How can John 13:10 deepen our understanding of sanctification and justification? Setting the Scene: Foot-Washing in the Upper Room • Jesus rises from supper, wraps a towel around His waist, and begins washing the disciples’ dusty feet (John 13:1-5). • Peter resists; Jesus replies, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me” (v. 8). • The crucial statement follows: “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you” (John 13:10). Two Kinds of Cleansing in Jesus’ Words • “Already bathed” – a full, once-for-all bath. • “Wash his feet” – a repeated, partial cleansing. • “Completely clean” – the settled verdict on the bather. • “Not all of you” – a sober reminder that Judas, lacking true faith, remains unwashed. Justification Illustrated: The Once-for-All Bath • When a sinner trusts Christ, God declares that person righteous; this is a finished bath. – Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God...” – 1 Corinthians 6:11: “But you were washed... you were justified...” – Hebrews 10:10: “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” • Jesus tells His disciples, “You are clean” (John 15:3). The standing is settled; no second bath required. • Assurance flows from Jesus’ own verdict, not from the believer’s fluctuating feelings or performance. Sanctification Illustrated: The Daily Foot-Washing • Though justified, believers still walk through a dusty world and contract daily defilement. – 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:9: Ongoing confession brings relational cleansing, not new justification. • Sanctification is the Spirit’s lifelong work, progressively aligning conduct with the believer’s fixed position in Christ (Philippians 1:6). • Foot-washing points to this repeated cleansing: habits repented of, minds renewed, motives purified. How the Two Truths Fit Together • Justification = status before God; perfect, complete, unchanging. • Sanctification = growth in godliness; imperfect, developing, intentional. • The once-for-all bath grounds the believer’s security. The recurring foot-washing sustains fellowship and usefulness. Living Out the Lesson • Rejoice in the finality of the bath: “There is now no condemnation” (Romans 8:1). • Submit daily to the basin and towel of Christ’s Word: “...that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). • Practice humble confession rather than hiding dust. Jesus stoops to cleanse; refusal only hinders communion. • Extend the towel to others—serve, forgive, restore—mirroring the grace received (Galatians 6:1). Assurance and Humility Held Together • The believer walks with steady confidence: completely clean. • The believer also kneels with constant dependence: still needing daily washing. • Both truths converge in John 13:10, enriching our grasp of God’s saving work—justification secured, sanctification ongoing, all accomplished through the loving hands of Christ. |
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