David in cried in Psalms 51:2, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and in verse 7b "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" and in verse 10 he pleads, "Create in me a clean heart, O God..."
Sin always leaves a stain on the soul that no natural soap and water can remove. Guilt is not easily removed from the mind and heart. For sin is never superficial but it seeps beneath the pores of the skin right down into the bones, causing corruption and decay. There is not one part where sin does not adversely affect a person.
Only through the blood of Jesus are we washed and made whole. Titus 3:5 speaks of the "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". The original word for "washing" means a bath and "regeneration" means to be born again.
No wonder King David cried that the Holy Spirit not be taken from him. For no other power could deliver him from the terrible transgressions he had committed.
Likewise, we have an enduring promise in 1 John 1:9 that if we confess our sins that He is faithful and just to forgive and purify or cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. The word cleanse in this passage means to be "unstained".
As believers we are made new (and being regenerated) through the power of the Holy Ghost so when we honestly confess our sins, the Lord removes the stain sin leaves behind.
As for David, he used a very unique word in Psalms 51:2 for washing. One primitive root means to make clean by "trampling with the feet". The implication is washing garments with fuller's soap. Washing cloths to make them clean and bright with fuller soap is mentioned in Micah 3:2 and implied in the whiteness of the Lord's garments in the transfiguration.
God not only forgives but makes us spotless and bright!
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