The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:13-15)

Did you ever think you would examine the word clean and ask what it means to be truly clean? When I was a principal, I learned that our custodians had a different definition of clean than most of the staff. I finally decided one day to sit down with them to tell them corners mattered. Debris under desks that's left there and not vacuumed means the room isn't clean. Dust on ledges that isn't taken once a week and left to build up means the room isn't clean. When one objected to my analysis, I said, "You aren't my children and I'm not going to debate the finer merits of cleaning behind your ears with you. Clean means clean and I'm giving you the definition."

Once sin entered the world, and once God codified it in the law (Exodus 20), there were some who observed they were clean. They "followed" the law (in their minds). Christ blew that notion out of the water in the Sermon on the Mount and said that clean is a matter of the heart. The author of Hebrews notes the distinction of clean in the text today.

Dan Paavola notes that in the book, "Following the Cross," in his chapter titled "Clean." It's the first facet of forgiveness he describes in detail. Despite our efforts to remove the stain (of sin), our work is in vain. God removes that stain for good when he gives us the blood of his Son to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1). or as Hebrews notes, to "cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death."

Clean now means clean before God.

Join me in prayer: Gracious Father, we lift thanks to you for sending your Son to earth to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sinful nature and actions. We give thanks for the cleansing we receive through the blood He shed and from His resurrection and death. Forgive us from our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Be with us throughout our day and watch over us, forgiving us when we sin. Help us keep our focus on your Son's cross when temptation or test strikes. Amen