"Are You Washed In The Blood Of The Lamb"
The secret to walking in a Greater Grace is the revelation hidden within this great
old hymn. Written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost by Elisha A. Hoffman in 1878 it contains some great understanding. We will now examine the words and the truth
within them.
Sometimes this hymn is sung in churches as an "Altar Call" type of song but it is much more than that. Let's look at rhe refrain of the song.
Are you washed in the Blood
In the soul cleansing Blood of the Lamb
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as Snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb
The Blood is called "Soul Cleansing Blood" for a reason. The bible says the end
of your faith is the SAVING OF YOUR SOUL (1stPeter 1:19) In many churches folks
share a message of God's Love and Grace and then call people forward to accept
Christ. They have them say a repeat after me type of "Sinners Prayer" and tell them that they are saved. In a sense it is true if the Spirit of God touched their heart and caused them to know their soul needed to be converted and responsive to the Lord's tug on their heart. The truth is Jesus-in the eyes of God-saved them when "The Lamb" was slain before the foundations of the world. (Rev. 13:8)
Remember the story of Cornelius in Acts Chapter 10. He was praying, he was not a Jew, he was a Roman Centurion who had a vision. In this vision he was told to send men to a city called Joppa and call for Peter to come and tell him what to do. In Acts 11:14 it says Peter was to TELL HIM WORDS whereby Cornelius and all his house might be saved. Now before the men sent from Cornelius got to Joppa
God gave Peter a vision too. In Acts 11:5-9 Peter sees a vessel like a great sheet let down from heaven,having four corners. It contained four footed beasts of the Earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things,and fowls of the air. Peter hears a voice saying "Arise Peter slay and eat" and as Peter had done before he argues and says "Not So Lord, nothing common nor unclean has entered my mouth. Then God told him "What God Hath Cleansed,That Call Not Thou Common."
That Four Cornered Sheet represented the Four Corners of the Earth and Everything In It! Cleansed In God's Sight. Yes! Saved in God's Opinion - but that is speaking of the Spiritual Realm. In Hebrews 12:23 we are called to the General Assembly of the Church of the Firstborn, WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN, and to GOD THE JUDGE OF ALL, and to the SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.
Just because someone does not know the truth that does not make them something other than WHAT GOD HAS MADE THEM.
The Soul of Man is what needs saving. Man's soul-the mind,will and emotions are being ruled by the natural realm. The fleshly realm of fallen Adam. It has been bound mostly by the five senses. When God's spirit draws a man he awakens that man to the lost condition of his soul. When that man responds to that draw whether in a church service or elsewhere we call his response "Getting Saved". His soul is now awakened and responsive to God. He still has that carnal fleshly mind of fallen Adam. God wants him to respond by believing God's word that is quickened to him. The mans soul is beginning the process of getting saved. This takes time as his mind is renewed daily by the Spirit and Word of God. The manifest "Mind of Christ" is God's intended result. As the mans mind is renewed by the Spirit and Word of God the man will become in his attitude,motives,and actions more like Jesus Christ. The thoughts and intents of his heart toward God and His Word are more important to God than his fallen flesh. We need to see all as cleansed by God. We are to call them righteous. We pronounce them clean In Christ Jesus. That is the GOOD NEWS of The Gospel.
Getting back on track we see the hymn asks "Are Your Garments Spotless Are They White As Snow?" Often we mistake the garments to be their outward adherence to be our accepted ideas of what we think their lifestyle should look like. This is usually based on our individual denominations accepted modes of outward behavior. They are judged by how they dress, wear their hair, wear their clothes, what they eat or don't eat, if the smoke or drink etc. etc. etc. Those outward actions ARE NOT THEIR GARMENTS. We see the garments as natural things but the real garments are spiritual in nature. The Garments in the hymn are the THOUGHTS in the mind or soul of the individual
Ezeliel 44:17 the priests wore linen garments. Linen represents the Righteousness of The Saints. We are to dress ourselves-our souls-with the truths God has declared us to be. Those thoughts that agree with God of who we are In Christ are our garments. Thoughts of unworthiness or unacceptance in God's sight are Spots on Our Garments. We read the Word of God and let the Blood of God-his words declaring our acceptance by him to take presidence over and above our unworthy thoughts. The more time we spend in his word and his presence our soul begins to believe and accept the truth. That is how our garments (thoughts) are washed. Those spots are bleached out by His Truth.
Then the hymn says:
Are you walking daily by the Saviour's side?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in The Crucified?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Notice it's a daily walk with Jesus by his side speaking of a closeness of fellowship. In this world until your mind is fully renewed you are going to be bombarded with thoughts. Thoughts about the weaknesses in your own flesh. Thoughts of every failure in your natural life. Thoughts from others that accuse you because of their judgement of you. Those words and thoughts will spot your garment (your soul) if you let them and you will be discouraged, depressed, and confused as to your true identity "In Christ". They will cause you to doubt the unconditional love of your Father God. You will have trouble receiving his love or the benefits of your salvation because of the unworthy feelings caused by listening to and believing even halfheartedly those thoughts contrary to the truth that God has declared concerning you.
You must treat those words and thoughts that accuse you like you would someone invading your home. Your 911 call is to the Word of God! You speak in your heart-speak in your mind-speak out loud to yourself the truth of how God sees you. God's words are wholesome words. The bible says if we don't consent with wholesome words even the words of our lord Jesus Christ we are proud knowing nothing. So we humble ourselves by agreeing with him. Sure it might seem to us that we are unrighteous or unworthy but those are just lies we have believed. If need be do just as a little child-PLAY MAKE BELIEVE. Make believe
you are as loved as he says you are. Make believe you are as righteous as Christ and hold your head high. As a child when you played make believe if you were the cowboy or sheriff and one of the other kids called you the indian you would reject that thought and continue to pretend to be the cowboy or sheriff. You wouldn't entertain the other kids words saying otherwise. If you really play this MAKE BELIEVE GAME WITH ALL YOUR HEART you will find something amazing and that will be PEACE OF MIND. It will be a struggle at first especially if you have a bad habit of believing negative thoughts about yourself and God's Unconditional Love for you--BUT-- if you continue to play this childish game -- day by day you will find it easier and easier until the truth finally overrides the lies about yourself you used to believe. You might actually find it kind of frightening in a way the day you find your peace and wonder if it's normal not feeling the fears and guilt you have been accustomed to living with. It's a strange feeling indeed!
Then the hymn says are you Resting Each Moment In The Crucified? His sacrifice was perfect. He is the saviour and you are the savee! Religion wants you to do something-no actually many things to perfect you IN THEIR EYES. Do this-do that-don't eat this-don't drink that-don't wear this-don't-don't don't. You'll go nuts trying to keep all their rules and you will lose all the Joy you once had when Jesus became real to you. God wants you to enjoy him and enjoy spending time with him. He wants to be your idol so to speak. When folks get to idolize a certain celebrity or sports hero. Then often try to dress like them and/or act like them. You will find as you spend time with him bit by bit you'll be taking on his attributes because he will be perfecting you from within and it will show outwardly. Your thoughts about yourself change and your thoughts toward others change. It isn't all going to happen overnight but it will happen.
Thinking his thoughts about how he sees you In Righteousness and In Christ will
give your heart and mind peace, You will be happier and not sad. Any good father wants his children happy and if you go around believing lies about yourself you won't be happy. If you are not happy and feel condemned you won't want to visit
with Your Father because sad people hang with sad people.
Love Yourself-You are God's workmanship! He believes you are Righteous!
Actually because of what he did IN CHRIST-he knows you are Righteous. He wants you to become convinced of that fact so you can actually enjoy the
fruits of that salvation. PEACE WITH GOD - PEACE WITH YOURSELF and
LOVE FOR YOUR FELLOWMAN.
There are other blessings but those that major on Lots of Money-Bigger Newer Cars-Bigger Newer Homes etc. as a sign of prosperity with God are deceived if they don't have the PEACE and LOVE mentioned in the above paragraph.
The Hymn says: Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin.
What stains? The stains of believing you are not what God says you are!
Example of Stains The Stain Remover
I am unworthy I am worthy In Christ
I am unrighteous I am righteous In Christ
I am unloved I am loved unconditionally In Christ
I am rejected I am accepted In The Beloved
I am a sinner I am a saint and a citizen of heaven
OK-GAME ON - PLAY MAKE BELIEVE UNTIL YOU GET CONVINCED YOU ARE
WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE IN CHRIST