Cleansed From Dead Works

In order to serve God in the right way we need to be cleansed from dead works. Hebrews 9:14. These are works that have been done without the full assurance of faith, and for which our conscience re­proves us afterwards. We sense that it was not fine linen, clean and bright. Revelation 19:8.

In the Levitical priesthood a person could be purified according to the flesh by the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer. Hebrews 9:13. However, it is possible for both the flesh and the spirit to be purified by the blood of Jesus. We are called to walk in Jesus’ steps that make no allowance for dead works.

Hebrews 9:13 tries to give expression to the extremely great dif­ference between salvation by the blood of animals and salvation by the blood of Jesus. The fact that sins that are as red as scarlet can be­come as white as snow by the blood of animals is very great; but that the desires that give birth to sin can be overcome by the blood of Jesus is much greater. Every sin that a man commits is outside the body (1 Corinthians 6:18) which can be washed clean. Hebrews 10:22. How­ever, in the old covenant they were unable to deal with sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3. They could not be cleansed from it. The most godfearing person felt his limitations when confronted with dead works. Job. 3:1. They could not be redeemed from sin in the flesh when they realized they had been taken captive by it. Job. 42:3.

For this reason the letter to the Hebrews makes this triumphant statement: “. . . how much more shall the blood of Christ . . .” Hebrews 9:14. We must believe this with all our hearts; we must be ap­prehended of it. Then transformation will take place in our lives, and dead works will cease.

The sacrifices in the old covenant could not make the one who served God perfect according to his conscience, but they were im­posed until the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:9 and 10. Now Jesus has come, and He has left us His steps that lead to transformation. 1 Peter 2:21. He offered Himself as a living sacrifice. Transformation occurs in this spirit and in this living faith. Sin does not cease until we have brought God a complete and living sacrifice.

We are aware of the dregs that cling to our works if we are nota complete sacrifice. A dead work is if we are reminded to help a per­son, but we do it only for the sake of being seen. It is not a pleasing sacrifice to God. If I have the attitude that now I have given enough; now I have sacrificed enough—now it is the others’ turn to do some­thing, too; or when the left hand knows about the gift the right hand is giving—it is a dead work: all such works will burn up. They are not done in the spirit and the faith that Jesus had—He who lived only for the others.

Salvation in the precious blood of Jesus leads us to be conformed to the image of Christ. If this is to occur, dead works have to cease. Our conscience must no longer remind us of imperfect works and indulgence.

We are transformed to the image of Christ when the deeds of the body are put to death by the Spirit. Romans 8:13. This occurs in a body that is surrendered and offered, free from dead works.