Church Clothes

Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”

Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

 What in the world is all this wear Christ business?  Where did it come from?  Most important question, HOW?!?!?  Looking at the verses that surround these phrases, I cannot really find any instructions for doing so.  The fact is that the truth behind the concept for wearing Christ has been lost through time and translation.
I have mentioned before about the Hebrew Covenant process.  For those that have no clue what I’m talking about, here’s a review.  Whenever two people were to make a covenant, they had a series of rituals to go through.  One was the trading of belts.  The importance of it was that the belt was where they kept their weapons (Knives, swords, David’s pouch that he put the rocks in that killed Goliath, etc.).  What this said was, “If anyone attacks you, I will be there to defend you, no matter what!”  Jesus carried the very manifest presence of God with Him everywhere he went.  He made covenant with us; therefore, we have the authority to wield that same weapon.  Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall stand.”  Because now you have the most effective weapon ever!
The second thing that they would do is exchange garments or coats.  That said, “Whatever is on your life is now a part of mine.  Whatever is a part of my life is now on you!”  I could write 15 pages on this being why it is so important who you do certain things with (Hint: sex is a covenant, don’t take it lightly).  Taking it back to Jesus, He gave us his garment of mercy so that we didn’t have to work for our salvation anymore.  We gave Him all of our junk because He is strong enough to handle it and the only one that is.
Lastly, they mixed their blood.  The way that they would do this is taking a knife and making a cut down the palm of their hand.  That way anyone that came against them, they could hold up their hand and say, “You mess with me if you want to, but I have backup as shown by my covenant scar!”  This bit gets a little off-topic, but bear with me, it’s really good!  Look down at your hand.  See the lines in your palm?  Doesn’t it almost look like a…scar?  Now you have the ability to tell the devil, “Talk to the hand.”  Jesus took a nail in each one His palms, which still bears those scars.  Furthermore, your name and my name are written in the palms of His hands.  Therefore, Satan tries to go to Jesus telling Him about everywhere you fall short, Jesus just shows the devil His palms and says, “Their name is in my palm, they’re in covenant with me!  They are good to go.  Get away from me!”
Ok back on topic!  Let’s focus on the part of the garment.  The garment represented their identity.  Some people were given a certain garment if they were beggars.  Think of it as a license to beg.  That’s why the Word says in Mark 10 that Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, cast off his garment whenever Jesus commanded him to come.  He was more than willing to give up his identity as a blind beggar for one chance to receive from the “Son of David”, which was widely known prophetically to be the Messiah.  Think about Elijah passing his garment (mantle) to Elisha.  This was everything that was on his life being passed to his disciple.
I give all of that background so that we can understand the function of clothing and why Paul writes about it more than once.  Jews think more about the function of things and statements more than the form.  When he says “Put on Christ”, he is saying “Give an outward example of Jesus’ life to those around you”, or Put on your Church clothes.  Love like Christ loved, give like Christ gave, heal like Christ healed.  Uh oh, there I go encouraging you all to act supernaturally.  That’s the way Jesus did it, why not?
The next time you get aggravated with someone, remember to put Christ on.  Show them the same grace in their situation that you got from Christ in your situation.  When your children do stupid things that they should know better about, Jesus is ok with it.  Show them patience just like you got when you were a kid doing stupid things.  The next time you see a person in need of something, meet the need.  At the very least give assistance.  Dont wear that garment in vain.  What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.
I bless you today to know that there is God that loves you more than anyone else in the world, ever.  I bless you to know that when you gave your life to Him, you gained access to an authority over this world that the Church at large has yet to even scratch the surface of.  Put on your church clothes, let’s show the world what Jesus looks like lived out, and take some territory for the Kingdom!

Grace and Peace be with You ALWAYS!!!!