"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."
"Cleanseth" is an active, present, persistent cleansing!
The bad thought that you just had, the bad words that you said to your friend or that passerby before reading this post, all has been forgiven.
The terrible things that you did in the past -- forgiven forever by God by the Blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
We must emphasize that we are not forgiven because of God's goodness or mercy:
"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)
Regarding the reason why God forgives our sins, the phrase "faithful and just" outlines it perfectly. God pardons us for all our sin because they were punished in the body of His Son on the Cross.
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 3-4)
Jesus Christ became sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)
He cried out: "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me" that we could be reconciled to God the Father for all eternity.
He became of no reputation (Philippians 2:7), dying on the Cross, that by His sacrifice we could sit with Him in high places, in the very place of honor at the right hand of the Father (cf Ephesians 2:6).
And what is Jesus doing now, sitting at the right hand of the Father:
"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34)
What is He doing there, exactly? He declares our forever righteousness in Him:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
What else?
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2: 9-15)
In Him, we are made complete, filled to fullness with His power, for Christ is "fulness of the Godhead bodily." Baptized with Christ through His death, we have entered into His life, which no man can take away. All the sins which weighed us down have been washed away forever. We are forever one with Him, forever forgiven of all our trespasses -- and their is no time qualification attached to this almighty pardon: ALL trespasses, past present future! But not only that, since we are one with Christ, who is forever favored, forever beloved of God the Father, the law can no longer condemn us or hold us in bondage, since "the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" has been blotted out forever. The very weapon used by Satan and his minions, the law which accused and condemned us, has been fully satisfied in the flesh of the Son of God, and therefore the devil and his angels have nothing more to us against us. They are forever rendered powerless.
There is intense power, intense honor, unmitigated favor in the blood of Jesus Christ! His death did not just purchase our freedom, it has washed away forever all our sin, continuously cleanses us from all present and future transgressions, and by our righteous state in Christ, we become one with Him, seated in honor and glory.
And of course, there is the promise of the Holy Spirit released to all who believe on the name of Jesus Christ:
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." (1 Peter 1:2)
We receive the Holy Spirit, by whom and through whose exclusive power we bear fruit of righteousness (cf Galatians 5: 22-23) This promise was shed abroad for us as a result of Christ's death on the Cross:
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:33)
Peter declared for all, because of Christ's glorious state, the Holy Spirit, the promise made manifest to through the law and the prophets, was released in full on the day of Pentecost, and goes forth to every person who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, there is power in the Blood of Jesus Christ -- wonder working power!
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