AE 475 - washing

AE 475
"And they did wash their robes" (Revelation 7:14)

[2] In ancient times, when all the externals of the church were
representative and significative of things spiritual and celestial,
washings were made use of,
and they represented purifications from falsities and evils;
"washings" had this signification because
"waters" signified truths,
and "filth" falsities and evils,
and all purification from falsities and evils is effected by truths.

[7] the internal of a person is purified
by knowing, understanding, and thinking the truths of the Word,
and the external of a person,
by willing and doing them.

[19] Because "the waters of Jordan"
signified the truths that introduce into the church,
which are the knowledges of truth and good from the Word,
and "washing" therein signified purification from falsities,
and consequent reformation and regeneration by the Lord,
therefore baptism was instituted,
which was first performed in Jordan by John
(Matt. 3:11-16; Mark 1:4-13).
This rite signified
initiation into the knowledges from the Word respecting the Lord,
His coming, and salvation by Him;
and as a person is reformed and regenerated by the Lord
by means of truths from the Word,
baptism was commanded by the Lord:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.”
(Matt. 28:19-20);

for it is by means of truths from the Word
that a person is reformed and regenerated,
and it is the Lord who reforms and regenerates.

[21] The internal of baptism is,
that by means of truths from the Word
and a life according to them,
falsities and evils may be removed by the Lord,
and thus a person be regenerated,
as the Lord teaches

Blind Pharisee!
First clean the inside of the cup and dish,
and then the outside also will be clean.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,
which look beautiful on the outside
but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead
and everything unclean.
(Matt. 23:26, 27).