Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 24 What You Wear Matters???

 

Why would I want to talk about ‘what you wear’ since we have been concentrating on the month of ‘love’?  While this post may seem to be irrelevant today, I think it most relevant today, every day; because when we love God we are to be concerned about our ‘clothing’!  I know that some of you are loaded for bear now, but hear me out, and consider before you jump to conclusions; for I want us to talk about what we wear, but not in the sense that most of you are thinking.  Now, I do believe our “apparel” is important in the sense that we are to dress in a godly, modest and holy way, but I want us to talk about, if you would, our spiritual attire!

“And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven

is like unto a certain king,

which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants

to call them that were bidden

to the wedding:

and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying,

Tell them which are bidden,

Behold, I have prepared my dinner:

my oxen

and my fatlings are killed,

and all things are ready:

come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it,

and went their ways,

one to his farm,

another to his merchandise:

6 And the remnant took his servants,

and entreated them spitefully,

and slew them.

7 But when the king heard thereof,

he was wroth:

and he sent forth his armies,

and destroyed those murderers,

and burned up their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants,

The wedding is ready,

but they which were bidden

were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways,

and as many as ye shall find,

bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out

into the highways,

and gathered together all

as many as they found,

both bad

and good:

and the wedding was furnished

with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests,

he saw there a man

which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend,

how camest thou in hither

not having a wedding garment?

And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants,

Bind him hand and foot,

and take him away,

and cast him into outer darkness;

there shall be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called,

but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus spoke this parable shortly before his passion, He was/is telling us that God (the King) provides the attire for the wedding, and when we are not clothed in Him, His righteousness, His Spirit by the blood of Jesus, we are not entitled to be a part of the wedding—ultimately the ‘marriage supper of The Lamb”—and while I want us to look at some seemingly disjointed passages, I hope to tie them together that we might see what God has called, is calling, and continues to call us to—Holy Living in “His righteousness”!

“These shall make war with the Lamb,

and the Lamb shall overcome them:

for he is Lord of lords,

and King of kings:

and they that are with him

are called,

and chosen,

and faithful.”   Revelation 17:14

He calls us unto Himself; salvation is all of God—He initiates it, provides it, and completes it!  All because of Jesus!

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places

in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be

holy

and without blame

before him

in love:

5 Having predestinated us

unto the adoption

of children

by Jesus Christ

to himself,

according to the good pleasure

of his will,

6 To the praise

of the glory

of his grace,

wherein he hath made us

accepted in the beloved.”   Ephesians 1:3-6

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

Born into God’s kingdom by the work that Jesus completed at Calvary—for HE is the only way to God, yet it’s also God who draws us unto Jesus!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:6

“No man can come to me,

except the Father

which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day…

.. 65 And he said,

Therefore said I unto you,

that no man can come unto me,

except it were given unto him

of my Father.”   John 6:44 & 65

We don’t hear much about coming to Jesus in response to His call—the convicting power of the Holy Spirit—yet is essential to the work of salvation; and when we respond to His call in repentance and faith, He clothes us in HIS righteousness, without which we can’t have fellowship and life with HIM!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

“Follow peace

with all men,

and holiness,

without which

no man shall see the Lord:”  Hebrews 12:14

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

my soul shall be joyful in my God;

for he hath clothed me

with the garments of salvation,

he hath covered me

with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decketh himself

with ornaments,

and as a bride adorneth herself

with her jewels.”  Isaiah 61:10

“Let us be glad

and rejoice,

and give honour to him:

for the marriage of the Lamb

is come,

and his wife

hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted

that she should be arrayed

in fine linen,

clean and white:

for the fine linen

is the righteousness

of saints.”   Revelation 19:7-8

Our only righteousness is that which Jesus imparts to us, and it is HIS righteousness that is our “attire”, without which we can do nothing.  In fact, Jesus said that without Him we can do nothing of eternal value.

“For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Without His righteousness we are lost—see Romans 3:23 and 6:23—but “in him” we receive the righteousness of Jesus!

“But we are all as an unclean thing,

and all our righteousnesses

are as filthy rags;

and we all do fade

as a leaf;”   Isaiah 64:6

What we ‘wear’ is important, in fact it is of eternal import! I would like to close with the admonition of Jesus to the church of Laodicea in chapter 3 of The Revelation, and a message from James.  Jesus had a sad message to those who thought they were so well “clothed” that they needed nothing (not even HIM!)—so please ponder the contrast between Jesus’ description of this church, compared to their own perception of “who” and “what” they were.  What about you?  What are you wearing?  You will find it worthwhile to read chapters 1-3 of The Revelation and consider Jesus’ messages to all seven churches—and to YOU and ME!  Have you opened the door of your heart to Him?  He will clothe you in HIS grace, mercy and righteousness!

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold

tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness

do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes

with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.”  Revelation 3:17-18

What do you see when you look at yourself?

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face

in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.”  James 1:22-25

Blessings on your week and may God speak to our hearts as we pursue HIM!

Amen and Amen!!!