And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” 2 Kings 5:10

I love the story of Naaman, a great and honorable Syrian warrior, whose only problem was a health issue called leprosy.
He ends up at the house of Elisha, who just sent a messenger to tell him what to do.
Naaman was furious that Elisha did not greet him or come and wave his hand over him. Naaman also thought the rivers of Syria were a much better place to wash.

And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 2 Kings 5:13-14

It was not enough to just visit Elisha.
Naaman’s cleansing did not involve anything of him except obedience.
Just standing on the bank and believing in the act would not cleanse him.
One dip in the Jordan or six dips in the Jordan did nothing.
Full compliance cleansed him from the disease.

It’s not enough to just go to church.
Rev 3:14-15 – To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write… “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.”

It does no good to think your accomplishments and good deeds save you.
Eph 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

It’s not enough to just stay home and say, “I believe.”
James 2:19 – You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!

Baptism, name on a church roll, giving a tithe, reading your Bible, or praying three times a day are truly meaningless without full compliance and obedience.
Rom 10:9-10 – If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 2:38-Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 1:6-10 – If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

When you believe and obey God’s word, then you, too, are cleansed of a disease far worse than leprosy – sin!