The washing water of the Word is necessary for sanctification and cleansing. In Ephesians 5:26, we read about the sanctification and cleansing of the Church with the washing of water by the Word. But what does the sanctification and cleansing with the washing of water by the Word mean? Does the washing of water by the Word only refer to the water baptism or does it also refer to something else?
The Church is sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water by the Word
Husbands, love your wives, even as 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)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour 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 (Titus 3:4-7)
Just like a person is cleansed from all the dirt and bad odors with the washing of water, the new man is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the Word from all sins and iniquities and all the dirt of the flesh and the world. So that through the washing of water by the Word aka the washing of regeneration, the Church that exists of born again believers, is glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any of such thing and is holy and without blemish.
But the sanctification and cleansing don’t stop after the washing of regeneration. The sanctification process continues with the cleansing by the washing water of the Word.
The renewing of the mind with the Word
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2)
When you have become a new creation through regeneration in Christ and have been made holy and righteous, you should renew your mind with the Word of God. So that you shall no longer think and live like the world and be conformed to the world, but by the renewing of the mind with the Word of God, you shall think and live according to the will of God.
The Word of God is the Truth, the Light, and the Life and reveals the will of God and His Kingdom and the works of the Spirit and the lies of the devil and the works of the flesh.
The cleansing power of the Word
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word (Psalms 119:9)
You shall read the words of God and take the words of God and renew your mind with the Word of God. During the process of renewing your mind with the Word of God, you shall be confronted by the Word with the works of the flesh, which are not according to the will of God.
When you are confronted by the Word you have a choice to either obey the Word and put off the works of the flesh, whereby you will be cleansed through your obedience to the Word and by putting off the works of the flesh, or to rebel against the Word and disobey the Word and reject the Word and obey the will of the flesh and keep doing the works of the flesh.
The decision you make depends upon whether you love God or you love yourself.
The Word of God is no respecter of persons and possesses the same power for everyone
God’s Word is no respecter of persons and is the same for everyone and possesses the same power, however, the outcome aka the result of God’s Word shall be different in everyone’s life. Since every person chooses to either believe and obey the words of God or to not believe the words of God and reject the words of God, by not doing the words of God.
We read this also in the parable of the sower. The seed was the same, however, the grounds where the seed was sown were different and therefore the outcome was different (Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:2-20, Luke 8:5-15 (Read also: ‘The four kinds of believers’)).
God’s Word is life and is so powerful that the lives of everyone, who yield to God’s Word and obeys and does God’s Word will change and will not remain the same.
The washing water of the Word
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3)
Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth (John 17:17)
Just like the earth that is not filled with water, but always needs water and never be satisfied and can’t live without water, you shall also need the Word every day and can’t live without the Word and never be satisfied and therefore you shall never say, “yeah yeah, I know that already’ or ‘I have enough’. But you shall spend time in the Word of God every day (Proverbs 30:16).
The Word of God is like water and the words of God shall give you life, and shall refresh you and cleanse you from all the lies and dirt of the flesh and the world.
The more you abide in the Word and follow up the words, the more the Word shall possess you and you shall be fully consumed by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Just like in the vision of Ezekiel, where Ezekiel was brought by the man through the waters and the water was first to his ankles, then to his knees, then to his loins and eventually had to swim because the waters were risen and had become a river.
And that is the will of Jesus for His Church, Jesus wants everyone, who belongs to His Church through regeneration in Him, to be fully consumed by Him; consumed by His words.
Jesus wants His Church to be washed in the water, not only by the baptism in water, which is a one-time event, but that the Church is constantly cleansed by the washing water of the Word of God. It is the will of Jesus that the Church is consumed by His words and remains in Him; in the Word and stays holy and without blemish and the Church will be a Spring of water, whose waters fail not.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
