This is the third of the three relationships that lead to sanctification. This concept is difficult to comprehend at first, but once a person experiences this cleansing, it becomes natural and powerful. It becomes like the flow of a cascading stream.
The three relationships (counting the saving relationship) must be done in order. We cannot come to the table and abide with him unless we are wearing his robe of salvation. We cannot begin to be cleansed, unless our branch has begun to grow and bear fruit. (John 15:2)
The following text that guides us through this relationship is also in Revelation 3, as were the first two relationships.
As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)
This text shows:
He loves us.
He promises to reprove and chasten us. (This is not about punishment.)
After the rebuke, he wants us to be zealous and repent
Remember: this relationship is about growing closer to our Lord. This is not about salvation. Your sins were forgiven at the cross and salvation is assured. If we are not already in a saving relationship and abiding with him, our Lord would not be able to help us be cleansed.
Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light. (Luke 11:35-36)
These dark parts in our body are the target of this cleansing experience. These dark parts are preventing our hearts from being full of light. We cannot remove these dark parts and even God cannot remove them without our participation. This is the cleansing relationship.
These dark parts are any of the embedded evil tendencies and desires remaining in our hearts. They could be hatred, selfishness, pride, immoral thoughts, etc. This list could go on forever. We all know which dark parts are ours, because the Holy Spirit has shown them to each one of us. All of his people want to know the way of removing them from our hearts and our lives, forever.
THE CLEANSING RELATIONSHIP
STEP ONE: We step off the path and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:3)
We all have evil desires in our heart that cause us to have bad thoughts or even to act on these evil tendencies. These desires and actions cause us to step off the path. Everyone steps off the path.
STEP TWO: The Holy Spirit makes sure we know we have stepped off the path. This is the chastening.
The first step of restoration is knowing we have stepped off the path and fallen short. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. We have all been there and heard his voice. We know we have disappointed our God. This can be very painful.
STEP THREE: We repent.
We must acknowledge our wrong doing completely. This repentance is a three-fold action:
1. Acknowledge this sin exists.
2. Acknowledge this sin is ours. Do not deny this sin. Do not blame this sin on others. Do not give excuses for this action. It is ours. Own it.
3. Acknowledge that we can do nothing about it and that we need help. We need our Lord’s help.
After this complete acknowledgement we give the sin to Jesus for his removal. It is not ours anymore. Then we stop. Our work is done. Now we wait in faith for our Lord’s action.
STEP FOUR: Jesus cleanses us.
Jesus takes this piece of dark spot and disposes of it. He can then fill us with more light and guide us back to the path. This is what happened to the woman caught in adultery. He did not condemn her. He guided her back to the path. This is what happened to Peter when he denied his Lord. Jesus did not condemn him. He guided him back to the path.
We will step off the path again and again for the same reason or other reasons. This will happen many times. This is normal. The dark parts do not come out as a whole. They come out piece by piece, as much as we can bear at the time. We continue this process with patience and endurance. We will feel a change.
As we participate in this cleansing, we will feel the Holy Spirit and the power of God working in us. We will know the dark parts are being reduced. Our behavior will change. We will become zealous to participate.
As the dark parts are being removed there will be more light that shines in you. Our union with the Lord becomes more complete. We are being sanctified.
