What It Means to Be Cleansed from Sin - Martin Wiles

But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT

I had reached the magic number; I knew what the doctor would say.

Fifty is the age when physical tests of various sorts begin to occur, one of which I dreaded. Sure enough, the doctor said, “We need to set you up for a colonoscopy.” Since my wife had a family history of colon cancer, she had her first procedure when she was in her thirties. I had seen the contorted expression on her face as she drank the prep fluid. Now it was my turn.

Since we didn’t have health insurance at the time, I put the procedure off for a couple of years. But the date finally came. My doctor believed in thorough cleansing. He wrote the prescription, and I picked up my gallon of lemon-flavored drink. Half the day before the procedure and half the morning of. The procedure was a breeze, but the prep … well … not so much. By the time the doctor did his part, the medicine had done its part. The medicine had cleansed me entirely.

Corinth was a wicked city. The believers who lived there faced numerous temptations, immorality being the greatest. But Paul reminded them of what it means to be cleansed from sin. Christ had made them holy when they received him as their Savior. They didn’t have to succumb to the temptations surrounding them. They had the power to overcome.

This cleansing happens when we accept what Christ did for us on Calvary’s cross. Sanctification also begins. We are set apart from our former way of living. But sanctification is a process. I had finished drinking the fluid within an hour’s time, but it took hours—even an entire day—for my system to be thoroughly cleansed. The same is true for sanctification. We will spend our lifetimes growing into the person we are already in position.

Christians are termed saints, but we aren’t always saintly in our behavior or thoughts. As we involve ourselves in the spiritual disciplines—such as Bible study, prayer, corporate worship, meditation, and small groups—we become who God wants us to be.

Let God cleanse you through salvation. Then, be patient as he works out the effects of your cleansing through your daily life experiences.

Father, thank you for cleansing me through Jesus Christ. Give me the courage to trust you as you work out my sanctification throughout my lifetime. 

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