What Is the Difference Between Cleansing and Forgiveness?

Summary

Grace in Focus Podcast Summary

Episode Title: What Is the Difference Between Cleansing and Forgiveness?
Date: February 18, 2026
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates
Duration: Approx. 13 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates tackle a subtle but significant theological distinction: the difference between “cleansing” and “forgiveness” as presented in Scripture, particularly in the context of 1 John 1:9. Challenging the common evangelical assumption that these terms are interchangeable, the hosts explore scriptural passages, practical illustrations, and theological implications of making this distinction—especially for those interested in the doctrines of justification, sanctification, and assurance of salvation within Free Grace Theology.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Common Understandings and Assumptions

• Evangelical Assumption: Wilkin and Yates begin by noting that most pastors and theologians treat forgiveness and cleansing as synonyms, often because the distinction is not emphasized or taught (01:21–01:36).
  • Quote (Ken Yates, 01:31): “Most theologians and pastors would say there is no difference. And that's certainly what we were taught.”

2. Scriptural Basis for Distinction

• 1 John 1:9 as Key Text: Yates points out that this verse clearly mentions both, suggesting different aspects:
  • Quote (Ken Yates, 01:36): “If we confess our sins, he forgives us for those sins and he cleanses us from all unrighteousness, which is more than the sins we confess, because obviously we're not aware of every sin we commit. So there's a difference...”
• Amplifying with 1 John 1:7: Cleansing is linked to “walking in the light” and the blood of Jesus perpetually cleansing us, even apart from explicit confession (01:38–02:14).
  • Quote (Bob Wilkin, 02:11): “Notice he doesn't say if you confess those.”
• Condition for Effectiveness: Both forgiveness and cleansing are contingent upon “walking in the light” rather than remaining in spiritual darkness (02:14–02:39).

3. The Analogy of Jesus Washing the Disciples’ Feet (John 13)

• Application to Fellowship and Cleansing: Jesus tells Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me,” referencing the need for ongoing cleansing as a condition of fellowship.
• No Mention of Forgiveness in John 13: Forgiveness, in contrast, is not explicitly referenced until after the resurrection (John 20), possibly connecting it to church discipline (03:22–03:53).
• Evangelical Conflation: Many see the foot-washing as a picture of forgiveness and thus treat cleansing and forgiveness as synonymous (03:53–04:29).

4. Cleansing: Permanent and Ongoing

• Washing of Regeneration (Titus 3): Suggestion that cleansing occurs once and for all at the moment of spiritual rebirth (“permanent cleansing”), but ongoing “foot-washing” is necessary for daily walk and fellowship (04:34–05:06).
  • Quote (Ken Yates, 04:41): “He talks about the washing of regeneration. Well, that means that the moment we're born again, we're cleansed, we're washed... But then there's a need for ongoing cleansing, like for our feet in the foot washing incident.”

5. Forgiveness vs. Cleansing – Further Scriptural Illustrations

• Mark 1 Contrasts:
  • Leper cleansed, told to offer a sacrifice for “cleansing” (not forgiveness).
  • Paralytic told, “Your sins are forgiven.”
  • Hosts propose that cleansing impacts status (especially visible/relational status in community), while forgiveness pertains more directly to sin and guilt before God (05:55–06:01).
  • Quote (Bob Wilkin, 06:01): “The cleansing there is more of a—maybe I would use the word ‘status.’”

6. Practical Implications: What Needs What?

• Forgiveness Connected to Confessed Sins: Only those sins of which we are aware and confess do we explicitly receive forgiveness for (06:24–07:21).
  • Quote (Bob Wilkin, 07:21): “I don't need forgiveness of every one of my sins. What I need is cleansing from all of my sins.”
• Cleansing as Covering “Unaware” Sins: Cleansing includes not just what we confess, but all unrighteousness—including sins we’re unaware of (07:21–07:37).

7. Zane Hodges’ “White Suit” Illustration (08:11–09:10)

• Summary: A man in a white suit can see the dirt in front (his confessed sins), but there is also hidden dirt on the back (unconfessed/unaware sins). Confession “cleans” the whole suit—both what’s seen and what’s unseen.
  • Quote (Ken Yates, 08:37): “When I look down and see the spots that I can see, I confess or acknowledge those, and instantly my suit is white. Not just on the front, but on the back, too.”

8. Implications for the Believer’s Walk

• Fellowship and Witness: Cleansing ensures we are fit to represent God to the world; forgiveness restores fellowship for known/transgressed sins, but cleansing keeps us in a fit state before God (11:00–12:14).
  • Quote (Ken Yates, 11:37): “You don't want to send your children to school with spots all over their clothes and with dirty faces... Well, we represent God on earth. ... In order to do that, we need to be cleansed people.”

9. Summary and Tentativeness

• Terminological Precision: It may be “too literal” for some, but the hosts advocate for maintaining the biblical distinction, even if evangelical tradition conflates the terms (10:27–10:45).
• Ongoing Reflection: The conversation is positioned as open-ended to provoke listener contemplation (12:31–12:55).
  • Quote (Ken Yates, 12:31): “This is good stuff, Ken. ... We're not just staying in the areas where, you know, this is well established theology. This is stuff you need to pray about.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On common evangelical assumptions:
  “Most theologians and pastors would say there is no difference. And that's certainly what we were taught.”
  — Ken Yates (01:31)

• On the core distinction from 1 John 1:9:
  “If we confess our sins, he forgives us for those sins and he cleanses us from all unrighteousness, which is more than the sins we confess, because obviously we're not aware of every sin we commit.”
  — Ken Yates (01:36)

• On the practical ‘white suit’ illustration:
  “When I look down and see the spots that I can see, I confess or acknowledge those, and instantly my suit is white. Not just on the front, but on the back, too. All the ones I can't see are cleansed, too.”
  — Ken Yates (08:37)

• On how cleansing affects our status and witness:
  “We represent God on earth... In order to do that, we need to be cleansed people. If we're cleansed people, then we can let our light shine.”
  — Ken Yates (11:37)

• On practical application:
  “If we're cleansed people of the sins we're not aware of and we're forgiven of the ones we confess, we walk in the light.”
  — Bob Wilkin (12:06)

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Important Timestamps

• Distinction Introduced: 01:36 (1 John 1:9 discussion)
• Spiritual “light and darkness” condition: 02:14
• Foot-washing in John 13 as ongoing cleansing: 03:09–03:53
• Titus 3 and regeneration cleansing: 04:34–05:06
• Mark 1 — Example of leper (cleansing) vs. paralytic (forgiveness): 05:36–06:01
• Are we forgiven for sins we’re unaware of?: 06:24–07:21
• ‘White suit’ illustration from Zane Hodges: 08:11–09:10
• Cleansing as essential to witness: 11:37
• Final application and reflective close: 12:31–12:55

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Takeaway

Wilkin and Yates challenge listeners to rethink well-worn assumptions about “forgiveness” and “cleansing,” urging a scriptural precision that shapes how believers understand their walk with God, confession, and their ongoing relationship with Him. Forgiveness is associated with confessed, known sins; cleansing encompasses all unrighteousness (even that which we are unaware of) and ensures our suitability to represent God. The conversation is nuanced and left somewhat open for personal study, reflection, and prayer.

Transcript

[A]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[B]

We recently had a discussion about the difference between cleansing and forgiveness. Well, today is part two and we are glad you are with us, friend. This is Grace in Focus, the ministry of the Grace Evangelical society. Our website, faithalone.org There you can find our magazine Grace in Focus as a free subscription. It is a very well done magazine. It comes out six times per year. Great articles, full length, full color, and we want you to have it. Subscription is free and that means it is free all except if you live outside of the lower 48 contiguous United States. You only must pay the postage, otherwise it is free. We want you to have it. Get signed up [e-mail] and now here with our discussion of the day is Bob Wilkin along with Ken Yates.

[A]

We've been doing some sessions on forgiveness which we hope will cause all of us, including Bob and myself, to think about this issue and biblically, what's going on in these verses. And one of the issues that's related to this is the difference between cleansing and forgiveness.

[C]

And we started out talking about this five shows ago maybe, and we started out by saying most theologians and pastors would say there is no difference.

[A]

And that's certainly what we were taught. Well, it was never even really discussed. I think it was just assumed.

[C]

But it seems to me that First John 1:9 clearly establishes that forgiveness and cleansing are two different things. If we confess our sins, he forgives us for those sins and he cleanses us from all unrighteousness, which is more than the sins we confess, because obviously we're not aware of every sin we commit. So there's a difference in First John 1:9 between forgiveness and cleansing. In fact, First John 1:7 two verses before said, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

[A]

Right. Notice he doesn't say if you confess those.

[C]

Right. But what this means is one of the things we said earlier, if you're in the spiritual far country, you're not walking in the light. Right?

[A]

Right.

[C]

So therefore, First John 1:9 doesn't work because confessing your sins when you're walking in the darkness doesn't result in forgiveness and cleansing. In order to have forgiveness and cleansing, I have to be walking in the light.

[A]

You have to return to walking in the light.

[C]

If you're in the darkness. Right. And so the person who's in the light, who's walking in the light, then all they need to do is confess. Their sins, as they become aware of them and they continue to. To be forgiven and they continue to be cleansed. But the question is, what is the difference? Okay, I like to think of it this way. You remember in John 13, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, right? And he comes to Peter, and Peter.

[A]

Says, no, I'm not going to let you do that to me.

[C]

And then he says, well, if I don't wash your feet, you have no part with me, which is a fellowship ward. And he's saying, look, if you want to have fellowship with me, I've got to wash your feet. So he says, okay, give me a shampoo, too. And he says, no, no, he was clean.

[A]

I don't think he said it like that.

[C]

No, he didn't quite. That's the niv. He said, no, I just need to wash your feet because you're clean, but not all of you. Which was both a reference to Judas and a reference to the fact that believers need ongoing cleansing. But it's important to recognize Jesus doesn't mention forgiveness in John 13. He doesn't mention forgiveness until John 20 after his resurrection. And then he says, the sins you retain will be retained and the sins you forgive will be forgiven. Which seems to refer to church discipline.

[A]

I think we also put in here this John cleansing when he's washing the feet. That's probably another reason why, even if it's subconsciously, most evangelicals see cleansing and forgiveness as the same thing. Because they're going to look at Jesus cleansing the feet and says, okay, what he's saying is when you're a believer and you sin, you need your feet cleansed. That's what. That's a picture of the ongoing sins in a believer's life. You wash your feet, your sins are forgiven, and Jesus says, you're being clean. And so they're going to see those words as synonymous.

[C]

Ken, I'm still working this through, but I would suggest there's clearly a difference.

[A]

Sure.

[C]

And another verse I would cite would be the washing of regeneration. Isn't that Titus 3?

[A]

Titus 3. Right.

[C]

He talks about the washing of regeneration. Well, that means that the moment we're born again, we're cleansed, we're washed. And so there's some kind of permanent cleansing that takes place when we're born again. But then there's a need for ongoing cleansing, like for our feet in the foot washing incident. And I kind of think of it this way, maybe the cleansing is how God looks at us.

[A]

And by the way, let me just say in Mark 1, for example, there's two sections, one after another. So in Mark 1, at the end of Mark 1, I find this interesting. Now again, people are going to say, well, it's the same thing. He cleanses a leper and he says, now go offer the sacrifice for your cleansing. So he's talking about cleansing. The very next verses, he talks about the guy through the roof, the paralytic is lowered, and he goes, your sins have been forgiven.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So what's the difference there?

[C]

One's cleansing, one's forgiveness.

[A]

And what is the distinction there? Now again, I think most people say, well, they're the same thing, but I don't think so.

[C]

Well, obviously the cleansing of the leper wasn't exactly forgiveness.

[A]

Right.

[C]

It was a lot more than forgiveness. I mean, he healed him.

[A]

Right. And the way you said it, I forgot the word you used. The way God sees us.

[C]

Something like that, yeah.

[A]

The cleansing there is more of a. Maybe I would use the word status. And I'm just going to throw this out to you. So when we get to 1 John 1:9, when he says, if you confess your sins, you've been forgiven and then cleansed from all unrighteousness. So the ones that I'm not aware of, I'm just going to throw this out here then. So could we say that I'm really not forgiven of something that I'm unaware of?

[B]

It's coming. It'll be here before you know it. What am I talking about? The Grace Evangelical Society's National Conference 2026, May 18th through the 21st at Camp Kop, an absolutely beautiful campground in North Texas, right on the lake with lots of recreation, great food, a great place to stay, wonderful fellowship and wonderful free Grace Bible teaching. Information and online registration [e-mail] events first timers waive registration fees. Faithalone.org events so I'm aware of a.

[A]

Sin, I confess it and I'm forgiven. And then he cleanses me. It's more of a stat. I'm not even aware of these things. So it's not really proper to say, forgive me of this sin of which I'm unaware of. I don't confess that sin. I'm not aware of it. And so it's more of a who I am as I continue to walk in the light.

[C]

I like that. I like that. So in other words, I don't need forgiveness of every one of my sins. What I need is cleansing from all of my sins. And. And I need forgiveness of the sins of which I'm aware in My simple mind.

[A]

That's the way I kind of want to word it.

[C]

Now. Maybe it's true that when he forgives us for that sin, he also forgives us for all sins. But that's not what First John 1:9 says.

[A]

Right.

[C]

It doesn't say, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to forgive us of all unrighteousness.

[A]

And he could have said that.

[C]

Right. But he says, cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So I kind of look at it this way. In fact, this was how Zane Hodges illustrated this in his course on First John. He said, imagine a man who's wearing a white suit. Why anybody would have a white suit.

[A]

I don't get Colonel Sanders.

[C]

Colonel Sanders.

[A]

Colonel Sanders had a white suit.

[C]

All right, so imagine Colonel Sanders. And he looks down, and Colonel Sanders is flabbergasted to see that there are six mud spots on the front of his jacket and pants. And Colonel Sanders doesn't realize there's another 20 spots on the back of his jacket and the back of his suit pants. Are you with me?

[A]

Sure.

[C]

And Hodges says, when I look down and see the spots that I can see, I confess or acknowledge those, and instantly my suit is white. Not just on the front, but on the back, too. All the ones I can't see are cleansed, too. And so he said, that's how you have now, a perfectly white suit once again. Well, I wonder if that's the way God looks at us. It's like when he cleanses us, it's like we're clean before Him. We're pure before Him.

[A]

Even of the ones we're not aware of on the back of the suit.

[C]

Yeah, all of them are cleansed. And so our standing before him is. It's almost like, you know, some people say it's almost like we never sinned when he forgives us. Well, that's not totally true because we have consequences for our sins in this life and things. But it is true that I think the way God sees us, when he forgives us, he also cleanses us.

[A]

Right.

[C]

And that cleansing means he's seeing us now as people who look good to Him.

[A]

Yeah. If we could summarize it. If I'm on the right path here on this, and I'm open to the fact that maybe I'm not, but I'm not forgiven of sins that I'm unaware of. I'm cleansed of sins I'm unaware of. I confess the sins that I'm aware of, and I'm forgiven of those. And then he also cleanses me. It's not proper to say he's forgiven of me of them because I'm not even aware of them.

[C]

Maybe he does. I don't know. I would say he probably does, but I don't think I can think of a scripture that says that. And besides, I don't know that we need that. If he forgives me of the sins that I confess and he cleanses me from all unrighteousness, what more do I need? It's not like I'm unforgiven in these other areas. It's just. That's not an issue.

[A]

That's not an. That's my point. It's the terminology that we're using. And again, maybe it's just too literal, but we don't. I'm not asking for forgiveness because I'm not even aware of it, but he cleanses me of it. And to go back to the. I'm throwing this out here again in Mark, the leper.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, so we got the leper and then we got the paralytic. To one, he says, go do the sacrifices for your cleansing.

[C]

Right.

[A]

Okay. If I'm going to press this because he's been cleansed. Right. And so that's his status in society.

[C]

Right.

[A]

That's his.

[C]

He no longer has to say leper, leper, keep away.

[A]

Exactly.

[C]

Keep away.

[A]

So it's more of a. This is a change in his status with the people that he's around. Where the guy who's coming down the roof, the paralytic. He's been accused of being a paralytic his whole life because of his sins. And so Jesus is saying, I'm forgiving you of the. Maybe he's even thinking it's because of this sins or whatever the case, these particular sins and your sins have been forgiven. And so I'm wondering if we can make that distinction there as an illustration of the difference between cleansing and forgiveness here.

[C]

Maybe we could. But you might think of the same thing to some degree with parents and children. You don't want to send your children to school with spots all over their clothes and with dirty faces and dirty hands and everything else, because they represent you. Well, we represent God on earth. So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Jesus said. Right, Right. In order to do that, we need to be cleansed people. If we're cleansed people, then we can let our light shine.

[A]

And if we're cleansed people of the sins we're not aware of and we're forgiven of the ones we confess. We walk in the light.

[C]

That's what our aim in life is, is to walk in the light as he is in the light. And if so, the blood of Jesus keeps on cleansing us from all sin and we continue to walk in the light. We continue to enjoy fellowship with God.

[A]

We can share with Him.

[C]

All right, well, this is good stuff, Ken. I hope you all have enjoyed this discussion. It's been challenging on my end because we're not just staying in the areas where, you know, this is well established theology. This is stuff you need to pray about. But I hope we've given you food for thought. And in the meantime, keep grace in focus.

[B]

We invite you to check out our Monday, Wednesday and Friday five minute YouTube videos tube grace Evangelical Society. You will love the content and learn a lot. Maybe you've got a question or comment or feedback. If so, please send us a message. Here's our email address. It's radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org Please make sure your question is as succinct and clear as possible. That would be a great big help on our next episode. If we have eternal life that can never be lost, why not live like the devil? Please join us again and until then, let's keep grace in focus.

[A]

The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.