What does washing of water by the word mean in Ephesians 5:26?
As Christ gave himself for the church. Shouldn't that washed away our sins believing in Jesus and Him crucified? So why the washing of water by the word.
Ephesians 5:26
ESV - 26 That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
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Asked January 07 2014
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Daimian Hughie
Supporter
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JD Abshire
Supporter
Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." The husband has a responsibility as the God ordained leader and priest, to read the Word to his wife and family. Yes, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ washed away all our sins. Yet as a believer we still sin every day (at least I do). The verse you referenced is speaking of a necessary constant renewal, a refreshing of the Word in our hearts that cleanses and keeps us clean.
Jose Evangelista
Supporter
The context of the chapter is salvation through the "washing" of our sin by Christ's blood sacrifice: the ultimate demonstration of His love for His church. Another explanation of this is symbolized in Christ's washing of his disciples' feet (symbol of His love for His Church). Also in "baptism in water": "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). The Kingdom of God is for Spirit Beings (as God, Jesus, and the angels are Spirit Beings). We (the "Church of God") must become Spirit Beings to enter it. The very act of water baptism (John 3:5) is a signature of a covenant: we promise to repent of our sin and God promises to resurrect us from the dead in the last day. Baptism is from the Greek word baptismos meaning "immersion" or submersion in water, which symbolizes our grave, and the coming up or emersion/ emerging from this "watery grave" symbolizes our resurrection from the dead. For the "elects", resurrection means to change from being mortal to immortal Spirit Beings -- thus "born of the Spirit" (because God is Spirit Being). So the water is used as a symbol of the process for which the elects must go through to be washed clean of their sins that is made possible by the ultimate love of Jesus Christ through His blood sacrifice.
TERI BESSINGER
Supporter
I believe the husband is to speak the word of God over his wife therefore cleansing her by the washing of the word of God in every circumstance.
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