"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."
(Revelation 22:14)
Notice that John uses a present tense verb for "wash," which implies an ongoing, continuous washing. It's literally, "Blessed are the ones continually washing their robes." The verb to wash is a participle in the present tense to indicate that sin is a continual polluting agency that needs repeated cleansings. Just as the children of Israel were told to wash their garments before they presented themselves before the Lord at Sinai (Exodus 19:10), in the same way, believers regularly wash in the blood of the Lamb. "If we walk in the Light as he Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). It is both the cleansing of reconciliation and sanctification implied by this beatitude. Here is a description of the genuine believer. He realizes his sins have separated him from God, so he has cast himself upon Christ, trusting in His atoning death for cleansing and reconciliation to God. But he also realizes that as long as he lives in this life he sins. He seeks to turn from sin, making repentance an ongoing part of his life. Yet he realizes that his sin hinders his fellowship with Christ, so again and again he applies himself to the cleansing blood of Christ's atoning death. Again and again he goes back to Christ. Again and again he applies the gospel that saved him and now, by the Holy Spirit, sanctifies him. That is the Christian; one who so loves his Lord that he seeks to live a life of genuine, unhindered fellowship with Jesus Christ.
(Dr. Phil A. Newton)
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