Robed In Righteousness

Suits and Shorts

The entire concept of clothing is a fascinating study, from today, all the way back to the fig leaves with which Adam and Eve attempted to cover themselves. Not only can we look at clothing concepts and styles over time, but we can also do so cross-culturally. Certain religious orders are easily recognized by their costuming. Many nationalities have clothing distinctives that identify the apparel as originating from that nation or culture.

Within the Christian community, opinions vary wildly regarding what is “proper attire.” For centuries, in western culture, it would never occur to a man that he forego donning his best suit on Sunday mornings, as the ladies apparelled themselves in fine dresses and stylish bonnets. In many non-western cultures, this same practice was and is considered appalling.

I was listening to a missionary recently who spoke of a culture wherein both the men and the women covered themselves with nothing more than a simple loin cloth, meaning, both the men and women were bare from the waist up. This was their everyday, common attire. When a member of the mission team suggested that the women should put on their best, full dresses for Sunday gatherings, they were horrified. To them, doing so would be boastful and immodest. They could not bring themselves to comply with the suggestion.

Returning to the west, some churches see every man in a suit and every woman in a bonnet while other churches see attendees, both men and women, in shorts, blue jeans, and tee shirts. I’ve seen men preach in shorts.

Churches have split over these issues.

I have long been interested in the event following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection where the disciples had been fishing all night but caught nothing.¹ Peter and six other disciples were gathered by the Sea of Tiberias, likely still recoiling from everything that had recently transpired with Jesus. Peter remarked that he was going fishing, and the others agreed to join him.

The band of disciples fished through the night and caught nothing but fatigue. When morning arrived, Jesus was standing on the shore, though the disciples did not immediately recognize him. Following Jesus’ suggestion that they cast their nets on the other side of the boat, the disciples hauled in 153 fish in a single attempt. It was then that John recognized Jesus as the man calling to them from the shore.

Here is the fascinating line for me.

That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
– John 21:7, ESV

Peter, likely stripped down to little more than a loincloth, but then realizing who was on the shore, threw on his outer garment and was in the water on his way to Jesus. How unlike the previous “catch of fish” incident that ended up tearing the disciples’ nets. In that scene, Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”² Now he is swimming toward Jesus as rapidly as he can.

Garments of Salvation & Robes of Righteousness

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
– Isaiah 61:10, ESV

I have opinions regarding the heated debates noted above but am keeping those to myself for now. Well, I’ll offer one, and that is that the entire debate is a distraction from the true adornments a Christ-follower should seek. In the verse from Isaiah, above, we see a beautiful metaphor regarding “proper attire” for standing in the presence of God. And note that these are not garments you and I can put on, but rather, these are garments put on us by God himself.

Indeed, if we attempt to approach God dressed in our own righteous works, not only will our attempt be ineffective, it will be an offense to God. Our highest righteousness is “filthy rags” before a holy God,³ and I do not mean to be indelicate here, but the term scripture uses in that declaration is “menstruation cloths.” We come to God offering nothing but our glaring need for him.

A Ticket to the Wedding Feast

Jesus related a parable in which a king threw a wedding feast for his son.⁴ As the guests arrived, tradition holds that the king’s servants supplied each with a wedding garment, so it was glaringly obvious when one of attendees managed to get into the banquet by an alternate route.

But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.
– Matthew 22:11-14, ESV

If the man had come in through the appropriate entrance, he would be properly clothed. The implication is that he came in over the wall or through a window.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.
– John 10:1, ESV

Clothed With Christ and His Righteousness

Scripture speaks of those who are “in Christ” as having been clothed with Christ. He is our attire, our outer covering.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
– Galatians 3:27, BSB

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
– Romans 13:14, BSB

Being clothed with Christ’s righteousness, our life is now “hidden with Christ.”⁵ Even as far back as Job, this concept was well-known.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
– Job 29:14, ESV

Back to Wedding Feasts

There is another wedding feast coming—the marriage supper of the Lamb. You are invited but, to attend, you must be arrayed in fine linen, clean, and white.⁶ The invitations to the feast have been sent, and it is now up to each of us to decide we will attend, and to show up properly clothed with Christ. It’s going to be glorious, my brothers and sisters. I’ll see you there!

Blessings upon you, my friends.

Victoriously in Christ!

– damon

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1. John 21:1-14
2. Luke 5:8
3. Isaiah 64:8
4. Matthew 22:1-14
5. Colossians 3:3
6. Revelation 19:7-8