Dr. Kenneth Jones
Putting On the Nature and Things of God
Commentary Getting Dressed How and when we put on clothes reflect our age, our social status, what event we are attending, one s frame of mind, culture, and attitude. Who dressed you today? What do your garments represent? Do Clothes really make the man?
To Put On To make part of one's appearance or behavior Put on - to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one's self Lexicon: endyō - To become so possessed in the mind of Christ as in thought, feeling, and action to resemble, and as if it were, to reproduce the life he lived
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." The goal of the believer and what one should be is one who is cloaked, who is clothed, who is garmented with the character, the disposition, the attitude, the habits and the virtues of Jesus Christ. But What Does That Look Like to the Believer?
What Do You Put On Each Day? Do you put on the New Man? A renewed spiritual mindset apart from that of the world Do you put on the Armor of God? Do you have an expectation that you are involved in a spiritual war and that God has given you all you need to win Do you put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness? Do you awake rejoicing in what God has done and with excitement because of your relationship with Him?
Put On Christ Romans 13:14 - But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Putting on, or being clothed with Jesus Christ, signifies receiving and believing the Gospel To be clothed with a person is a Greek phrase, signifying to assume the interests of another - to enter into his views, to imitate him, and be wholly on his side Thus, to put on the Lord Jesus means to take him as a pattern and guide, to imitate his example, to obey his precepts, to become like him
Since the Beginning Genesis 3:7: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Adam and Eve put on aprons to cover their guilt and shame. Initially, they felt no shame (Genesis 3:1) They new that they were naked: Psalms 104:2 and Matthew 17:2 suggest that light can be a garment for the righteous. It may be that Adam and Eve were previously clothed in God s glorious light, and the immediate loss of this covering of light left them feeling exposed and naked. (Guzik)
Armor of Light Romans 13:12: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. The armor of light: This is related to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When we put on Christ, we put on all the armor of God and are equipped to both defend and attack We are also protected from the works of darkness God s armour of light can protect us from attitudes and actions outside of ourselves that erode kingdom values
Cast Off! Put On! Cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light: The illustration is from taking off and putting on clothes. When you get dressed every day, you dress appropriately to who you are and what you plan to do. Therefore, everyday, put on the Lord Jesus Christ! Putting on Christ is a strong and vivid metaphor. It means more than put on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, signifying rather Let Jesus Christ Himself be the armor that you wear." (Morris)
Adam Eve (Cont d) Every attempt to cover our own nakedness before God is just as foolish Fig leaves are prickly and uncomfortable We need to let Jesus clothe us (Revelation 3:5, 18), and put on Jesus Himself as our covering garment (Galatians 3:27). There is a different between cover up and being clothed. Adam and Eve only covered up what they considered shameful parts God clothed them completely
Filthy Rags Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Trusting in our own righteousness will not avail to anything (Self Righteousness) We can go from rags to robes by accepting God s plan of redemption for our lives (His righteousness)
God Clothed Them With Skins He clothed them after He judged them He provided them a covering that was appropriate for the world It is a law and it was considered improper for man to appear before God naked At the same time: God made clothes so that Adam and Eve wouldn't be present to shame and fear. God made clothes so that Adam and Eve could have fellowship with God. That means something had to die Adam and Eve were clothed in a garment that was purchased with the life of another. We are clothed with a garment of righteousness that was purchased with the life of another, Jesus Christ. God is always trying to reach man, not trying to separate Himself from them - Man does that on his own (Isaiah 59:2)
Scripture Leviticus 17:11 - For the life (the animal soul) is in the blood, and I have given it for you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life [which it represents]. (Amplified Version) Hebrews 9:22 - [In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.
Quote We must cast off before we can put on. The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins. (Spurgeon)
No Cross-Dressers While Cross-dressing is the act of wearing items of clothing and other accoutrements commonly associated with the opposite gender, many Christians continually wear or maintain the attitude/mindset of the world even though they have been fitted for a robe and crown Cross-Dressers do it for disguise and comfort It s so easy to blend in isn t it? What is the purpose of getting new garments when you still keep wearing the old ones? And stop taking Hand me downs Don t resort to your old nature or take in the attitude of the world just to appease yourself and others
The New Man Ephesians 4:24 - And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. - reflects a new nature, connected to Christ and born of the Spirit The new man refers to the renovated nature. It means taking on a renewed mindset developed from the indwelling of the Spirit (2 nd Corinthians 5:17) Put off... the old man... put on the new man: This has the same idea of putting off or putting on a set of clothes. The idea is to change into a different kind of conduct. (Guzik) How do we know this is working? Look at the scriptures that are following and take inventory if either the positive or negative things are operating in your life daily and without restraint (vs. 25-32)
Daily Checklist - Example Issue Question Yes No Wherefore putting away lying Be ye angry, and sin not Corrupt Communication Let him that stole steal no more Neither give place to the devil Grieve Not the Spirit Did I tell the truth today? Did I also avoid white lies? Was I able to manage my anger today? Did I speak wholesome words today void of profanity. Did I share dirty jokes? Was I able to edify someone today? Did I do anything dishonest today? Did I put my best foot forward at work, earning what I make Did I give opportunity to Satan in my thought life (lusts, envy, jealousy)? My actions? Was I obedient to God today? Am I doing what I feel He expects me to do?
With Each Cloth Comes a Mindset Example: Putting on the Mind of Christ is a Conscious Choice leading towards a particular mindset Most of our thoughts are tailored made as we give place to spirits of oppression and deception Peace Contentment Joy Discernment Love Confusion Strife Envy Jealousy Hatred Vengeful
Examples Casting down imaginations (2 nd Cor 10:5) Let the peace of God rule (Colossians 3:15) Be Angry and sin not (Ephesians 4:26) Don t return railings for railings (1 st Tim 6:4; 1 Peter 3:9)
Put Off As You Change Clothes In Colossians 3:9: Paul has been telling the Colossians that they are to put off certain things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth, lie not one to another. Again you see the same imagery, don't you, put off this garment, put on this one. You can t wear both at the same time Not effective for spiritual living Verse 9, "Since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man that is continually being renewed in knowledge."
Take Inventory of Your Wardrobe Colossians 3:12-15: (Amplified Version) Clothe yourselves therefore, as God s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. 13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. 14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. 15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
Clothe Yourself As a representative of God Clothes are indicative of a kingdom, a culture, an influence, piety, commitment, etc. You consider your clothing because you represent a family out there in the world (1 st Peter 2:9) by putting on behavior marked by] this is observable behavior Our Christian walk should be visibly seen in our lives and through the eyes of others And above all these [put on] love This is the foundation, the motives and mindset by which we put on Christ And let the peace of Christ rule let the umpire call the shots and mediate the game. The peace of God will call some thoughts Safe and some Out. Let the peace of God, as an umpire, identify the fouls and regulate the thoughts
Are You Clothed Properly? Mercy- I am showing mercy towards others? Towards my family? Towards others I have contact with? Or am I unforgiving and vengeful? Kindness- Am I showing kindness to our own family? To our kids? What about the unkind people? My enemies? Humbleness- Do we display a humbleness about myself or do I have pockets of pride that need to be purged? Meekness- How s my attitude? Is it quiet and meek? Am I abrupt and callous with others? Meekness is a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control.
Clothed Properly? (Cont d) Longsuffering- Do I extend patience with my spouse, my children, my friends and with someone who has wronged us? Forbearing one another- It is holding back or restraining the self from doing something that is normal to do. It is controlling oneself when provoked or offended Am I putting aside my agenda of revenge on someone? Trying to get back at a family member or friend? Forgiving spirit- Am I someone who easily forgives? Charity (love)- Do others see love coming from my life? Do I show love to my family, as well as someone we don t particularly like? Is love always permeating in my motives
Conclusion Remember it s not always easy getting spiritually dressed when we do it in our strength and our power. We need to tap into God s power and put on the mind of Christ. That take lots of prayer, lots of digging into His Word, and a daily conscience effort to become more like Christ.