Lord’s Day 26
Q70. What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
To be washed with Christ's blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven my sins because Christ shed his blood for me on the cross. To be washed with Christ's Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has made me new and set me apart to belong to Christ, so that more and more I turn away from sin and live a holy life.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Hebrews 12:24
“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than Abel.”
1 Peter 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: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Revelation 1:5
“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
Revelation 7:14
“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Zechariah 13:1
“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”
John 3:5–8
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
Romans 6:4
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
1 Corinthians 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.”
Colossians 2:11–12
“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What are the two kinds of washing the catechism talks about here?
- 2
What does the Holy Spirit do when he makes someone new?
- 3
How would you explain the difference between forgiveness and being made new?
Illustration
When a stained shirt gets bleached, the stain is removed. But when a seed is planted in soil, something new starts to grow. Being washed with Christ's blood is like the stain being removed. Being washed with Christ's Spirit is like new life growing inside you. Both happen to every person who belongs to Christ.
Application
Pick one sin habit you want to turn away from this week. Ask God to keep working in you by his Spirit, making you more and more like Jesus. Remember that this change is his work, not yours alone.