Cleansed by the word

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). The idea of being cleansed is connected to salvation because we are clean when our sins are forgiven. These dual ideas of cleansing and forgiveness is demonstrated in Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

As Jesus said, the word cleanses us. Jeremiah 10:23 says that it is not in man to direct his steps. Psalm 19:7 tells us that the word is perfect -- perfect for the process of cleansing and obedience. Therefore, the Bible provides the guide necessary to find cleansing and forgiveness (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The scriptures also speak of forgiveness in terms of a birth. James 1:18 says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (cf. 1 Peter 1:23). As the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), the word of God possesses tremendous power. It has the power to pierce “even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). That piercing will cause someone to be “pricked in the heart” and realize that they need to wash their sins away (Acts 2:37; 22:16).

The saints who were with Christ were clean and therefore worthy (Revelation 19:8, 14). You can be cleansed and worthy by reading and obeying the precious word of God (Ephesians 5:26).

Kyle Campbell