(1) The Purgation of Sins.
(2) The Purger of Sins.
(3) Our Sins.
EVERYONE who has any kind of faith in the holiness of God, and any degree of just sense of his own sinfulness, believes in the necessity of the cleansing away of sins.
(1.)
The Scriptures testify to the fact of sins being cleansed or purged. Example—"... purged our sins" (Heb. 1:3); "... cleanseth... from all sin" (1 John 1:7); "washed... from... sins" (Rev. 1:5).
(2)
The Scriptures declare that (a) there is only One purger of sins, even the Lord Jesus Christ.
“He... purged our sins," or "made purgation of sins" (Heb. 1:3). As there is only One purger of sins, all systems of religion which disallow Christ this exclusive honor are disobedient to God's Word.
The Scriptures further declare that (b) the Lord Jesus effected the purging away of sins "by Himself"—"... He... by Himself purged our sins." He did not give over the power to anyone else, nor entrust any creature whatever with the right or authority to cleanse away sins.
The Scriptures yet further declare that (c) the means adopted by the Lord to effect the purging of sins was by His own blood. He "washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Rev. 1:5). Observe how specific are the words of Scripture, giving the glory of the cleansing to Christ Himself—"He Himself"; and also to the means whereby the cleansing is effected—"His own blood." Christ and His gracious work are guarded by the Holy Scriptures with the utmost care. "He Himself" lets no other in; "His own blood" permits of no other means save the blood of Jesus. His blood was poured out once and forever; there was no repetition of the blood-shedding. And now "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”
(3.)
Our sins are our own sins—not our parents' or our companions' sins—and unless our own sins are cleansed away from us we individually cannot see God. When David felt his sin he cried to God, "Wash me" (Psa. 51:7). Wash me!-just as if there had been no other sinner in the world but himself. And everyone who believes the holiness of God and realizes his sinfulness must say, "Wash me.”
A great company is presented to our contemplation in heaven, concerning whom the inquiry was raised, Who are they? And then we hear heaven's reply: "These are they which... have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God." (Rev. 7:14, 15.) "They have washed their robes. Therefore the holiness of God magnified, perfect purity ensured, and the means the precious blood of Christ.