Clothe Yourself With Christ

The Bible talks a lot about clothes. Sometimes it’s literal clothing, like the “attire of a harlot” (Prov. 7:10) or “a bride” (Jer. 2:32), or the “fine clothes” of the rich (Jas. 2:3) contrasted with the “dirty” and insufficient clothing of the poor (Jas. 2:2; Job 24:10, 31:19). And the Bible teaches that our clothing should not be ostentatious (1 Pet. 3:3), but “proper, modest and discreet” (1 Tim. 2:9).

But the greatest Bibles lessons about clothes aren’t literal. Rather clothes are used as a metaphor for spiritual life. Our life of sin is described as “polluted garments or filthy rags” (Zech. 3:4; Isa. 64:9). Like changing out of dirty clothes, we are to “lay aside” sin, “put on” what is proper (Col. 3:8,11; Eph. 4:22,24) and “clothe ourselves with humility” (1 Pet. 5:5). 

Christians are to clothe themselves in the virtues taught and shown by Christ, until the blessed day when it will be: “Given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Rev. 19:8), for, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14).

Until then, let us follow the admonition of the apostle Paul: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom. 13:14).