Article - You Cannot Get to the Blood Without Water
After Jesus anointed the blind man’s eyes with clay, He commanded the blind man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam so that his eyes would be opened (John 9:1-15). Washing in the water to be healed was not necessary or essential for healing until Jesus commanded that it be done. The “works of God” were revealed in this man because he obeyed what Jesus commanded – otherwise he would have remained blind. So also, Jesus wants to heal us of our spiritual blindness (sin) through His blood (Luke 4:18; Ephesians 1:7). Jesus commands us to “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Having “our bodies washed with pure water” was not necessary or essential for the cleansing of our sins and the salvation of our souls until Jesus commanded that it be done (Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Hebrews 10:22). The “working/operation of God” (removing all your past sins) will not occur in your life until you obey Jesus and are buried with Him in baptism (Colossians 2:11-12; Hebrew 5:9). Otherwise, you are still blind – you are still in your sins. Consider these Scriptures: Jesus’ blood was shed “for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). You are to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Jesus purchased the church “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Jesus cleanses the church with the “washing of water” (Ephesians 5:26). Jesus’ blood cleanses your conscience (Hebrews 9:14). Water baptism “now saves us” and is “the answer of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:20-21).
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