What does it mean to be clothed by God?
Question
What does it mean to be clothed by God?
Answer
JC Penny has a catchy phrase, "New look. New day. Who knew." In Christianity we also are clothed with righteousness which givens us a "new look" on a "new day" (present and future). Who would have thought this of YOU and I?
The Old Testament pictures unrighteousness as nakedness in several instances. The priests under the Tabernacle of Meeting properly clothed themselves in obedience to the Law (Ex. 20:26). The prophets described the sinful state of the nation of Israel as "nakedness" before God and the world (Isa. 47:3; Lam 1:8; Ezek. 16:36). Isaiah walked naked for three years and a half to illustrate God's judgment to come. This judgment was on the unrighteous state to which Israel had fallen (Isa. 20:1-4). The most severe judgment of God on Israel was that God would show her unrighteousness (nakedness) to all the Gentile nations (Nah. 3:5; Hab. 2:15). This is the ultimate shame and humiliation. Israel thought of herself as righteous, but the prophet said, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6).
God does not desire His children naked or clothed with mere fig leaves (something they have tilled and sown together — Gen. 2-3). So, God clothes His children with the top Designer style clothing — righteous King's clothes. He removes our dirty clothing — soiled by our sin and fallen natures — and replaces them with His. As Isaiah says, "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness," (Isa. 61:10). A real rags to riches story! Christ gave us a new look, on a new day (and another new day for eternity). Who would have ever thought that of YOU or I? God did!
Answer by: Joseph R. Nally, Theological Editor, on behalf of the staff at IIIM. The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the "official position" of Third Millennium Ministries.