Romans 13:14...put on the Lord Jesus Christ...
What would that mean? And, what would that look like?
If you become...a police officer...a judge...a nurse...when people see you in that uniform they all immediately know what you are, right?
So, if you become a Christian...people should look at how you "clothe yourself" and see immediately that you are a Christian...true?
So, what would a Christian's "uniform" look like...and how would it be perceived?
I mean, when you look at a police officer's uniform... usually, you don't stand back, mouth agape and exclaim, "How beautiful!" True?
The church is described as "the bride of Christ" and we're instructed to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ..."
So...
Normally, when a woman puts on a wedding gown...(or any kind of fancy gown, really)...and presents herself after getting dressed...the whole room full of people will stop what they're doing and take a deep breath and you will hear a lot of, "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhs" and fuss over how BEAUTIFUL the woman looks! Sometimes people will even be moved to get tears in their eyes seeing their loved ones all "dressed up." Right?
Even a woman who is not considered to be "beautiful" under normal circumstances...will make everyone simply go "wow" seeing her all dressed up...
Normally, when a woman puts on a wedding gown...(or any kind of fancy gown, really)...and presents herself after getting dressed...the whole room full of people will stop what they're doing and take a deep breath and you will hear a lot of, "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhs" and fuss over how BEAUTIFUL the woman looks! Sometimes people will even be moved to get tears in their eyes seeing their loved ones all "dressed up." Right?
Even a woman who is not considered to be "beautiful" under normal circumstances...will make everyone simply go "wow" seeing her all dressed up...
Why is this?
Romans 1 says everything we wanna know about God is glaringly obvious in the Creation around us...so what does this mean that the majority of humans are awed by the sight of a woman all dressed up like that?
Colossians 3:12 ...put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
As the "bride of Christ" if a person puts on Christ...they should look and be so beautiful inside that it would move people to tears...
So, when it comes to church...if the modern church was truly putting on Christ...like them or not...the world would look at them and be struck by their beauty...
Colossians 3:12 ...put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
As the "bride of Christ" if a person puts on Christ...they should look and be so beautiful inside that it would move people to tears...
So, when it comes to church...if the modern church was truly putting on Christ...like them or not...the world would look at them and be struck by their beauty...
Is that what we see in the world? Is that what non-Christians think of when they think of "Christians?" Or, is this what they see?
Protesting and pointing out stuff you think God hates...
Hitting/spanking helpless children in God's name...
Pointing fingers at everyone else's sin...
Do you see beauty here?
Then you don't see Christ.
This is how you clothe yourself in religion.
Religion isn't beautiful because it is focused on "sin"...
Christ, however, is focused on love...and therefore is beautiful...
A person focused on Christ, who IS love, will be beautiful, too...
Loving your neighbor as yourself...is beautiful...
Doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you is beautiful...
Like Romans 1 says...the truth is obvious...
Job 40:10
“Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty."
Ephesians 4:24
...put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
1 Peter 3:3
Your adornment must not be merely external...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God...
“Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty."
Ephesians 4:24
...put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
1 Peter 3:3
Your adornment must not be merely external...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God...
What do you clothe yourself in? Your church doctrine? Your church? Or Christ?
The truth is obvious...
