I wanted to share just a few brief and very simple thoughts about these two elements, that in essence, secure our justification and sanctification.
In the Old Testament we see that prior to any approach for atonement, there were rather detailed and rigorous protocols to follow. First in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple ... there were laws and instructions to follow very precisely. Different offerings for different reasons; laws for burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings and so forth. The normal people were not allowed to enter into the holy place and only the high priest could enter the holiest of all, once a year. The people remained outside and gave their sacrifices so that the priests could represent them before the Lord.
There were two key places that always featured for the normal people ... the alter and laver (or basin). The alter was a place of sacrifice and the laver a place of cleansing (blood and water). To my simple mind, it speaks of requiring a substitute in the form of a sacrifice so that a normal sinful person could be brought before the Lord and accepted through the blood of that sacrifice (prescribed by God for that purpose), ... and then the necessary daily cleansing for constant renewal, refreshment and purification. A good reminder that each day every human throughout history has struggled with our inherent sinful nature and requires purifying constantly.
So in the New Testament, we come to the cross ... the ultimate expression of God's love and His desire to bring in a new and living way, open to all. We see in John (19v34) that when one of the soldiers at the cross pierced Jesus' side, blood and water came out. That wouldn't have happened to the two others crucified alongside Him. This is deliberate symbolism and speaks volumes to us about this new way God in His infinite mercy, was bringing in ... for you and me.
Once again, to my simple way of thinking, this blood and water coming out of Jesus tells me that He was the only one who could be sacrificed to atone for my sin and yours ... for everyone's, once and for all. The priests in the Old Testament had to sacrifice for themselves first, before they could represent the people, but Jesus did not need to do this ... He was the only one who could be the guarantor of a better covenant.
In Hebrews we read so much about all of this ... "he holds his priesthood permanently; because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them ... He has no need, like those high priests, to offers sacrifices daily ... since he did this once for all when he offered up himself ... made perfect forever" (7v23-28).
So, if we can see and accept that Jesus was indeed the only and perfect sacrifice and substitute for us, acceptable to a holy God, then we can be confident in this new and better way ... but can we directly approach God with confidence? Yes ...
The other really important event and symbol to me, is that when Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn completely in two but not as humans would do it, rending it from the bottom up; it tore on it's own from the top to the bottom ... God revealing that the barrier to Himself was no longer needed ... if we are in Christ, then we are invited to approach God, entering into the holiest of all, with a clear conscience, total confidence and full of faith, to be accepted before Him. Isn't that truly amazing?
So what about the water? It's sort of obvious that the blood element was indeed the death of the perfect substitute, Jesus Christ, but the water element? ... Hebrews 9v14-15 says: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant". Then in ch 10v14-16: "he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us ... I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds". In Eph 5v26 it talks about Christ sanctifying and cleansing the Church with the washing of water by the word.
To me, the cleansing is an on-going practise which requires being immersed in the word, God's word, the Bible. The Holy Spirit aids with this work and can bring to mind verses to help us during our daily lives, but He can only do this if we have studied them first ... it is our responsibility to clean ourselves spiritually as we would physically. Our sanctification, being made holy before God, has been secured through Christ, but our part is to continue with daily cleansing so that our purpose of being set aside for God to use, can be fulfilled. He has done His part; we must choose to do ours ... if we don't, then we will become 'dirty' vessels, less able to be used by God for the special purpose He had designed for us.
"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor 7v1).
I'll just finish with the passage from Hebrews 10 because after all, words from the Bible are rather more effective and important than mine!
"Therefore, ... since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way that is opened for us through the curtain ... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurances of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean ... and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (v19-23).
Remember both blood and water, and enjoy being able to come with confidence into this new and living way, with thankful hearts for Jesus Christ who made it possible.
Ingrid x
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