S) "11 The one who touches the corpse of any person shall be unclean for seven days. 12 That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. 13 Anyone who touches a corpse, the body of a man who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from Israel. Because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still on him."
Numbers 19:11-13 (NASB)
O) This is, in a sense, this ceremonial unclean status (from touching a corpse) is one of the best analogies for sin, repentance, and restoration as it now exists under the new covenant. Sin separates a man (or woman, so throughout) from God, just as being unclean meant being separated. Then, God provides the way for becoming clean again. There was no cost for the man receiving this cleansing. He only had to accept the free offer, and follow through as God ordained. The man was not "earning" this cleansing. He was just following God's precepts to accept a free offer. If a man did not follow this process, if he refused this free offer (regardless of motive), then he remained unclean and separated. That separation was in two ways. He remained separated from the LORD, because God is pure and the man is defiled. But also, the man is separated from the people (in effect, no longer an Israelite) in his refusal to follow God's ways. The separation from the people also served two purposes, because it protected the people from the risk of becoming unclean (by touching the unclean man, or what he touched), and also it prevented the rebellion of that man from influencing others toward an obstinate view. This separation also translates to the new covenant. In spite of the fact that God provided for the cleansing of sin for all people, if a man refuses that free gift, he remains in his sin, separated from God An unrepentant man cannot rightly call himself a Christian, either (just as a cut-off Israelite could not be rightly called an Israelite). Sin is not "transferred" as being unclean was, but there is added temptation to sin with proximity to sin. There is also, still, the same danger of falling into a shared rebellious attitude.
A) This is such a great representation of God's grace. I need to remember this as an example of grace versus works. I cannot earn my salvation, but if I want to receive forgiveness, I need to live my life according to God's ways. I need to be willing to confess and repent of my sins. If I am not willing, then I am plainly refusing God's gift, by refusing to accept His ways, and I would remain in my sin. I thank God for His grace, though. In the passage above, an unclean man could do nothing to purify himself, just as I cannot cleanse myself of my sins. God makes the way as easy as it could ever be.
P) Father, thank You for the free gift of salvation. Your grace has remained the same, providing a way to save helpless people, which includes myself. Please forgive me of my sins, Lord. Thank You for the grace You continue to show me. Help me remember this example of Your grace, beyond our ability to earn. Help me to share this great example with others, and please open their eyes to see Your ways clearly and accept them. Let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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