We turn to God's word this morning to Acts chapter 22. Acts chapter 22, and we'll read this entire chapter. The chapter begins with the Apostle Paul, his missionary journeys having been completed, now in Jerusalem. The Jews accuse him of causing an uproar, and there is that uproar. The captain of the guard captures Paul, and now Paul asks permission from that captain to speak a word to the Jews. And this is now the word of Paul, which is the word of God. Acts chapter 22. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense, which I make now unto you. And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence, and he saith, I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders, from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem for to be punished. And it came to pass that as I made my journey and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. and they that were with me saw indeed the light and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, what shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, arise and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. In the same hour I looked up upon him, And he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that just one, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now, why tariest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came to pass that when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance and saw him saying unto me, make haste and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue, them that believed on thee. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephan was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices and said, away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out and cast off their clothes and threw dust into the air, the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle and bade that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain saying, take heed what thou doest, for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came and said unto him, tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, yea. And the chief captain answered, with a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, but I was free born. Then straightway they departed from him, which should have examined him. And the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman and because he had bound him. On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty whereof he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear and brought Paul down and set him before them. Thus far we read God's holy and inspired word. God had his blessing to the reading of his word. It's on the basis of this chapter in Acts 22 and others like it. We have the teaching of the Heidelberg Catechism in Lord's Day 26. Lord's Day 26. And we're also going to include the first two questions and answers of Lord's Day 27. So let's read all of Lord's Day 26 and then the first two questions and answers of Lord's Day 27. Question 69. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee? Thus, that Christ appointed this external washing with water adding there to this promise that I am as certainly washed by his blood and spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away. What is it to be washed with the blood and spirit of Christ? It is to receive of God the remission of sins freely for the sake of Christ's blood, which he shed for us by his sacrifice upon the cross, and also to be renewed by the Holy Ghost and sanctified to be members of Christ, that so we may more and more die unto sin and lead holy and unblameable lives. Where has Christ promised us that he will as certainly wash us by his blood and spirit as we are washed with the water of baptism? In the institution of baptism, which is thus expressed, go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. This promise is also repeated where the scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins. Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? Not at all. For the blood of Jesus Christ only and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins? God speaks thus not without great cause to wit, not only thereby to teach us that as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. but especially that by this divine pledge and sign, he may assure us that we are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really as we are externally washed with water. Beloved congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the past few years of living here, one thing I've noticed and that we all notice is that it's very hard to keep a vehicle clean. And it's good that we give our vehicles a good washing from time to time. And that we do that for two reasons, because in the first place, You want a nice looking vehicle. Who wants to drive around with a dirty, muddy vehicle all the time? And now for us, winter is all but over with and it's easier for us to keep our vehicles clean. And we wash our vehicles and there's a certain amount of satisfaction that we take with having that clean vehicle. And we don't want to go out on those gravel roads too quickly. We don't want too quickly to get that vehicle all dirty again. We want to keep it clean as long as possible. A perpetually dirty vehicle Well, that's a source of shame and embarrassment. A clean vehicle, that's something you take delight in. But then in the second place, our vehicles need a good washing because otherwise, rust will set in. And over time, that little bit of rust will turn into a lot of rust. And if we're not diligent over the years, It's possible that our vehicle will be rendered altogether useless and undesirable. Every good owner will do what he can to wash his vehicle, keeping it free of that rust and corrosion, lest the car turn to rust. Well, that's our vehicles. And that's our desire for our vehicles. But that's also something like you and me. This morning, the question put to us is this, are you dirty? Do you need to be washed? Because the dirtiness of a vehicle and the rust that corrupts that vehicle, you know what that's like? That's like our sins. That's like our sinful human natures. And every Sunday we come to church in the morning, we stand before the mirror of God's law. And what do we find? We find that you and I, we do not measure up. We find that we're spotted and filthy and polluted with all kinds of sins. And we're like that shameful vehicle driving down the road that is so full of mud and dust and dirt that somebody takes it upon themselves to take their finger and to write on the back window, wash me. Well, you know what, that's the spiritual reality for you and for me. We need to be washed. And that which washes us is none other than the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no other agent of washing in the whole world that is so powerful as to remove your sins. and to give you a new man and to renew you inwardly. There's nothing else that can cleanse you and wash you but the blood of Jesus Christ alone. Well, we read Acts chapter 22 and what a day that must have been for the apostle Paul when he was washed. And here in Acts chapter 22, Paul is recounting to the Jews in Jerusalem of what happened when he was making his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians. And Paul says here in Acts 22, that I saw a great light and it was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I was going to Damascus. And when I came to Damascus, I was blind. But once in Damascus, Paul says, a man by the name of Ananias came, and I received my sight. And this man Ananias, who was of good reputation among the Jews, said to me, verse 16, And now, why tarryest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And up to this point in Paul's life, he was a man who was circumcised, yes, but he was not baptized. He had put Christian men and women in jail for being baptized and for calling upon the name of the Lord. And now Paul has become that man. He's become that man that needs to be baptized. He becomes that man who needs to have his sins washed away in the blood of Jesus Christ. The Heidelberg Catechism makes clear that the washing away of our sins takes place only through the blood and spirit of Christ. In all of these questions and answers, getting into Lord's Day 27 as well, but in answer 69, just so many times it's repeated, these Lord's Days, that I am as certainly washed by his blood and spirit from all the pollution of my soul, And then in question 70, what is it to be washed with the blood and spirit of Christ? Question 71, where has Christ promised us that he will certainly wash us by his blood and spirit? And then answer 72, for the blood of Jesus Christ only and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin. And then in answer 73, where it says, so our sins are removed by the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. And so this morning we consider Lord's Day 26 and the first two questions and answers of Lord's Day 27. We'll save the truth of infant baptism for next week. That's the final question and answer of Lord's Day 27. But Now let's see the main truth of the washing away of all our sins and see how that's pictured for us in Holy Baptism. So let's consider these Lord's Days in Acts 22 under the theme washed with the blood and spirit of Christ. Let's note first the thorough cleansing we receive. Secondly, that this is pictured for us in the visible sacrament. And then finally, the certain assurance washed with the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. Now question and answer 69 teaches us that we need to be washed and we need to be cleansed. It says that I am as certainly washed by his blood and spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is from all my sins, as I am washed externally with water. And here the Heidelberg Catechism calls our attention to the pollution of our souls. And this is where we have to start. This is where we have to start if we will ever understand, if we will ever appreciate the washing that we have, then we must start by examining that from which we are cleansed. all my sins, all my miseries, the depravity of my nature. And so let's start there for a few moments this morning. Our sinfulness, our sins, when we sin, that sin has an effect upon our lives. It's not the case that when we sin, the sin just goes away. It's not the case that because I sinned in the past and because perhaps even I've forgotten about my sin that maybe it's the case that God will forget about my sin and that now God will not deal with me according to that sin and he'll just forget the sin. That's not the case at all. But rather when we sin, we become like that dirty, filthy vehicle So that there's dirt and mud all over that vehicle, and it's underneath that vehicle, and there are layers of dust and grime everywhere. But now we can even add to that illustration, you think of that kind of a vehicle now that goes roaring through a field of mud and tall grass. And that grass and mud gets into all the nooks and crannies of that vehicle inside and out. And now if you really want to clean that vehicle, you've got to take it to a professional. And it's going to cost a lot of money to get all that dirt and mud and grass out and to make it clean. Well, that's what sin is like. that the dirtiness, the filthiness. The catechism says, the pollution of my soul that is all my sins. And because of that pollution, you and I need to be cleansed. And we must be cleansed because if we are not washed and if we are not cleansed, then there is no fellowship with Jehovah God. Because God doesn't ignore sin. God doesn't wink at sin. God doesn't sweep sin under the rug and say, not that big of a deal. Don't worry about it. Not at all, because God is holy. And God says, there was great harm done. That sin you committed was an assault on my very being, and that sin is a great offense against me. And God hates sin, any sin, every kind of sin, because every sin is an attack against the holiness of God and against God himself. And God calls us to fellowship with himself, which means in order to fellowship with God, we must be cleansed from all our sins and from all our pollution. And now we've been talking about what washing is all about and using that illustration of a dirty vehicle. And so we have to be cleansed from all that filth. But now we ask the question, but what does it mean spiritually? When you and I are cleansed and washed from all our sins, well, What is that cleansing? What is that washing all about? And that's what the catechism asks in question 70. What is it? What is it to be washed with the blood and spirit of Christ? It's one thing to say it, but now explain it to me. I want to know. And the answer is two things, according to the catechism. In the first place, To be washed and cleansed means to receive the remission of sins. And then secondly, to be renewed by the Holy Ghost. And this indicates that there are two aspects of sin that make us dirty, that therefore two aspects of sin within us that must be cleansed. So that in the first place, there is the guilt of all of our sins. And this is the legal punishment that you and I deserve because of our sins. Because every time you and I sin, we incur a penalty. And that penalty is death. God said in the very beginning, in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Romans 6 verse 23, for the wages of sin is death. For us to be cleansed of that sin, the penalty has to be removed so that we're not held accountable for those sins. And that's exactly what the catechism is describing. What is it to be washed with the blood and spirit of Christ? It is to receive of God the remission of sins freely for the sake of Christ's blood. which he shed for us by his sacrifice on the cross. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for us, through the appeasing of the wrath of God for those sins that we have committed, Jesus Christ has paid the price. He's endured the wrath of God and our sins are remitted. Those sins are not counted to us. Those sins were instead counted to the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered in our place. And we receive the remission of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. And note that we receive this remission of sins freely according to the catechism. So that means that there's no payment that you and I have to make to secure this blessing of the forgiveness of sins. It's a gift of grace and of course we can't remove our sins even as a vehicle that is so caked with mud and it's on there so tight and even we can't remove it, well then even spiritually how in the world are we going to remove our sins and our miseries which stick to us and cling to us And therefore, if we will ever be cleansed, it's going to be by somebody who is powerful. If ever we will be washed, it's going to be somebody who has an almighty washing that will accomplish its purpose. And that almighty washing is the power of the blood of Jesus Christ to wash away our sins. And you children understand when we say that we are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, what that means? It means that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for us because Jesus Christ died on the cross and he died on the cross suffering the wrath of God for our sins. When we speak about being washed In Christ's blood, we mean Christ died for me. He shed his blood and died so that my sins may be forgiven and that I may receive life eternal. And so we receive the remission of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, and the catechism goes on to say, for the sake of Christ's blood, which he shed for us by his sacrifice on the cross. And here also is the significance of that word of God in Acts 22, verse 16. what Ananias said to Paul. Ananias said, arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And that might seem a strange way to say it, to be baptized. All right, that's easy enough to understand, but then this, and wash away thy sins. It kind of seems like Ananias is giving instruction to Paul. Paul, this is what you have to do. You have to wash away your sins. Well, what does that mean there in Acts 22 when Ananias gives Paul this instruction? Well, all it means is that this command, and wash away thy sins, is simply an explanation of what it means to be baptized. Just like somebody might say to you, take your vehicle to the automatic car wash and make it clean. Make it clean is simply describing the result of it being washed. And so also to Paul. Paul, be baptized and wash away thy sins because that's what baptism is a picture of. It's a picture of the washing away of all our sins. And that this isn't Paul washing away his own sins is evident from the instruction that follows in the next verse, calling on the name of the Lord. So that for Paul, As an adult convert, the reality of what is pictured in baptism is something that only the Lord Jesus Christ can do. Without the Lord Jesus Christ and the shedding of his blood, baptism would be an altogether empty and meaningless sacrament. It would be like running your vehicle through the car wash, but there's no water. There's no baptism apart from the blood of Jesus Christ, which washes away all our sins. And so, when Ananias tells Paul, calling on the name of the Lord, that indicates that the Lord alone is the one who washes away those sins. And think about what this meant for the apostle Paul, the very Lord Jesus Christ, whose name he had blasphemed earlier in life, the very Lord Jesus Christ, whom he hated and persecuted the people and put them to death, those people who called upon the name of the Lord. And now Paul is exhorted to call upon the very name of this Lord Jesus for the washing away of all his sins. And so that's the first thing that we need in washing. We need to be cleansed from the guilt of our sins. But now the catechism goes on to say that there's another aspect of washing. We're washed by the blood of Christ and we are washed by the Spirit of Christ. And now those are not two separate and unrelated things, that I'm washed by the blood of Jesus Christ over here, and then in another altogether different way, I'm washed by the Spirit. No, they're not different as if they're two different realities, but being washed by the Holy Spirit refers to that further blessing of being washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. And here it means that we are renewed and we are made holy. And that takes place by the spirit of Jesus Christ. Because you see, the problem is not only the actual sins that we commit and the guilt we incur because of them, but the problem is that we have a a sinful human nature. And that sinful human nature that you have, and that sinful human nature that I have, is nothing but spiritual rot and filth. And in us then by nature, there's no good thing. There's no love for God. There's no desire to do the will of God, no desire to love the neighbor. The only thing we can do by nature is to walk in sin. And now, to use further that illustration of a dirty vehicle, It's like a vehicle that is all together rusty so that the body panels are full of rust. You look underneath the vehicle and the frame is hardly holding itself together because it's flaking away from top to bottom. It's a no good vehicle and the power of that rust is only going to get worse as time goes on. Well, we need to be washed by the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ so that we can be free from that corrupting power of sin. And so the catechism says that to be washed by the spirit of Christ means to be renewed by the Holy Ghost and sanctified to be members of Christ that so we may more and more die unto sin and lead holy and unblameable lives. So that Christ's blood not only washes away the guilt of our sin, but there's that spiritual work to renew us so that the inside of us is good, It's as if that vehicle has gotten a brand new frame. And now within us, there is a brand new man. And the Holy Spirit gives unto us that new man. And that new man is the life of Jesus Christ himself. So that now there's love of God. within us where there wasn't before. And now there is a love for the neighbor that we have, which there wasn't before, but we are renewed by the Holy Spirit. This renewal by the Holy Spirit means that now within us, we have two men. And here is where you can only use an illustration so far. And the illustration of that dirty vehicle is of no use. Because a dirty vehicle cannot have a bad, rusty frame and at the very same time have a good, beautiful new frame. That's not possible. But spiritually, that's what's true of us. We yet have that old man of sin, and that old man is totally depraved. That old man never gets any better, but we also now have the new man. And out of that new man, we love Jesus Christ. and we walk in his ways, we take delight in all of the commandments of God. The Holy Spirit renews us and gives us the life of Jesus Christ. The catechism goes on to describe this washing and this renewal of the Holy Ghost when it says, that so we may more and more die unto sin and lead holy and unblameable lives. That we may more and more die unto sin and lead holy and unblameable lives. How's that going for you and for me? Do you find more and more of this spiritual life in your heart? Do you find that The things are just status quo in your life and you're pretty happy. Well, you're content with the status quo, just eking by with a little bit of spiritual life. And are you okay with that? Or do you find a longing desire to walk more and more according to the ways of God? This is sanctification. And this sanctification isn't that we get closer and closer to perfection in this life. That's not the idea of this more and more of the Christian life, but this sanctification which it's speaking of, is speaking about this, that we more and more die unto sin. More and more, I see how that filth and that corruption is so miserable, and I hate it, and I can't stand it, and I turn away from it, I flee from it. And then more and more to love the Lord Jesus Christ. More and more. to walk in His good and holy ways more and more, to live in the conscious knowledge of Him who laid down His life for me. Now we will still sin in life, there will still be falls, sometimes even grievous falls, but More and more we are drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ. More and more we crucify that old man of sin. And more and more we live our lives out of the new man that we have being renewed and washed by the Holy Spirit. Well, this is the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts so that we have fellowship in communion with God. And so do you and I need to be washed? Do you have guilt? Do you struggle with sin? Then let us be washed in the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. And now God gives to us a picture of what this being washed by the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ is all about. The picture that God gives to us is the sacrament of holy baptism. That's the picture of this spiritual washing and cleansing. The catechism, question 69. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism that the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross is of real advantage to thee? The answer, Christ gave us this external washing with water which is baptism, as a picture of the internal washing of my soul by the blood and spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I am as certainly washed by his blood and spirit as I am externally washed with water. So that's the picture that we have in the sacrament of baptism. The sacrament of baptism is a picture of a washing, And that's the language the scripture uses in these, in Titus 3 verse 5, baptism is called the washing of regeneration. And even here in the chapter we read, Acts chapter 22 verse 16, baptism is called the washing away of sins. And the meaning is this, that baptism, baptism is such a good picture of what happens to us spiritually that we can call it the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins. And that's why the catechism describes it that way in question 73. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism the washing of regeneration, the washing away of sins? God speaks thus not without great cause to wit, not only thereby to teach us that the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. And so baptism is a picture of that reality. that we are cleansed and washed free of all our sins. And even you children can understand what's happening in baptism, when baptism takes place. When a child is baptized in this church, and the parents come up here with the child, then I take water in my hands, and I sprinkle that water on the baby's head, baptizing that baby in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And we all know that the important element of baptism is water. And you children, you know what water is good for. Water is not only good for drinking, but water is good for washing and for cleansing. And therefore, baptism is such a good, appropriate, and fitting picture of the spiritual reality. The spiritual reality is that the blood of Jesus Christ washes me from all my sin and that the spirit of Jesus Christ makes me clean. And that's why water is used in baptism, water which we all can see, water that is a symbol of cleansing and of washing. And now let's not be mistaken here, the washing away of sins, when the sacrament of baptism is administered, the washing away of sins doesn't happen automatically. when the water hits the baby's forehead, there's nothing magical about that water. And neither is it the case that though we might be of the mind, the water doesn't do it. The water doesn't wash away my sins. But somehow mysteriously at the moment and the instant that baptism takes place, that's the moment that Jesus Christ washes away my sins. No. but it simply means that the sacrament is a visible picture of the invisible grace of God. And what God does is wash away our sin and renews us in the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. And so God has added a sacrament for the confirmation of our faith, a visible picture of the internal washing that he accomplishes through the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. And then finally, the certain assurance that this washing is effectual. Ananias says to Paul in Acts 22, Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins. And there's a reason why God uses such strong language in describing baptism as the washing away of sins. That's the end of answer 73. But especially that by this divine pledge and sign, he may assure us by baptism with its element of water, that you and I may be assured that we are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really as we are externally washed with water. And that goes to show that baptism is really such a beautiful sacrament. God not only teaching us what forgiveness of sins is like, it's a washing that happens to us. Not only teaches us about living a sanctified life, we are cleansed with the spirit and renewed. But baptism is also a pledge, it's a seal. It is an assurance that we have in fact been washed. So that for all of us who hear the gospel in a true and living faith and who receive the truth of that sacrament with a true and living faith, the sacrament is a pledge to us, is a guarantee that you have been washed. And that was the assurance of baptism for the reformer, for Martin Luther. Martin Luther had a very high view of the sacrament. He didn't elevate the sacrament above what it needed to be. But Martin Luther, during those days when the devil would come to tempt him, when the devil would come and put all of his sins before the face of Martin Luther and say, those sins can't be washed away. There's no way. There's too many of them. They are too great. Then Martin Luther would take his pen and he would write on the top of his table, I am baptized, and his baptism was a pledge from God that his sins were washed away. Not that he placed his trust in the sacrament, but he was looking at that which the sacrament signified and pictured, which was the blood of Jesus Christ that washed away his sins. But maybe somebody says, but how do I know For me, how can I be certain that the reality of baptism is something that's true of me, that I have been washed with the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ? Well, the answer is, by way of some other questions, do you hate your sins? We don't hate our sins nearly enough, but do you hate your sins? Do you resolve to lead a new and godly life? We don't resolve nearly enough, but is there the beginning of that desire in your heart to live unto God? And do you love God truly, sincerely, with all your heart? And do you hate sin? And now in all these questions, yes, we falter, we stumble, and we are such miserable creatures, but do you have that desire in your heart to serve God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength? And when you and I answer yes, then we are able to look back at our own baptism. And just as surely as that external water fell upon you, you may know that your baptism is an assurance and a pledge to you that you have been washed with the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. And again, we're careful here. Just as Martin Luther was careful, we don't trust in the water of baptism. We don't put our faith in the sacrament being administered. The catechism is quick to caution us against that line of thinking. In question 72, is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? And the answer is no, not at all. For the blood of Jesus Christ only and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin. We don't put our faith in the sacrament But on the contrary, it's the sacrament that strengthens our faith and turns us to the Lord Jesus Christ to find the remission of sins in Him alone. And so beloved, do you need to be washed? And by God's grace, we answer, yes, I do. I need to be washed. Then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of all your sins and see in baptism a picture of the washing away of those sins and be assured that you are clean and that you are renewed and that you may live unto him because you have been washed by the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray. Our Father, which art in heaven, we thank thee for thy word to us this morning. Bless it to our hearts. Comfort us by this word so that we may know our cleansing in the blood of Jesus Christ is a reality. and that we may know that just as water washes away the filth of the body, so also the Lord's blood and spirit is powerful to cleanse us from all sin and to renew us in a sanctified life. Hear our prayer, forgive our sins. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. We sing psalter number 142. Psalter number 142, note there at the second half of stanza one. Wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, oh cleanse me from my sin. Wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, oh cleanse me from my sin. Let's sing the four stanzas, all four, Psalter number 142. God be merciful to me, on thy grace I rest my knee, and to sin, compassion, love, love doth rise. and pure within. Plains of plenty from my skin. Wash me, Mary, and pure within. Plains of plenty from my skin. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. from weeping, and my spirit. Let us make our will in heart. Spirits then shall learn from thee, and return, O God, to thee. and my tongue shall sing thy word. Lord, have mercy. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you all. Amen.