Spiritual Cleanliness
/SPIR-it-choo-ul KLEEN-lee-ness/
Summary
The moral purity required to approach God, of which ceremonial cleansing was a type and figure.
☩Old Testament Teaching
While ceremonial regulations governed ritual purity for temple worship, the prophets and wisdom literature emphasized ethical and spiritual cleanness. 'He that hath clean hands and a pure heart' may ascend the Lord's hill. 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean'—here the ritual furnishes a figure for the spiritual.
Key verses:Psalm 24:3-4Psalm 51:7Psalm 51:10Isaiah 1:16
☩New Testament Fulfillment
In Christ, true spiritual cleansing is accomplished. 'The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.' 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Believers are washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ.
Key verses:1 John 1:71 John 1:9Revelation 1:5Ezekiel 36:25
Related Verses10 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Clean," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Clean," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).