The Double Cure
Now I love the second half of this opening verse of Rock of Ages, the great hymn. Listen closely to these words:
Let the water and the blood
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Another version says, "save me from its guilt and power," which means the exact same thing.
Double Cure in Scripture
This two-part cleansing, this double cure from the water and the blood, is seen throughout Scripture. Back in Leviticus, we read that the lepers were to be cleansed by blood and water. You can go read that.
This was really a foreshadowing of Christ's work on the cross, because remember when Jesus died and the soldier pierced His side on the cross—blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). Most Bible scholars believe that this points to exactly what the hymn writer just said: that there is a double cure for sin in the sacrifice of Jesus.
His blood cleanses us from the guilt of our sin, washes our stains away, saves us from the guilt we feel over our sins, and from the wrath or punishment of God that they deserve. And the water speaks of cleansing from the defilement of sin. It makes us pure, changes who we are and what we do, so that we don't live in sin anymore, but we live pure.
Power of Christ’s Sacrifice
So the sacrifice of Christ brings a double cure. He washes away our stains and purifies us so that we can be holy. I think it's vital to receive this double cure, friends. Most of us know the first cure. We know that in Christ our sins are forgiven. That's the core of the Gospel. We celebrate that.
But I think many of us forget the second cure! We think, Well, God’s forgiven me, so it doesn't matter if I just do all sorts of bad stuff. He's going to just forgive me again, right?
And instead of living the double cure, we just receive His forgiveness and forget the living water of Christ cleanses us and makes us holy and good and pure and righteous.
Embrace Holiness Daily
What lives of powerful goodness we could live if we come to the cross and in faith receive Christ's washing. Are you clinging to Christ with all you have for the double cure of your sin?
Friends, in a world that is steeped with sin, we need freedom from guilt and we need power to live like Jesus. Come to Him. Come in faith. Believe that He can provide this double cure for you and then marvel at how, in Him, the water and the blood have saved you—not only from sin's guilt, but from its power as well.
