Imagine your sin was part of your clothing. How many of us would actually be dressed in fancy suits or ballroom dresses? How many of us would be in clean clothes? I can honestly say none of us are without sin, so how many of us would be covered in stains of dirt and mud? Who's clothes would be covered in dangerously contaminated with mold? How many of us would be in clothes riddled with moth holes and close to decay?
47 âWhen there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment, 48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. 51 Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a persistent leprous disease; it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp or the woof, the wool or the linen, or any article made of skin that is diseased, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire.
Jesus dresses us in new clothes and new garments. By His blood, we are washed clean and no longer subject to death and decay. We are no longer weighed down by contaminated materials such as anger, fear, resentment, shame, secrecy, and doubt to name a few. I no longer have to wear these character defects around because I've been shed of them by the blood of Jesus. No I can live in the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23) Satan no longer has claim on me now that I've accepted Christ. His claim on me is no longer has any hold on me.
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, âThe LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?â 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, âRemove the filthy garments from him.â And to him he said, âBehold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.â 5 And I said, âLet them put a clean turban on his head.â So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.
Satan wants us to wear our sin around to show everyone his claim on us but his claim is thanks and void with the blood of the Lamb to wash me clean. It's better than Gain, Tide, or even Clorox. So what do we do now that we have these clean garments? We begin by putting on our armor.
He put on righteousness as a breastplate,and a helmet of salvation on his head;he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
What is the armor of God and why is it so important? It's the basis passage of my addiction recovery group which consists of shedding the things of this world, which are our character defects, and we work on making room in our hearts for God to dwell. It's important to have this armor because the devil seeks to attack us and it's our duty to defend ourselves and guard our hearts. First we are to be strong (in the Lord and in His mighty strength). Then we are to stand firm. This is a military type of command which emphatically speaks of it's importance. This consists of putting on the armor. The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes with the readiness of the Gospel, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. Next we are to pray at ALL times, with every kind of prayer and petition. Next we are to stay alert. This also is a military term that speaks of it's imperativeness. And last we are to pray for the mystery of the Gospel to be made known boldly by Christs ambassadors and that it be fearlessly proclaimed to all.
So I'll end this with some questions.
Why is it imperative for us to ask God to rid us of sin and character defects before we work on putting on clean garments and armor?
Would we take a shower and put on our dirty clothes?
Once we are clean and in clean clothes will we have to maintain that cleanliness?
How do we maintain that cleanliness?