In Numbers 19, a red heifer was used for the sin offerings, one without spot or blemish just like Messiah was perfect and without sin. The ashes of the heifer were gathered up by a “clean” man and then mixed with living water to be sprinkled on those who were unclean. This was a cleansing from sin.
“He who touches the dead of any human being is unclean for seven days.”
Bemiḏbar (Numbers) 19:11 TS2009
When a person had been defiled by contact with the dead then it was required that the sprinkling of water be done on the third day and on the seventh day. “And on the seventh day, the unclean will wash his garments and wash himself.” By the end of the seventh day at sundown, he would be considered “clean” and could then enter the temple to worship YHWH.
Anyone who remained unclean by not obeying the instructions given by YHWH was to be cut off from among the assembly because he had defiled the set-apart place of YHWH.
“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?”
Iḇ`rim (Hebrews) 9:13-14 TS2009
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being set apart.”
Iḇ`rim (Hebrews) 10:14 TS2009
Messiah Yahshua, our high priest, was the ultimate sin offering once for all, who shed his blood on the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant which was in the heavens; thereby obtaining our everlasting redemption.
“For the saving Gift of Elohim has appeared to all men, instructing us to renounce wickedness and worldly lusts, and to live sensibly, righteously, and reverently in the present age, looking for the blessed expectation and esteemed appearance of the great Elohim and our Saviour יהושע Messiah, who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people, his own possession, ardent for good works.”
Titos (Titus) 2:11-14 TS2009
The saving Gift of Elohim is His Son, who instructs us to renounce lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people, his own possession, whom he has redeemed from the consequences of sin which brings death. Our good works is keeping the Commandments which bring life.
“let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.”
Iḇ`rim (Hebrews) 10:22 TS2009
All have sinned; therefore, every human being has been defiled by sin and needs to be cleansed by water for uncleanliness. Blood represents our sin, and water, our uncleanliness [see John 19:34]. Yahshua’s sacrifice provides blood for sin and water for uncleanliness.
““And I shall sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean – from all your filthiness and from all your idols I cleanse you. “And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.
And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh, and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.”
Yehezqĕl (Ezekiel) 36:25-27 TS2009
The Father desires to place His Set-Apart Spirit within the believer but He will not do so if our bodily temples are defiled (this can also be what we consume, like unclean food). It is only through the cleansing of Yahshua’s sacrifice that we will be made clean.
In conclusion, water immersion represents death, burial, and resurrection. It is in this instance [Luke 3:21] that the water cleansing takes place to give birth to a new heart with the empowerment of the Set-Apart Spirit who leads us unto sanctification and righteousness.
Just like Yahshua, who fully submitted to His Father’s will, we should likewise do so by fully putting our trust in the finished work and power of our Messiah. HalleluYAH!
