March 31 – Cleansing vs. Covering

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Whatever we attempt in our own strength, under a conviction of sin, is a covering, not a cleansing; and if we die in this condition, unwashed, uncleansed, unpurified, it is utterly impossible that we should be admitted into the blessed presence of the holy God (Revelation 21:27).

“Let no one deceive you with empty words.” It is not the doing of a few good works; it is not an outward profession of religion that will give you access with joy unto God. Unless you are washed from your actual transgressions in the blood of Christ and cleansed from the pollution of your nature by the Spirit of God, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Yes, without this washing, you will be a horrible sight unto saints and angels, to yourselves and one another, when the shame of your nakedness shall be made to appear. If, therefore, you would not perish, and that eternally — if you would not perish as base defiled creatures, an abhorrence unto all flesh — then, when your pride and your wealth, your beauty, your ornaments, and your duties will stand you in no stead — look early to the only way of purifying and cleansing your souls which God has ordained:

“Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9 22).
“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “
You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers — but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)