"Cleanses," says the text—not "will cleanse." Not someday, maybe, if you're good enough. Cleanses. Right now.

There are multitudes who treat forgiveness like a lottery ticket they hope to cash in on their deathbed. Oh! how infinitely better to be cleansed right now than to gamble your eternity on the bare possibility of last-minute forgiveness! Some imagine that really feeling forgiven is something you earn after decades of Christian service. What a lie! Forgiveness is a present-tense gift. A privilege for today. A joy for this very hour. The moment a sinner trusts Jesus, he is fully forgiven. Done. Finished. Clean.

And notice: the present tense means it keeps on happening. It cleansed you yesterday. It cleanses you today. It will cleanse you tomorrow. Christian, this will never stop being true until you cross the river. Every hour of every day, you can come to this fountain, because it is still flowing, still cleansing, still working.

But here's what should make you catch your breath: look at the completeness of it. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin." Not some sin. Not most sin. All. Every last one.

Reader, I cannot tell you the exceeding sweetness of this word, but I pray God the Holy Spirit will let you taste it for yourself. Manifold are our sins against God. But whether your bill be little or great, the same receipt can discharge them all. The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving John. Your sin is gone—all gone at once, and all gone forever.

Blessed completeness! What a sweet theme to dwell upon as you give yourself to sleep:

"Sins against a holy God, Sins against his righteous laws, Sins against his love, his blood, Sins against his name and cause, Sins immense as is the sea— From them all he cleanseth me."