Cleanliness is next to Godliness?

Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness? Such a popular saying is that very line. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, is such a known saying, but is it true? Well taking a shower will not make you any closer to God, it will not clean your heart, just brushing your teeth. But when it comes to cleanliness, it is true, if we are clean, we will be closer to the Lord. Just because you may wash behind your ears, doesn't mean your washed from all your sins. Jesus condemned the pharisees for their outward appearance, that they thought was going to save them.Woe unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matt. 23:25In the old testament, the Lord God had His people Israel clean themselves at the bottom of Mount Sinai, for He was going to present Himself to them.He had them clean their clothes, and the men could not sleep with their wives. God wanted them clean and ready for His appearance before them. In order for them to stand before Him, when He appeared, they had to prepare themselves, and be washed.Hebrews says,Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:22So to take the picture of what the Israelites had to do to prepare for the Lord, Hebrews tells us as well, to be washed with pure water. Throughout scripture we are commanded to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, which only His blood can do, if we are going to be near to the Lord. The word holy in the dictionary means,Dedicated or consecrated to God.Morally and spiritually excellent.Interesting that the word "holy" means and tells us to be consecrated to God. Scripture tells us,According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. Eph. 1:4So in one way or another, cleanliness of the soul means a closer relationship with God, but a clean house or a nice clean smelling perfume, or having a scented tree hanging from your rear veiw miror in your car, doesn't make you any godlier. For scripture says,For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God;Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:9For it is through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are cleansed and washed, prepared for the marriage supper. What a day that will be!