Perfectly Purged

“O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.  Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away.  Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee” (Psalm 65:2-4).  “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:9).  “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out… Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go?  Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:37-69). 

The Lord hears each prayer of those He has urged

To come to Him now for salvation,

Since Jesus our Savior has perfectly purged

Transgressions which brought separation.

Iniquities would have completely prevailed

Against every prayer that we pray

If not for the cross where our Savior was nailed

To purge our transgressions away.

How blest are the souls that our Savior will draw

To come and to rest in His love!

Thus perfectly purged from the guilt of the law,

He fits them for heaven above.

Now who will yet say by himself he is clean

And pure from the filth of his sin?

How vain is such boasting!  Our Savior has seen

The need for our cleansing within!

So now is the time to be purged from all doubt,

Confessing our sins to the Savior.

All those who will come He will never cast out;  

How great is His promise of favor!

All those who will scorn shall soon be as the chaff

Which wind drives away from the wheat.

The day of God’s judgment shall purge every laugh,

And mocking shall then be complete.

O Lord, in this day of confusion and strife,

There’s nothing that sounds so absurd

As turning from You and the words of Your life

By which we are purged and assured!