Washed As White As Snow

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isaiah 1:18.

I like winter less every year, but I must say, few things look as clean and pure as newly fallen snow.

This is the picture used by God in Isaiah 1:18 to describe the forgiveness of sins. The same imagery is used in Psalm 51:7. In both, the pure and spotless appearance of new fallen snow is contrasted with the ugliness of sin. That's what happens when God takes away our sins. We are washed, cleansed, made pure. We are, on the inside, as white as snow.

But what does that mean, really?

It doesn't mean we are sinless.

When we are saved, our sins are forgiven. All of our sins--past, present and future. We don't have to be saved over and over, every time we sin, just as Christ did not have to die over and over for each of our sins. If that were the case, He'd have to come to earth every day and die again! No, Christ died once for all sins (I Peter 3:18; Hebrews 7:27). We, also, are purified once for all from our sins (Hebrews 10:10). Once washed, we are clean (John 13:10).

This does not mean, however, that we are sinless. Romans 3:23 says that all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Paul himself admitted that he struggled with sin (Romans 7:19, 20). To think that once we are saved we will, or should never sin is unrealistic and contrary to what the Bible says. God's Word tells us we are to strive to be sinless, but also that we will fail. Everyone sins, everyone is a sinner, saved and unsaved alike.

So does it mean to be as white as snow?

It means we are blameless.

Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior has had their sins forgiven. What that means is that when we die, our sins will not be held against us. When we meet our Maker, God Almighty will not hold us accountable for our sins. We are, and will be in His sight, blameless. Not because we have not sinned, but rather because the penalty for our sins has been paid.

To be blameless is to be without guilt. Because Jesus paid the price for our wrongs, God will not deem us to be guilty, but rather forgiven. When He sees us, He will not see our sins. He will see us, as said in Psalm 51 and Isaiah, washed as white as snow by the blood of the Lamb.

Give thanks to God the next time it snows.

When God's heavenly storehouses open and coats everything with that sparkling blanket of fresh, white snow, give thanks to God that we, though we once were like scarlet, have been washed as white as snow.