How are we cleansed according to this teaching?
According to this teaching, cleansing comes through the washing of water by the Word, not baptismal water. Believers are cleansed by saturating themselves in Scripture; as they literally inundate themselves with the Word, it has a cleansing effect. This is the sanctifying work described in Ephesians 5:26 for members of the body of Christ.
Les explains that Ephesians 5:26 speaks of being sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water, clarifying that this is not baptismal water but the Word. He says this is how we're cleansed: we literally inundate ourselves with the Word, and it has a cleansing effect. In the surrounding Joshua context, the lesson for believers is to spend a good share of time in the book, meditating on it day and night, so they can be pleasing in God's eyes.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,