CLOTHEDIN

CHRIST

Lesson 13 for June 25, 2011

OLD GARMENTS, NEW GARMENTS

“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the

deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was

created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians, 4: 22-24)

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW GARMENTS

OLD GARMENTS (the old man)“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desireand covetousness, which is idolatry…anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds”(Colossians, 3: 5-9)

NEW GARMENTS (the new man)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,put on tender mercies, kindness, humility,meekness, longsuffering;bearing with one another,and forgiving one another…put on love, which is the bond of perfection.And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…be thankful.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,teaching and admonishing one another,singing…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him”(Colossians, 3: 12-17)

WHEN DO WE PUT ON CHRIST?

When we are baptized we die to ourselves and start living in Christ.

Our sins --the old filthy garments-- are washed off and we put on the new garments of Christ.

We claim for life, perfection and Christ’s character with those new garments.

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians, 3: 27)

“The repentant believer, who takes the steps required in conversion, commemorates in his baptism the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He goes down into the water in the likeness of Christ’s death and burial, and he is raised out of the water in the likeness of His resurrection—not to take up the old life of sin, but to live a new life in Christ Jesus.” E.G.W. (That I may know Him, March 6)

HOW IS THE LIFE OF THOSE WE HAVE PUT ON CHRIST?

Those who have put on Christ must live in a different way than they did before.

There must be a change in us after putting on Christ; that involves:

Obeying divine and human law (Romans, 13: 1-7)

The reason for everything in our life must be love to others(Romans, 13: 8-10)

The proximity of the Second Coming of Jesus must be the motivation of all our thoughts and acts (Romans, 13: 11-14)

Those who have put on Christ must walk as He did. They must reflect His character, imitate His behavior and loving as He did.

CLOTHED IN IMMORTALITYAlthough we are clothed in Christ and we live as He lived, our end is the same: death.

But the Word of God gives us a promise that goes beyond that: we will be clothed in immortality.

“In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."”(1 Corinthians, 15: 52-54 NIV)When Jesus comes, we will receive a new body that won’t be under death’s control. It will be immortal and incorruptible.

CLOTHED IN OUR HEAVENLY DWELLING

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked” (2 Corinthians, 5: 1-3 NIV)

Paul uses several metaphors to explain us the hope of being clothed in immortal bodies when Christ comes back.

A worldly and temporary home

Being naked

Mortality

A heavenly and everlasting home

Being clothed

Eternal life in Christ

“Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, God works a moral change in the lives of His people, changing them into the likeness of Christ. Then, when the last trumpet call shall reach the ears of the dead who sleep in Christ, they will come forth to a new life, clothed with the garments of salvation. They enter in through the gates into the City of God, welcomed to the happiness and joy of their Lord. Would that we all could understand and ever keep in mind the joys that await those who keep their eyes on the pattern Christ Jesus, and in this life seek to form a character like His”E.G.W. (The upward look, March 5)