16) Then, Jesus was told to worship the devil and he would give Him everything. Jesus said, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13) If we want to overcome temptation, we need the Written Word of God.

The writer of Hebrews would express both the importance and the power of God’s Written Word in our lives. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Spending time in the Written Word of God will allow the Holy Spirit to look at our lives and show us where and how we need to grow and change as we become more like Jesus.

Charles Swindoll in a devotional, “The Washing of Water . . . . with the Word” said, “Just as clear, fresh water cleanses our bodies, God’s written Word washes us clean deep down inside our souls. It purifies our thoughts, scrubs our motives, and cleans our conscience as we absorb it and obey its truths.”

The more we walk with the Living and the Written Word of God, the more we demonstrate the difference that God makes in our lives. Peter knew the difference God had made in his life, so his final written words were to encourage us to “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block