The washing water of the Word is necessary for sanctification and cleansing. Í Efesusbréfinu 5:26, we read about the sanctification and cleansing of the Church with the washing of water by the Word. But what is the meaning of the washing of water by the Word in Ephesians 5:26 samkvæmt Biblíunni? Does the washing of water by the Word refer to the baptism or does it also refer to something else?
The Church is sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water by the Word
Just like a person is cleansed from all the dirt and bad odors with the washing of water, hið Nýr maður is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the Word from all sins and iniquities and all the dirt of the flesh and the world.
Eiginmenn, elskaðu konur þínar, even as Christ also loved the church, og gaf sjálfan sig fyrir það; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, Að hann gæti gefið sjálfum sér hana dýrðlega kirkju, ekki með blett, eða hrukku, eða eitthvað slíkt; en að það skuli vera heilagt og lýtalaust (Efesusbréfið 5:25-27)
Through the washing of water by the Word, eða með öðrum orðum, the washing of regeneration, kirkjunni (söfnuði endurfæddra trúaðra (Kristnir menn)) is glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any of such thing.
The Church is holy and without blemish.
Hins vegar, the sanctification and cleansing don’t stop after the washing of regeneration.
The sanctification process continues with the cleansing by the washing water of the Word.
En eftir það birtist góðvild og kærleikur Guðs, frelsara okkar, til mannanna, Ekki með réttlætisverkum sem vér höfum unnið, en eftir miskunn sinni frelsaði hann oss, með þvotti endurnýjunar, og endurnýjun heilags anda; Sem hann úthellti ríkulega yfir okkur fyrir Jesú Krist, frelsara okkar; Það að vera réttlætt af náð hans, við ættum að vera erfingja samkvæmt voninni um eilíft líf (Titus 3:4-7)
The renewing of the mind with the Word
When you become a new creation through regeneration in Christ and made holy and righteous, you should renew your mind with the Word of God. So that you no longer think and live like the world and be conformed to the world, but by the renewing of the mind with the Word of God, think and live according to the will of God.
The Word of God is the Truth, ljósið, og lífið. The Word reveals the will of God and His Kingdom and the works of the Spirit and the lies of the devil and the works of the flesh (a.o. John 15;3; 17:17; Romans 12:2).
Og láttu þig ekki samræmast þessum heimi: en umbreytist með endurnýjun huga yðar, að þér megið sanna hvað það er gott, og viðunandi, og fullkominn, Vilji Guðs
Romans 12:2
The cleansing power of the Word
You shall read the words of God, take God’s words, and renew your mind with the Word of God. During the process of renewing your mind with the Word of God, the Word confronts you with the works of the flesh, sem eru ekki samkvæmt vilja Guðs.
Nú eruð þér hreinir fyrir orðið, sem ég hef talað til yðar (John 15:3)
When the Word confronts you, þú hefur val. You can obey the Word and fresta verkunum of the flesh and be cleansed through your obedience to the Word and by putting off the works of the flesh. Or you can rebel against the Word and disobey the Word and reject the Word and obey the will of the flesh and keep doing the works of the flesh.
The decision you make depends upon whether you love God or you love yourself.
Með hverju skal ungur maður hreinsa veg sinn? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word
Sálmur 119:9
The Word of God is no respecter of persons and possesses the same power for everyone
The Word of God is no respecter of persons. God’s Word is the same for everyone and possesses the same power. Hins vegar, the outcome aka the result of God’s Word shall be different in everyone’s life. Það er vegna þess, every person chooses to either believe and obey the words of God or to not believe the words of God and reject the words of God, by not doing the words of God.
We read this also in the Parable of the sower. The seed was the same. Hins vegar, the grounds where the seed was sown were different. Þess vegna, the outcome was different. (Matthías 13:3-23, Mark 4:2-20, Lúkas 8:5-15 (Lestu líka: ‘Fjórar tegundir trúaðra')).
God’s Word is life. God’s Word is so powerful that the lives of everyone, who yield to God’s Word and obeys and does God’s Word will change and not remain the same.
The meaning of the washing water of the Word
Just like the earth shall never be saturated with water, but always needs water, because the earth can’t live without water, you shall also need the Word every day and can’t live without the Word and never be saturated. Þess vegna, you shall never say, “Yeah yeah, I know that already’ or ‘I have enough’. But you shall spend time in the Bible every day (Orðskviðir 30:16).
The Word of God is like water. The words of God gives life to you, and refreshes you. God’s words cleanses you from all the lies and dirt of the flesh and the world.
Helgið þá í sannleika þínum: Thy Word is truth (John 17:17)
The more you abide in the Word and follow up God’s words, the more the Word shall possess you and you shall be fully consumed by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Just like in the vision of Ezekiel of the flowing river from the Temple.
In the vision, Ezekiel was brought by the man through the waters. The water was first to his ankles, then to his knees, and then to his loins. Að lokum, Ezekiel had to swim because the waters rose and became a river.
And that is the will of Jesus for His Church. Jesus wants everyone, who belongs to His Church through regeneration in Him, to be fully consumed by Him; Orð hans.
What is the will of Jesus regarding His Church?
Jesus wants His Church to be washed in the water. Not only by the baptism in water, which is a one-time event. But Jesus wants His Church to be constantly cleansed by the washing water of the Word of God.
It’s the will of Jesus that the Church is consumed by His words. Jesus wants His Church to abide and remain in Him; in the Word and stay holy without blemish.
Jesus wants the Church to be a Spring of water, whose waters fail not.
„Vertu salt jarðar’
