God required the Israelites to be physically clean before coming into His presence at Mount Sinai, as no unclean or impure thing was allowed before Him. Since the ancient Israelites did not all have God's Holy Spirit, He taught them cleanliness through physical means as a type, so they might later understand spiritual cleanliness, which involves overcoming sin. God's people are expected to be clean, not only physically in their homes, yards, and cars, but also spiritually, in heart and mind. To come before God requires holiness, and it is God who declares His people holy, as no human can make something holy. Members of God's church, the firstfruits of the Kingdom, must be clean on the inside, reflecting spiritual purity. As with the Israelites, God consecrates and sanctifies His people, setting them apart for His special purpose, emphasizing that cleanliness, both physical and spiritual, is essential to approach Him.

God required certain things of the Israelites before they were ready to meet Him at Mount Sinai. Before they could come before Him, He instructed them to wash their clothes and be physically clean and pure, as no unclean or impure thing was allowed in His presence. Since the ancient Israelites did not all have God's Holy Spirit, He taught them cleanliness through physical means as a type, so they would later understand spiritual cleanliness, which involves overcoming sin and being cleansed by the blood of Christ. God's people should be clean in their homes, yards, and cars, for He looks down and considers what kind of city or world a person might rule based on what He sees. The Lord also instructed Moses to consecrate the people, meaning to set them apart for a special purpose, to be clean ceremonially or morally, and to be holy. The Israelites were required to be clean as a condition of coming before God. How much more are we, as God's church, expected to be clean on a spiritual level? To come before God requires cleanliness and holiness. Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness, applying both physically and spiritually. Members of God's church, the firstfruits of the Kingdom, are required to be not just clean outwardly, but clean inwardly, spiritually pure in heart and mind. We must be holy, and it is God who declares us holy, for no human can make something holy.

Before the Israelites could come before God at Mount Sinai, He required them to wash their clothes, ensuring they were physically clean and pure, as no unclean or impure thing was allowed in His presence. For members of God's church, while physical cleanliness is important, spiritual cleansing of heart and mind is of utmost importance. God expected the Israelites to be clean as a condition of appearing before Him, and even more is expected of us before we can bow before Him on the sea of glass in front of His throne. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and members of God's church, the firstfruits of the kingdom, must be made holy by God, as no human can make something holy. In Solomon's temple, cleanliness and purity were essential for proper worship, with the molten bronze sea and lavers used for washing and maintaining the temple's immaculate condition. If priests did not keep their hands and feet clean while ministering, they faced the danger of death. As the priests became defiled by their sins and the animals they handled, they needed cleansing, just as we too can become defiled and require the washing of water by the Word.