CHAPTER 19  Washed from our Sins, Made Kings, and Made Priests Part 1

Rev. 1:5-6 "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

There is an order of events listed in the above verses. First he loved us, then he washed us from our sins in his own blood, next he made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, subsequently we owe him praise, honor and glory, and finally he has dominion for ever and ever. One of the four things the scriptures say that "God is" is love. Love is the motivating cause of all that God does for his people. The scriptures say that we love him because he first loved us. God's election of a people is based on His love:

Rom. 9:11 "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Works or goodness in the one elected was not a factor, but God's love was the reason for the election.

Similarly, the spiritual birth is brought about because of God's love: Tit. 3:4 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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." Our salvation from sin is also brought about because of God's love: Rom. 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Love is more than just a feeling, but it is manifested through action. Jesus loved us and that is why he "washed us from our sins in his own blood." Sin was the great enemy of the Lord's people. For this cause Jesus came into the world as the angel proclaimed to Joseph, "Fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." Out of the love he had for those that God chose before the world began, Jesus came to save his people from their sins. The scriptures say that without the shedding of blood is no remission. It took the shedding of blood to remit our sins. However, the blood of animal sacrifices would not suffice as atonement for the elect. God requires perfection. Only the blood sacrifice of a perfect man would be sufficient to redeem the elect from their sins. But where could a perfect man be found? All of Adam's posterity were made sinners in the sin of Adam according to Romans chapter 5. But God provided himself a sacrifice as the Son of God left the portals of glory and came down and was made of a woman and was made under the law to redeem them that were under the law of sin and death. Through his virgin birth he was made holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. He kept the law to a jot and a tittle, and then at the appropriate time, he was made an offering on Calvary's cruel cross to redeem his people from their sins. 2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." As Jesus was made sin for us, we were made the righteousness of God in him. This atonement was to perfection for ever: Heb. 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

There is a washing through the blood of Jesus as the following verses proclaim:

    1. Heb. 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."

    2. Heb. 12:24 "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

    3. 1 Pet. 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:"

    4. 1 John 13:10 "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."

    5. 1 Cor. 6:11 "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."

    6. Tit. 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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"

This washing is from sin and was brought about because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.