September 18, 2012 You're Clean

You’re Clean Zechariah 3:3-4 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” DO YOU feel guilty for a sin you’ve done, even though you’ve asked God to forgive you? Then be encouraged. This scripture shows how you are free from sin and new in Jesus forgiveness. In God’s vision to Zechariah, Joshua’s rich garments are a picture of how completely God cleanses you from sin’s dirt. You can wear “dirt-free soul clothes”. Joshua is Israel’s high priest as the Jews come back from a 70-year exile. The filthy rags represent the Jew’s sin. As the angel says, “Take off his filthy clothes.” God is saying, “I forgive you.” What, though, might cause them to feel unforgiven? Get your Bible and read the verses before this passage, and you will see Satan accusing Joshua in the vision. Satan, the Accuser, wants God’s people to reject God’s mercy. If they stay mired in their sin, their hearts will remain exiled from God. But God’s way is to clothe his own, that’s you, in his right ways. These are his “rich garments” of salvation. He longs to fill your life with his cleansing, filth-removing love. That’s why he sent Jesus. Satan, the Accuser, will work on your mind, point to your filthy clothes and say, “Jesus can’t forgive that!” But Jesus does forgive “that”. Every last sin is gone when you put on the rich garments of repentance and wash in the forgiveness in Jesus’ blood. Yes, reject Satan’s accusations. They mean nothing. Accept God’s forgiveness. He means everything. It’s True! Jesus’ blood is the eternal clothes whitener.