JESUS’ PRESENT MINISTRY
The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us; is not something that’s properly understood among many Christians. The simplest way I think I can express this truth is, “That which we have as Old Testament” put on flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ and what we have as New Testament is “about Christ”- about what’s in the Old Testament.
Christ is presently exercising the office of High Priest on behalf of Christians. He is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, on the basis of His Own blood, for Christians who sin. Christians presently reside in a body of death; they still possess the old sin nature. And Christians, falling into sin, must have a High Priest to effect cleansing for their sins.
The high priestly ministry of Christ is for the heirs of the kingdom, just as the priests of the Old Testament ministries were for those chosen of God to enter the Promised Land. Christ’s present High Priestly ministry has nothing to do with the issue of our presently possessed eternal salvation. Like in the camp of Israel, the ministry of the Levitical priests was for those who had already appropriated the blood of the paschal lambs. It was for the cleansing of a people destined to become a “kingdom of priests” (Exo. 19:6; cf. Heb. 9:1-7). Therefore, in Christendom, the work of Christ as High Priest, typified by the high priest in the camp of Israel, is for the same purpose. It is for the cleansing of a people destined to be “kings and priests” (Rev. 5:10; cf. Heb. 9:11, 12, 24).
God would have His people clean for both present and future purposes. According to the Epistle of 1 John, God desires to have a present reciprocal fellowship with a cleansed people. Cleansing makes fellowship possible, and the entire matter is with a view to the return of Christ and attendant events. Christians have been instructed: “….abide in him [i.e. live in a state of conscious, close fellowship ‘with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ’]; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 1:3-2:2, 28; cf. 3:6-9; 4:16, 17). In this respect, Christ’s High Priestly ministry is a vital present provision for the future heirs of the kingdom.
Christ gave Himself for the Church,
Eph 5:26-27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
KJV
This aspect of Christ’s present ministry is possibly best illustrated by the incident of John chapter thirteen where Christ girded Himself, took a basin of water, and began to wash the disciple’s feet (13:4ff). Some Churches practice that today without a proper understanding of what Christ was actually teaching His disciples at the time. Peter, not at all understanding the significance of that which was happening, refused to allow Christ to wash his feet. Upon his refusal, Jesus responded, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (v.8). Notice He did not say “in” Me. Peter then, comprehending at least the gravity of the latter part of Christ’s statement, said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (v.9).
What Peter was here saying is, if a washing is what it would take in order to have a part “with” Christ, Peter didn’t want the washing to be limited to just his feet. Rather, he wanted his entire body washed. However, Jesus replied, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (v.10).
In the Greek text of John 13:8-10, there are two different words used for “wash.” The word used in verse eight (in both occurrences) and in the latter part of verse ten is nipto, referring to “washing a part of the body”; and the word used in the first part of verse then is louo, referring to “washing the entire body.” Further, the word louo in verse ten appears in a perfect tense, showing a past, completed action with the results of this action existing during present time in a finished state. (That rules out the Church practicing feet-washing for the reason Christ did it to His disciples hss no place in the Church today). This act of Christ reveals a washing which occurred in the past, with the person washed continuing in the present as a cleaned person on the basis of that which occurred in the past. Thus, any thought of the cleansed person undergoing another washing of this nature would be completely out of place, for he presently exist in a continuing state as cleansed.
Peter’s entire body had already been washed; but now in order to have a part with Christ, he must avail himself of the partial washing to which Christ referred.
The entire matter is highly symbolic of a “complete washing” which Christians received in the past and “partial washings” which Christians receive during the present. The complete washing results in eternal salvation, but the partial washings are necessary if one is to have a part “with Christ” in His kingdom. The complete washing – viewed from the perfect tense usage of louo in John 13:10 is a one-time, past occurrence, which can never be repeated. But the partial washings set forth by the word nipto, are totally different. Subsequent partial washings have to do with a present, continuing cleansing made possible because of the one-time, past cleansing.
On the basis of the past, finished work of Christ, redeemed man has been saved by grace through faith. In Eph. 2:8, the words “are ye saved [lit. ‘you have been saved’]” are the translation of a perfect tense in the Greek text, the same as the word louo, in John 13:10. Redeemed man possesses a salvation, based on a past completed act (Christ’s work on Calvary), which presently exist in a finished state. Everything has already been done on his behalf. He has nothing whatsoever to do with the matter simply because there was nothing he could do.
He has been washed completely (louo) by Another, and presently stands justified before God. This is an act performed once and can never be altered or nullified. It is just as secured as the finished work of Christ on Calvary, for it is based entirely upon this work. And Christ, in John 19:30, said of His work, “It is finished [lit. ‘it has been finished’ (another perfect tense usage in the Greek text)].”
Teachings in the realm of complete and partial washings, as set forth in John 13:8-10, are drawn from the experiences of the Levitical priests in the camp of Israel. Upon their entrance into the priesthood, a washing of the entire body occurred (Exo. 29:4; cf. Exo. 40:12-15); then after they had entered the priesthood, washings of part of the body had to occur every time they went to offer sacrifices (Exo. 30:21; cf. Exo. 40:30-32). A Christian then washes himself with the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26) to maintain that fellowship with God – the basin of water seen in some Churches is not according to Christ, but totally man-made as a result of misunderstanding Scripture.
The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us; is not something that’s properly understood among many Christians. The simplest way I think I can express this truth is, “That which we have as Old Testament” put on flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ and what we have as New Testament is “about Christ”- about what’s in the Old Testament.
Christ is presently exercising the office of High Priest on behalf of Christians. He is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, on the basis of His Own blood, for Christians who sin. Christians presently reside in a body of death; they still possess the old sin nature. And Christians, falling into sin, must have a High Priest to effect cleansing for their sins.
The high priestly ministry of Christ is for the heirs of the kingdom, just as the priests of the Old Testament ministries were for those chosen of God to enter the Promised Land. Christ’s present High Priestly ministry has nothing to do with the issue of our presently possessed eternal salvation. Like in the camp of Israel, the ministry of the Levitical priests was for those who had already appropriated the blood of the paschal lambs. It was for the cleansing of a people destined to become a “kingdom of priests” (Exo. 19:6; cf. Heb. 9:1-7). Therefore, in Christendom, the work of Christ as High Priest, typified by the high priest in the camp of Israel, is for the same purpose. It is for the cleansing of a people destined to be “kings and priests” (Rev. 5:10; cf. Heb. 9:11, 12, 24).
God would have His people clean for both present and future purposes. According to the Epistle of 1 John, God desires to have a present reciprocal fellowship with a cleansed people. Cleansing makes fellowship possible, and the entire matter is with a view to the return of Christ and attendant events. Christians have been instructed: “….abide in him [i.e. live in a state of conscious, close fellowship ‘with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ’]; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 1:3-2:2, 28; cf. 3:6-9; 4:16, 17). In this respect, Christ’s High Priestly ministry is a vital present provision for the future heirs of the kingdom.
Christ gave Himself for the Church,
Eph 5:26-27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
KJV
This aspect of Christ’s present ministry is possibly best illustrated by the incident of John chapter thirteen where Christ girded Himself, took a basin of water, and began to wash the disciple’s feet (13:4ff). Some Churches practice that today without a proper understanding of what Christ was actually teaching His disciples at the time. Peter, not at all understanding the significance of that which was happening, refused to allow Christ to wash his feet. Upon his refusal, Jesus responded, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (v.8). Notice He did not say “in” Me. Peter then, comprehending at least the gravity of the latter part of Christ’s statement, said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (v.9).
What Peter was here saying is, if a washing is what it would take in order to have a part “with” Christ, Peter didn’t want the washing to be limited to just his feet. Rather, he wanted his entire body washed. However, Jesus replied, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (v.10).
In the Greek text of John 13:8-10, there are two different words used for “wash.” The word used in verse eight (in both occurrences) and in the latter part of verse ten is nipto, referring to “washing a part of the body”; and the word used in the first part of verse then is louo, referring to “washing the entire body.” Further, the word louo in verse ten appears in a perfect tense, showing a past, completed action with the results of this action existing during present time in a finished state. (That rules out the Church practicing feet-washing for the reason Christ did it to His disciples hss no place in the Church today). This act of Christ reveals a washing which occurred in the past, with the person washed continuing in the present as a cleaned person on the basis of that which occurred in the past. Thus, any thought of the cleansed person undergoing another washing of this nature would be completely out of place, for he presently exist in a continuing state as cleansed.
Peter’s entire body had already been washed; but now in order to have a part with Christ, he must avail himself of the partial washing to which Christ referred.
The entire matter is highly symbolic of a “complete washing” which Christians received in the past and “partial washings” which Christians receive during the present. The complete washing results in eternal salvation, but the partial washings are necessary if one is to have a part “with Christ” in His kingdom. The complete washing – viewed from the perfect tense usage of louo in John 13:10 is a one-time, past occurrence, which can never be repeated. But the partial washings set forth by the word nipto, are totally different. Subsequent partial washings have to do with a present, continuing cleansing made possible because of the one-time, past cleansing.
On the basis of the past, finished work of Christ, redeemed man has been saved by grace through faith. In Eph. 2:8, the words “are ye saved [lit. ‘you have been saved’]” are the translation of a perfect tense in the Greek text, the same as the word louo, in John 13:10. Redeemed man possesses a salvation, based on a past completed act (Christ’s work on Calvary), which presently exist in a finished state. Everything has already been done on his behalf. He has nothing whatsoever to do with the matter simply because there was nothing he could do.
He has been washed completely (louo) by Another, and presently stands justified before God. This is an act performed once and can never be altered or nullified. It is just as secured as the finished work of Christ on Calvary, for it is based entirely upon this work. And Christ, in John 19:30, said of His work, “It is finished [lit. ‘it has been finished’ (another perfect tense usage in the Greek text)].”
Teachings in the realm of complete and partial washings, as set forth in John 13:8-10, are drawn from the experiences of the Levitical priests in the camp of Israel. Upon their entrance into the priesthood, a washing of the entire body occurred (Exo. 29:4; cf. Exo. 40:12-15); then after they had entered the priesthood, washings of part of the body had to occur every time they went to offer sacrifices (Exo. 30:21; cf. Exo. 40:30-32). A Christian then washes himself with the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26) to maintain that fellowship with God – the basin of water seen in some Churches is not according to Christ, but totally man-made as a result of misunderstanding Scripture.
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