The Name and the Spirit
Only in Christ’s light do we see clearly enough to be truly washed.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
E. Stanley Jones draws our attention again to the rich phrase in 1 Corinthians 6:11: “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” He highlights how our transformation—cleansing, setting apart, and being declared righteous—is rooted in the name and the Spirit. These are not mere religious terms, but anchors of divine reality.
Jones points out that coming to God “directly,” bypassing the name of Jesus, is actually coming through our own conceptions—our own interpretations of who God is. But only Jesus reveals the true character of God. To approach God apart from Christ is to relate to an illusion. That's why there's no other name given among men by which we must be saved. God's character, His mercy, and His justice are fully expressed in Christ alone.
The Holy Spirit, too, moves freely and abundantly only within this framework—when we come in the name and character of Jesus. In that surrendered pattern, the Spirit has full liberty to conform us to Christ. He doesn't bless falsehood, confusion, or fleshly striving. He blesses truth, union, and Christlikeness. That is where His power flows without limit.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You were not merely forgiven; you were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of My Son and in My Spirit. Do you see how I have clothed you in reality? In Christ, I removed every stain of guilt. In Christ, I set you apart as Mine. In Christ, I declared you righteous, not because of your merit, but because of My mercy through His blood.
You cannot come to Me on your terms. Every human conception of who I am without Jesus as the lens is distorted. But when you come in His name—in His character, in His cross, in His resurrection—you meet Me as I truly am. That is where communion begins, and that is where the Spirit flows.
My Spirit does not endorse falsehood. He will not anoint self-effort or bless confusion. But when you stand in Christ, yielded and resting in Him, the Spirit works freely. His work is not hindered, for He is shaping you after the very image of My Son. The Spirit rejoices when your heart cries out, “Not I, but Christ.”
You were not just brought near; you were made new. The Spirit in you is not reserved or cautious. He is a river, not a trickle. But the river flows through truth, through union, through the name and character of My Beloved Son. Apart from Him, there is no cleansing, no setting apart, no justification. But in Him, everything is already yours.
Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Romans 8:29; John 7:38–39; Galatians 2:20
🧼 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like washing your face after using a mirror in the dark. Without light, your attempts to clean are based on guesswork. But when you turn on the light, everything becomes clear—and you can truly remove the dirt. Christ is the light. Without Him, we’re just scrubbing based on shadows. But in His name and by His Spirit, we see what is real—and the cleansing is complete.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that You have placed me fully in Christ. I no longer need to approach You through faulty understanding or wishful thinking. In His name, I see You clearly, and through His life, I have been washed, sanctified, and justified. I rejoice that the Spirit moves freely in me—not because I am worthy, but because Christ is. Thank You for giving me access to all that You are through the name and Spirit of Jesus. I rest in that perfect reality today.