Experiencing God's Forgiveness and Purification Personally

The concept of experiencing God's forgiveness and purification personally is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and has been interpreted and applied in various ways across different Christian traditions. The biblical anchor for this concept can be found in passages such as Psalms 73:13, where the psalmist reflects on the purification of the heart, and Acts 24:16, where Paul expresses his effort to maintain a clear conscience before God and men ^{[2, 1]}.

In the Old Testament, purification was often associated with ritual practices, such as the use of water for ablution or aspersion, and sacrifices for the removal of uncleanness (Leviticus 15:18; 11:25, 40). The Day of Atonement was a significant event for the annual purification of the people ^[6]. These practices symbolized the need for spiritual cleansing and forgiveness.

The New Testament reinterprets these concepts in light of Christ's sacrifice. Forgiveness of sin is understood as a fundamental aspect of justification, where God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law due to Christ's work (Easton's Bible Dictionary) ^[4]. This forgiveness is not merely a legal declaration but is accompanied by the inner transformation of the believer through the Holy Spirit.

According to various Christian traditions, the experience of God's forgiveness and purification involves a personal response. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, notes on James 4:8 that drawing near to God requires cleansing one's hands and purifying one's heart, indicating a change in conduct and a turning away from sin ^[7]. Similarly, in the context of Ezekiel 36:25, Clarke interprets the sprinkling of clean water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit's cleansing influence, removing filthiness and idolatry ^[8].

The process of purification is seen as a work of gradual development, carried out by the Holy Spirit, who brings the whole nature of the believer under the influence of new gracious principles implanted in regeneration (Easton's Bible Dictionary) ^[3]. This understanding is echoed in the concept of sanctification, which involves the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration.

Different traditions emphasize the importance of faith in Christ for receiving forgiveness and purification. For instance, John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, interprets Isaiah 57:18 as indicating God's willingness to heal those who trust in Him, suggesting a connection between faith, repentance, and healing from sin ^[9].

The experience of God's forgiveness and purification is thus understood as a multifaceted reality, involving both the objective work of Christ and the subjective transformation by the Holy Spirit. It is a theme that is central to Christian life and is reflected in various biblical and theological interpretations across different traditions.

The cleansing from sin and the pursuit of holiness are seen as essential aspects of the Christian journey, with the ultimate goal of being conformed to the will of God (Easton's Bible Dictionary) ^[5]. This journey is marked by the believer's ongoing response to God's grace, facilitated by the Holy Spirit.

Sources

Acts “Acts 24:16 (YLT) — and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.”
Psalms “Psalms 73:13 (Darby) — Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Purification — in its legal and technical sense, is applied to the ritual observances whereby an Israelite was formally absolved from the taint of uncleanness. The essence of purification, in all eases, consisted in the use of water, whether by way of ablution or aspersion; but in the majora delicta of legal uncleanness, sacrifices of various kinds were added and the ceremonies throughout bore an expiatory character. Ablution of the person and of the clothes was required in the cases mentioned in (Leviticus 15:18; 11:25,40; 15:18,17) In cases of childbirth the sacrifi”
James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 4:8: Draw nigh to God - Approach Him, in the name of Jesus, by faith and prayer, and he will draw nigh to you - he will meet you at your coming. When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to meet that soul; so that while we are drawing near to him, he is drawing near to us. The delicacy and beauty of these expressions are, I think, but seldom noted. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners - This I think to be the beginning of a new address, and to different persons; and should have formed the commencement of a new verse. Let your whole conduct be changed; cease to do evil learn”
Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 36:25: Then - At the time of this great restoration - will I sprinkle clean water upon you - the truly cleansing water; the influences of the Holy Spirit typified by water, whose property it is to cleanse, whiten, purify, refresh, render healthy and fruitful. From all your filthiness - From every sort of external and internal abomination and pollution. And from all your idols - False gods, false worship, false opinions, and false hopes. Will I cleanse you - Entirely separate you.”
Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 57:18: I have seen his ways, and will heal him,.... Either the ways of such who trust in the Lord, the ways of the humble and contrite, who are brought by repentance and reformation, by the dealings of God with them; these he sees, knows, and approves of, and heals their former backslidings; for though not all, yet some may be reformed hereby; or rather the ways of the froward, their evil ways, which are their own ways in opposition to God's ways, peculiar to themselves, of their own devising and choosing; these the Lord sees, resents, and corrects for, and yet graciously p”

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