What is the believer's daily cleansing accomplished by, according to Ephesians?
Ephesians teaches that daily cleansing comes through the cleansing of the Word, not through a tub of water or a washcloth. Although believers have already been washed and forgiven, their ongoing walk in a sin-filled world still requires continual cleansing by the Word.
Les explains that John's Gospel foot washing illustrates this. Jesus told Peter that if He did not wash his feet, Peter had no part with Him. Peter then asked for a full bath, but Jesus said Peter and the other ten, all but Judas, had already been washed and had their salvation. The problem was not their standing but their daily walk: in a sin-filled earth they were being defiled and getting their feet dirty. That was the lesson in foot washing. Les then points to Ephesians, where Paul speaks of a daily cleansing, not with a tub of water or washcloth, but with the cleansing of the Word. Scripture shows this ongoing need of cleansing even for the believer, because believers remain in the old world where defilement happens. In Jesus' day, Jews used a central bath and wore open-toed sandals; by the time they walked home, their feet were filthy though the rest of the body was clean. So even forgiven believers constantly need that daily cleansing.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
What does 'the washing of water by the Word' mean in Ephesians 5:26?
The washing of water by the Word refers to cleansing by Scripture, not baptismal water. Christ sanctifies and cleanses the church through the Word so He can present it to Himself glorious, holy, set apart, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish.
According to Ephesians, how is the believer's daily cleansing accomplished?
Paul speaks of a daily cleansing that is not accomplished with a tub of water or a washcloth, but by the cleansing of the Word. Although believers have been washed, forgiven, and have salvation, their daily walk in a sin-filled world brings defilement, so they still need this ongoing cleansing.
More Questions
What is the washing of water by baptism that Ephesians 5:26 mentions?
The cleansing by 'the washing of water' in Ephesians 5 is done by the Word, not by water baptism.
What is the 'washing of water by the Word' in Ephesians 5:26?
The 'washing of water' in Ephesians 5:26 is the Word (Scripture), not baptismal water.
Does Ephesians 5:26 say that baptismal water cleanses the church?
In Ephesians 5:26, the 'washing of water by the Word' means cleansing by Scripture, not by baptismal water.