It’s going to be 102 degrees Fahrenheit again today, so I’m out early running errands and getting outside “stuff” done. Since we have a collection of older vehicles, there is always maintenance or cleaning to be done. Today, however, is special. We’re getting a deep down cleanin’ on my wife’s old minivan.

    We’ve already done this with one vehicle earlier in the summer and it was amazing. A good wax job, vacuuming the interior, shampooing the carpets, cleaning the vents, treating the vinyl, and hand-cleaning all the glass surfaces. I thought to myself who great it would be if I could the same thing to my ol’ self! That’s when the blessed Holy Spirit brought to mind a promise from an inspired word he gave to the old apostle of love.

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. 1 John 1:7

    What an incredible promise. If my life is being lived for the Father, then he takes care of my sin the same way he did when he saved me in the first place: the purifying sacrifice of his Son’s blood shed on the Cross to be a sin offering. (Romans 5:6-11; Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Does this negate the promise? Absolutely not!

    But even though I try to live my life for him, sometimes I stumble and sin. Does this negate the promise? I don’t live as perfectly as I would like, does that mean I forfeit this gift? Absolutely not! God would like for us to not sin, not even one little sin (1 John 2:1). At the same time, God does not want us to not try to pretend that we haven’t sinned. (1 John 1:8-10) So how do we balance God’s desire for perfection and our imperfection? How do we remain sinless and yet occasionally stumble? John gives us three answers from God’s grace until we stand fully perfected as God’s children in his presence in heaven. (cf. 1 John 3:1-3)

    First, we do live for God. We take being obedient to his will and doing good things very seriously. That’s what John means be walking in the light. (Take a look at 1 John and notice how often he mentions doing what is right and obeying God’s commands!) This shows where our heart is.

    Second, we confess our sins (1 John 1:8) he forgives us and cleanses us! Notice that there are two promises here. God forgives. God cleanses. Forgiveness is great, but cleansing is greater still! God not only pardons and overlooks our sin, he makes us clean, pure, and holy again by his grace and the blood of Jesus. We are given a deep down cleanin’! We are as perfect and holy as when we were first saved! (cf. Colossians 1:21-22)

    Third, Jesus isn’t just the atoning sacrifice for our sins to save us, but he also lives to bless us, claim us, and forgive us! (1 John 2:1-2; cf. Romans 8:32) Our Savior is at our Father’s side as our advocate and comforter!

    Isn’t it nice to know that it’s not just our cars that can get a good deep down cleanin’!

Title: "Deep Down Cleanin'"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: July 30, 2001

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