“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 I like to be clean. I want to be physically clean, mentally clean, and I sure want to be morally and spiritually clean. I remember as a child, I always heard somebody saying, “cleanliness is next to godliness.” I just took that to mean that a godly person will be a clean person, or, that if you were clean you must be godly. I realize now that is not always the case; a clean body can hide a multitude of inner filth., I remember while growing up, we made our living cutting cedar and hauling hay. Now there are probably not many jobs that can get you physically dirtier than that type work. There is always lots of sweat and dust that stick to your body and clothes. When the day was over, I always felt dirty, sticky, grimy, and tired, and smelled like I looked.
At the end of the day I always looked forward to a hot shower because, it is amazing how refreshed and clean I felt and even seem to be reenergized. It just felt good to be clean.
It’s the same way on the spiritual side. As we walk through this world, we are exposed to all sorts of filth and dirt, and are offered so many enticements to get involved in sinful activities that can dirty up our lives, soil our reputations and bring reproach upon the name of Christ and his Church. Then, no matter how clean we may look on the outside, we feel dirty and exposed and guilty.
There is only one way to get rid of the dirt and sin we pick up in our daily walk, and that is an old fashioned confession bath, and a fresh realization of the power of the blood of Christ. Our text verse above says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And, then, we find that verse seven of the same book and chapter says it all, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
I have learned that if I want to be truly clean physically, I must bathe daily; and to be clean spiritually, I must confess daily. It sure is refreshing to feel the cleansing work of God upon my heart!