STUFF ABOUT GOD AND CHRISTIANITY | Dr. Ron Braley
If we are forgiven for our sins when we respond to God’s call through devotion to him (making Jesus “Lord” as seen in Romans 10:8-10) and obedience to honor and love God and people, why do we need to keep seeking forgiveness?
Jesus hinted at the answer in John 13:5-10.
“Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. So he came to Simon Peter.”
“Lord, do you wash my feet?” Simon Peter asked. “Never shall you wash my feet.’” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
Simon Peter said, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
This servant-leader taught that we need regenerative bathing in the New Covenant, as seen in 13:10, and regular washing (ongoing repentance) to inherit God’s kingdom.
Let me explain. There are two kinds of washings referenced in John 13. The first is washing a part of the body, such as the hand or foot (e.g., verses 5 and 6). It is referenced by the word Peter used in 13:6 when he said, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” The washing of the part of the body referenced here is the Greek word pronounced “nip-toe.”
This “washing” for forgiveness when we rebel against God’s standard is part of our repentance— turning away from sin as we exercise changed behavior because of a new heart.
The second washing is bathing the whole body, as in the Old Testament reference to what Bathsheba was doing when David saw her. This Greek word is pronounced “loo-oh,” and we see this in 13:10.
There’s a distinct difference between the two types of spiritual washing.
First, the atoning work of Christ bathes – “looohs” – us from the sin and disobedience we practiced before we knew better, repented and devoted ourselves to God through Christ.
Second, we continue to repent and experience a cleansing when we fall short of God’s desires after devotion to him. In verse 10, we learn the one who has been bathed (loo-oh’d) needs only to have regular washings (nip-toes) for forgiveness inrepentance. Finally, Jesus explained to Peter that he and the other disciples had been “bathed” (regenerated) except for Judas.
In summary, we are bathed (“loo-oh’d”) when we devote ourselves to God out of our belief in him, and we continue to be “nip-toed” in our repentance when we mess up. Next week, we’ll look at Jesus’ instruction for a disciple-maker to “wipe the dust off the feet” and move on instead of stagnating.
Blessings and peace.
Braley, a local minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.
