The washing of the water under Jewish Law dealt with "cleansing" or "purification". Ceremonial cleansing with water was the "ritual" that allowed Israel to approach God and worship Him. In the Greek language of the Bible ceremonial cleansing with water was termed as, "baptism".
The washing of the water of the Word was a cleansing or purification that came through learning, hearing, and being taught about God through the Gospel that Christ commanded us to preach. Hearing, learning, and being taught the Word of Truth enabled members of the Church (after the death of Christ) to worship Christ as Saviour and head of the Church...in which Old Testament scriptures point to the following.
Ps 118:22-23...The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes
Any Jew that missed this Divine Revelation of Christ under the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses was now able to understand the truth about Christ, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The Word of God...the Torah, the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms brought revelation of Christ to the Jew first and also to the Gentile...through the truth of the Holy Scriptures. These Holy writings "washed and cleansed humanity with Truth". These Holy writings "washed and cleansed with the water of truth". This washing by God pertained to both Jew and Gentile alike as Christ was revealed to the human soul through the glory of the Gospel Message. The washing of the water of the Word within this Grace Covenant"enables" the believer to worship Christ as Messiah like the "waters of purification" enabled the Jew to Worship God in Temple ... according to Levitical order of Jewish Law. These waters of purification were ministered upon the Hebrew people by both sprinkling and washing.
Heb 10:22...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The washing of the water of the Word taught in the New Testament records shows the contrast between the "ceremonial waters of purification" used by the Jew to worship God; and the "truth of the Word that effectually works within the heart and life of a believer in Christ through hearing the Gospel" today, in the body of Christ. So, how does the Word of God wash us today? The washing of the Word enables us to "worship" Christ as not only Saviour and redeemer...but also as the Head of the Church or the one in authority over the complete body the Church.
Eph 5:25-27...Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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.
Those today "washed" and "cleansed" with the water of the Word are eligible to worship Christ. In the Old Testament a holy Jew was purified with water and then eligible to worship God. The glorious Church (purchased by Christ) is holy and pure as the Word works in the heart of the Churches believers. Holy people worship Christ! Members of the body of Christ are without spot and blemish. These are people who worship Christ! You don't have to teach a holy man how to worship Christ! A holy man worships Christ because of faith and obedience to Christ, the head of the body! Faith has always come by hearing the Word of God. The Word washes the saved man with truth from God! The Word is the basis of our faith in Christ! The Word fortifies our relationship with Christ...who all Christians worship in the Spirit! Glory! Christ is alive! He's exalted! He's the head of the body! Glory!
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