2. Wash and Be Clean

3. Wash and Be Clean The healing of Naaman
2 Kings 5:1-14

4. Naaman was an important man
Commander of the army of Damascus
A powerful man
A valiant man
A wealthy man
A good man

5. Naaman had a problem Leprosy
A serious contagious, incurable, degenerative skin disease
Hansen’s disease
Bacillus – Mycobacterium leprae
Causes deformities, neural and muscular deterioration

6. Naaman was willing to do anything for help
He took the advise of a little slave girl
He went to a neighboring and sometimes hostile nation
He brought 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold and ten top grade new suits
He would have accepted the labors of Hercules

7. Naaman just couldn't accept God’s simple promise
It was too simple
It was too easy
There was no big show
He didn’t have to do anything great or difficult
It hurt his pride and his importance

8. But Naaman was healed Just go to the Jordan River and wash
The servants brought the voice of reason to his fit of pride
God was true to His promise

9. How are people like Naaman?
Some are looking for some mystical incantations
Some are looking for great labors to perform
Some are looking for a complicated mystery to master and accept
Some are looking for a blinding light - a radical experience - a miraculous event

10. How are people like Naaman?
“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” Corinthians 1:22

11. We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God
1 Corinthians 1:23-25

12. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

13. God’s simple truth for us
Wash and be clean
It is just that simple
Jesus has paid the price for your life

14. Jesus died to pay the price for our disobedience

15. God’s simple truth for us
Wash and be clean
Repent and believe

16. Jesus offers this as His gift for you
Gift means gift
And your past is washed away
And your mistakes are taken away
It seems too simple – too easy – too good
Yet – yes it is true!

17. Wash and be clean Baptism is a simple means of God’s grace
Even some Christian cannot believe this simple miracle
It seems too simple – too easy – too good
Yet – yes it is true!

18. Wash and be clean Repent and Believe
Repent – recognize that you need help
Repent – accept the fact that like Naaman you are “sick” with sin
Repent – turn from what you are doing
– turn from your own ideas and pride
– turn to the One Who alone can help you

19. Wash and be clean Repent and Believe
Believe – Jesus Christ is YOUR Savior
Believe – He is coming to you now and here
It seems too simple – too easy – too good
Yet – yes it is true!
Yes – it is that simple

20. Most Religious Thought
Great tasks
Special acts of piety
Self-denial
Poverty
Martyrdom

21. The Simple Message Of Christianity
The Simple Truth About Jesus
Wash and be Clean

22. Wash and Be Clean
Faith is the simple acceptance of that love and that acceptance of God brought to us all by the life, sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

23. He wanted to make it something impressive - Something difficult - Something he needed to do
Naaman

24. Naaman
But it was so simple –
Wash and be clean –
Believe and Receive!

25. God’s Simple Truth Jesus did it all for you
He did it in His sacrifice on the cross
Believe and receive

26. Yes it is just that simple!
Believe in Jesus and…
Be clean of your sins
Burry your past
Forgive your mistakes
Receive the new life
Yes it is just that simple!

27. Amen

28. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ to everlasting life.