Washed in the Water Cleansed by the Blood

The CONSECRATION of the Priest

Exodus 29:1-9 Read verses 1-9; expound upon verse 4.

I want to focus this morning on verse 4. And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

1. Someone had to get involved and bring them.

2. There had to be a place to come to.

3. There had to be a means of cleansing.

2000 year ago, Jesus made a new way for the atoning of sin.

The message today is that we too, must be Washed and Cleansed: Part of that is the work of Christ, part the work of the Holy Spirit, and part is our responsibility!

Ways we are washed/cleansed:

· With water – Exodus 29:4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

o Jesus said, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9

o Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2:19 Speaking of His body.

· In the word – READ Ephesians 5:24-28 26 That he [Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it [the Church] with the washing of water by the word,

o Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9 The truth shall make you free.

o Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3 This is TRUTH!

· By pure water – Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Our Consecration:

· Of regeneration – Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

o This is the point of our consecration where we are set apart by God for God.

o Aaron and sons came with bulls and rams. We come with empty hands.

o It is where we come to God with empty hands and (an empty self, surrendered to His will as well), allowing Him to fill them with the work He has ordained us to. It is never about what we are doing for the Lord but, rather what HE is doing through us for His own Kingdom and glory.

· By the Spirit – READ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

OT / NT:

· Sprinkled w/ clean water – READ Ezekiel 36:24-27 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: So much of the OT is symbolic of what will be when the Messiah comes. Knowing now that HE has come, we are cleansed by His Blood.

· By the Blood – 1 John 1:7 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.

Washed in the blood, cleansed by the Spirit, kept continually clean by the word. (That’s our part, still the work of the Holy Spirit but we have a responsibility to stay in the Word of God).

Aaron and sons were clothed in priestly garments – we [as sons and daughters] are clothed in the Righteousness of Christ.

Having been cleansed by the blood of Christ, we are set apart unto God. But are we keeping ourselves clean through the washing of the Word?