Baptized Once

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. JOH 13:10-11.

This subject is of utmost importance for every believer to rightly understand, if he desires to live in fellowship with his Savior.

For the context, let us read John verses 6 through 10.

"Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."
Peter saith unto him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
Jesus saith to him, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."

We need to distinguish between justification and sanctification. Peter was washed in the sight of God in the sense of justification. Peter was not a stranger to the work of grace, but now we are talking about sanctification. In the way of justification we are perfectly clean in the sight of God because we are washed in His blood. However, those who are outside of the blood of Christ, who are not washed in the blood, are not made clean by washing their feet. We are not going to earn salvation by good works.

It is of vital importance to distinguish between being cleansed in Christ's blood and the constant need of having our feet washed by the washing of water by the Word. When we are washed and justified before God in the blood of Christ, that is a one-time act. However, in the process of progressive sanctification, the washing of our feet by the water of the Word is a continual process. Look at what we read in Psalm 119:9. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." That is how we build a relationship of harmony with our Savior.

We must take notice of the correct meaning of some key words. For many words, how they are used determines what they mean. In JOH 13:8 we read, "Peter saith unto him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." He is talking to Peter, one who was born of the Spirit. He is not talking to an infidel. He did not say, "You have no part in Me," but "you have no part with me." There is a difference.

For three years, Jesus' disciples had taken part in our Savior's public ministry. They had taken part in Christ and in His work and in His ministry. See what Jesus said in Luke 22:28-29. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me."

What our Savior told Peter clearly points to fellowship or union and communion with Him. He is telling Peter that if you want My nearness, if you want Me to dwell with you in love and in unity, you need to clean up your walk of life. You need to come into a better relationship with Me. 2CO 6:15 confirms this. "And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" This word part comes from the same root word merose in the Greek as the word part comes from in JOH 13:8, which means "participation," that is the art of sharing in common with others; as participation of joys or sorrows, coming into unity and harmony.

If we want to have a life of fellowship with Christ, it begins by Him washing our feet with the water of the Word, washing our walk of life. It is not to say that we are not going to saved if our feet are not washed, but we are going to live in leanness, we are going to live in darkness, we are going to live outside of the love and the favor of God.

All believers who have been quickened by the Holy Spirit are washed in the blood, but sad to say, many fail to enjoy their "part with" Him, because their feet are not washed, because they still live in a wrong attitude.

Can We be Healed?
It is the sole prerogative of God to remove spiritual disease. Natural disease may be instrumentally healed by men, but even then the honor is to be given to God who giveth virtue unto medicine, and bestoweth power unto the human frame to cast off disease.

Solace, Security, and Satisfaction
Meditation on 2 Samuel 23:5. God has pledged Himself to me, and sealed the compact with the blood of Jesus. I am bound to my God and my God to me.