New Clothes

The River Church

Revelation 19:8 - And to her [the Bride of Christ] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Zechariah 3:1-4 –  And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.  The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan!  The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!” … Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.  The angel said…, “Take off his filthy clothes.”  Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” 

One of the most beautiful word pictures in the Bible likens the cleansing of sin to receiving new, clean, white clothes.  Ephesians 5:27 refers to the Lord’s people as “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing … holy and without blemish.”  When we repent of any sin, we are washed from it forever.  We receive the clean garment of Jesus’ own righteousness as our new apparel. 

Some of us, however, think of ourselves as though we are still wearing the old, filthy garments.  We know Jesus has given us clean white robes, but we feel like underneath, hidden from sight, the old filthy garments are still there.  In our minds, they are closer to our skin than the new robes Jesus has given us.  We carry our past failures close to our heart, and take a peek inward to look at them from time to time. 

That’s not how it should be, according to God’s Word.  In the story of Joshua the high priest, the angel said, “Take off his filthy clothes.”  The old came off when the new was put on. 

The forgiveness and cleansing that Jesus provided for us on the cross is a complete work.  The filthy garments need not be worn anymore.  We can let go of our past failures and wear the robes of absolute purity that belong to us now. 

You can confidently step out in your new clothes – the ones Jesus bought for you with His own blood.

The River Church