So, Revelation 1:5 NIV gives us the motive as to why Jesus went to the cross, but it also shows us the effect of the cross on us: “has freed us from our sins by His blood.”
This word “freed” means to release something bound or free someone who is imprisoned. This freeing, of course, is what Jesus came to do, as He, Himself, said, “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV).
At the start of this lesson today, we discussed our own experience of being bound and imprisoned by food, but even before we understood our situation, God had a plan to free us from it. The very purpose Jesus came was to free us. Release us. Open our prison door, which is what He did at the cross. He freed us from the penalty of our sins by taking the penalty Himself. He freed us from the power of sin by nailing us to the cross with Him, our old self dying with Him.
The word translated “free” in Revelation 1:5 NIV means to release something that is bound and cleanse something dirty. The King James Version of the Bible translates Revelation 1:5 KJV this way, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
We wash at the cross when we see that Jesus’ blood covers our sin and washes it all away. On the cross, Jesus took all our spots and blemishes, a lifetime of accumulated sins, and died to make us “white as snow,” free from all sin, cleansed from all impurity, and free from accusation. “But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22 NIV).
So, this washing of our sins at the cross is the same as releasing us from them, freeing us from our chains. That is why some versions translate Revelation 1:5 as “washed us from our sins,” and others translate it as “freed us from our sins.”
Question 4. Why do we need to wash at the cross to be freed from our sins?
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Finally, notice the perspective that the Amplified Bible brings to this discussion:
“To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—” (Revelation 1:5 AMP).
This rendering of Revelation 1:5 helps us understand that Jesus' love is permanent, that He ever and always loves us, but that His sacrificial act at the cross accomplished the freedom of all people who believe, for all time. He loves us; he washed us. He always loves us; he freed us.
Question 5. Have you washed at the cross in this lesson today? If so, please share with us how you washed:
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I know you'll rejoice with me as we read Chris' answer to the above question here:
"Yes, praise the Lord! Meditating on the cross of Jesus and all He has lovingly done for me through His death and resurrection - freeing me from sin & sin’s power over me. I’m forgiven and renewed and empowered and controlled by the Spirit of God to live this day for His glory. Praise the Lord!"