CLOTHED IN CHRIST

 "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."'

Revelation 7:9-10

As Christ makes His abode in us and we in Him through the Spirit, we come to know God more and are changing more into His likeness, His image. We awaken and become aware that He is clothing us in His likeness: His meekness, His steadfastness, His lovingkindness, and His righteousness. We become more conscious of His Son's sacrifice, that cruel death on the cross.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."   2 Corinthians 3:18

I.   OUR INNER CLOTHING:  

As our hearts and minds are being changed into newness of life, they are renewed and transformed. We are regenerated in heart and soul as we walk in Jesus' steps. Our newness of life must reflect our "inner clothing" on the outside. When we clothe ourselves with Christ, meekness, righteousness, and holiness, start to show. We begin to reflect the one who has given us new life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

"But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."  Ephesians 4:20-24

Our Lord Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount:  

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."   Matthew 5:5

We live in a world where gentleness, meekness, simpleness, modesty, humility, longsuffering, and submissiveness are not taught and cultivated.  Notice that among those qualities that Jesus spoke of in His Sermon on the Mount, “meekness” (gentleness) is found.  Jesus portrayed meekness for us when He walked among us.  

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."   Matthew 11:29

"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  I Peter 5:5

Our Lord and Savior is the best role model of meekness. Moses is another excellent example of someone who modeled meekness.

"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  Philippians 2:8

"Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth."  Numbers 12:3

So the question at stake is:  Don't you think that showing off, being prideful and pretentious, is exhausting?  Do we really want to be something or someone that we are not?  Do we want to look like someone full of insecurities, with an outward image that we are not?  Such an outward image does not give rest to the heart and soul.  Only when we are clothed in Christ do we find true rest for our weary soul, rest in His Father's love, sitting at His Son's feet, and harnessed with His yoke on our shoulders.  Our Father has adopted us as His family through His Son's sacrifice. We are sanctified, washed, and justified through His precious blood, baptized for the forgiveness of our sins. 

So, to whom do we have to prove ourselves as worthy, to man or God the Father?  Why worry so much about the outward man?  Why not worry more about the inward man, who must be renewed in His glory and likeness?  

"Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."   I Corinthians 6:11

"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."  John 17:17

 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."   2 Corinthians 4:16

As we clothe ourselves in Christ inwardly, we imitate Him in His likeness.  It starts to show outwardly. Likewise, when we focus on clothing ourselves outwardly, in fleshly ways, we will show the fruits of the flesh, not the ones of the Spirit.  We will tend to be rebellious,  ungodly, unrighteous, vain, conceited, selfish, and arrogant.  Lest we forget, we must not be absorbed in self; instead, we must die to self.  Lest we forget, we must courageously die to the “voyage of self.”

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."  Romans 13:13

 "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness."   2 Peter 1:6

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."   Galatians 5:16-17

As those who profess godliness, we must clothe ourselves with the right attitude of heart, righteousness, holiness, love, and gentleness.  This means that we must clothe our inner man and be renewed and transformed daily.  In clothing the inner man with the Spirit of Christ, we shine our light to a world of darkness.  We reflect the beauty of Christ in us by the washing, sanctifying, justifying, and renewing of our souls. It is the only way to glorify our Father in heaven. This can only be accomplished by surrendering to our Savior.

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

Consider the following questions of how we ought to walk before men:  

1. Are we reflecting Christ in our lives by the way we live?  
2. Do we look more like the world on the outside by the way we conduct ourselves with others? 
3. Do we show others an inner man who is changed and renewed in the likeness of God?
4. Do we inspire and encourage others to come to Christ by our godly example?  
5. Or instead, are we stumbling blocks by our bad example?  
6. Do we focus more on Christ by living a life that is worthy of Him?  
7. Do we show gratitude to Him Who made Himself a sacrifice and died that cruel death?  We can only show gratitude by living an upright and blameless life.
8. Does His beauty shine in us outwardly?  Remember, this dark world will not likely see His beauty if they do not see it reflected in us.

We do not want to be like the Pharisees, focused on outward appearances.  They were ostentatious, self-righteous, and completely empty and unclean because of their lawless deeds.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness."  Matthew 23:27

Jesus did not carry Himself as someone showing off, although He was God.  He humbled Himself!  He surrendered to His Father's will.  He knew His reward was in heaven.  Meekness is the opposite of the prevailing human, empty, and vain wisdom.  God's wisdom is the opposite of fleshly wisdom.  His wisdom is contrary to the world's.

"Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.  He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.  A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth."  Isaiah 42:1-3

CONCLUSION:

When Christ clothes our hearts walking in His Spirit, we are no longer slaves of lawlessness but righteousness. When we clothe ourselves with Christ, we reflect His excellencies.  We are clothed in His love, righteousness, and humility.  We adorn ourselves in His holiness, sanctification, righteousness, and mercy.  We adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect (Titus 2:10). Our souls find that peace that surpasses all human understanding.  

"And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness... For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification."   Romans 6:18-19

"But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity."  Psalm 37:11

May the Lord teach and show us His ways and thoughts.  May our inner man be renewed and regenerated day by day.  May He give us wisdom to reject the vanity of the outward man that decays day by day.  May we strive to be more like Him and not be caught up in the pride and vanity of the world.  May we reflect Him, being clothed with His grace and righteousness.  May we die to ourselves so that we can show His beauty.

"The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."  Isaiah 29:19

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."  Galatians 3:26-27

"The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."   I John 2:6

Luci

I'd like to leave you with this beautiful sacred Hymn:

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, and blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When every earthly prop gives way,

He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found,

Clothed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.