Tract 1

ARE YOU WHITE-WASHED OR WASHED-WHITE? There would seem to be no difference between these two as they seem to be saying the same thing; however the following will show the difference:

WHITE-WASHED: When I was a boy we used to make whitewash out of rock lime, water and fish skins. It did a nice looking job on an old fence or out building, that is until it rained or the hot sun got at it, then it would become flaky and come off showing the same drab color as before.
WASHED-WHITE: This would mean that something was already white but had become stained or soiled and needed a good cleaning to restore it to its original beauty.

The Lord spoke of the Pharisees as being WHITE-WASHED in Matthew 23:27 like WHITED (white-washed) sepulchers (tombs) which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are within full of dead men's bones." Outwardly they appeared righteous but inwardly they were sinful. I see people today like the Pharisees seeking acceptance with God through the same WHITE-WASHING.

MORAL WHITE-WASH: Turning over a new leaf does not blot out the old one. Quitting your bad habits is a good thing to do, BUT it won't make you right with God. It is only a WHITE-WASH job. God says, "Not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:9. Again, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5. Then there is:

RELIGIOUS WHITE-WASH- Becoming religious by getting baptized and joining a church won't make you right with God. Taking the "so called" communion and saying your prayers all might seem like "a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end--death" Proverbs 14:12. Pilate could wash his hands in a religious ceremony, but he was still a guilty sinner in God's sight. Matthew 27:24. Others try:

SOCIAL WHITE-WASH - The harlot. drunkard and adulterer can reform by quitting all their sins. and that is good in itself. but it's only a WHITE-WASH job. "Who can say I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?" Proverbs 20:9. BUT there is:

WASHED-WHITE - we read in Revelation 7:14 how the saved of earth have been WASHED-WHITE in the blood of the Lamb. Now this is not the same as being white washed. You see, dear reader. man was white to begin with. for we read in Genesis 1:26 God said, "Let us make man in OUR IMAGE after OUR LIKENESS" Man became soiled in the Fall. Romans 5:12 "For by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world." Again, Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." You don't need a WHITE-WASHING as that would only cover your sins for a little while; BUT what you need is to be WASHED-WHITE through the blood of the Lamb. This will make you clean and acceptable to God. Hebrews 9:26 ".. He appeared once in the end of the world(age) to PUT AWAY sin by the sacrifice of Himself." 1 John 1:7. "... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son CLEANSETH (not covers, but washes away) us from all sin."

My dear reader, a WHITE-WASH might be acceptable to you and man, BUT not with God. You must be WASHED WHITE in the blood of the Lamb. You can too, if you will REPENT of your sins. In Acts 17:30 God commands it, in Luke 13:3, it's REPENT or PERISH) and TRUST in the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you. "Believe (trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. "Without the shed-ding of blood there is no remission." Hebrews 9:22.

Which are you - WHITE-WASHED or WASHED-WHITE?

Return to Main Page

Created by Harold Smith September 20th 1997.

Updated March 2008 by Shelly Allen