Job asked the question, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” Job 14:4
* “Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall, I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” Job 1:20-22
* “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die. But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:9-10
* “After this Job cursed the day of his birth.” Job 3:1
Then Job answered and said: “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balance! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea, therefore my words have been rash.” Job 6:1-3
* “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?” Job 7:1
* “Therefore I will not restrain mu mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 7:11
* “How can a man be in the right before God?” Job 9:1
* “How then can I answer Him, choosing my words with Him?” Job 9:14
* “I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why You contend against me.” Job 10:2
* “Remember that You have made me like clay; and will You return me to the dust?” Job 10:9
* “Why did You bring me out of the womb?” Job 10:18
* “I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.” Job 13:3
* “Let come to me what may.” Job 13:13
* “I will hope in Him, yet I will argue my ways to His face. This is my salvation.” Job 13:15-16
* “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1
* “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Job 14:4
* “A man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?” Job 14:10
* “If a man dies, shall he live again?” Job 14:14
* “My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, that He would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.” Job 16:20-21
* “Where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?” Job 17:15
* “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” Job 19:23-27
* “Then Job answered the Lord and said: I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Your can be thwarted.” Job 42:1-2
* “Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:6
Job asked the question, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” Job 14:4
He went on to answer, “There is not one.” Job 14:4
Is Job correct, can we or can we not be CLEANSED?
Why did the Psalmists plea to be CLEANSED?
He cried out, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, andCLEANSE me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2
He continued to cry out, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be CLEAN; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7
He did not think his plea to be CLEANSED was pointless and pleaded, “Create in me a CLEAN heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
But, the Proverbs writer asked, “Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Isaiah the prophet has a powerful message about being CLEANSED. He writes: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool, if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:18-20.
One can be CLEANSED if they are, “Willing and obedient” to receive God’s CLEANSING.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote regarding God’s desire to CLEANSE. “I will CLEANSE them from all the guilt of their sins against Me, and I will forgive all their sin and rebellion against Me.” Jeremiah 33:8
The prophet Ezekiel wrote regarding God’s longing to save His people, “I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will CLEANSE them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 37:23
Jesus in His personal ministry was asked if He would CLEANSE and He responded, without hesitation, “I will; be CLEAN.” Matthew 8:1-3
Many quote John 3:16 and the verse that follows confirms that Jesus did not come to condemn but to CLEANSE. John 3:17
John also writes, “Not all of you are CLEAN.” John 13:11
So, what is the answer, can we, are can we not be CLEANSED?
Paul wrote, “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having CLEANSED her by the washing with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
The scriptures are clear. We can be CLEANSED provided we are CLEANSED by Christ and in His church.
De Soto church of Christ 