Clothed With Christ!

When the Lord first put this message in my heart, He started revealing through Scripture the clothes we have because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Next, He showed me what we are to put on. In other words, some things are automatic, and there are other things that we must put on. Angels and demons in the spirit realm see what we are clothed with, and we need to see ourselves clothed as God, the Father sees us.

We are the bride of Christ.

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7–8

The Father sees us in linen, clean and bright. We are told in verse eight what the fine linen represents – the righteous acts of the saints. What are these righteous acts of the saints? Strong’s Concordance G1345 states the Greek word used means “an equitable deed.” These are good deeds and things we do to glorify God and show others who He is. This word used for righteous acts equates to God’s commandments, regulations, and requirements throughout the New Testament, particularly in the book of Romans (Luke 1:5‒6; Romans 1:28‒32; 2:25‒29;5:16‒18).

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement (righteous acts) of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:3‒5

We are to put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. So, what are the characteristics of this new man?

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:12–14

We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9). Is this how you see yourself? Christ gave us His righteousness and the perfect example for kingdom living.

Before we were made righteous in Christ, our works were as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). After salvation, we should be doing good works or righteous acts. Our faith in Christ reveals visible, outward, righteous actions. As believers, we are granted to be clothed with fine linen, created for divinely prepared good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Our clothes are the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10–11

God tells us in Isaiah 51 that His salvation will be forever from generation to generation, and His righteousness will be forever!

Remember what Adam and Eve did after sinning against God in the Garden of Eden? They covered themselves with fig leaves, which represented their efforts and self-righteousness. But God clothed them with the skins of animals because God requires a blood covering for human sin. Later, Jesus’s death and blood would provide a final covering for the sins of all who trust in Him for salvation. That’s what Christ’s blood did for us. It covers us so that when God sees us, He only sees Christ in us and our robe of righteousness. We are clothed with Christ!

When we receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, we are clothed with power from on high:

“I will send the fulfillment of the Father’s promise to you, so stay here in the city until you are clothed with the mighty power of heaven.” Luke 24:49 TPT

We need the infilling power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the great commission given to us in Mark 16:15–18. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us through baptism with the Holy Spirit, we are anointed to do the Father’s works for supernatural ministry, just like Jesus was. We can receive a fresh infilling every time we need it.

We are ambassadors for Christ, sharing the gospel of the kingdom and doing the works of God as Jesus did. We are on assignment for the Lord everywhere we go! We are God’s earthly container for the power of God to flow through.

1 Corinthians 4:20 tells us the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. His power flows through us as we abide in Christ.

“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you–but when you live separated from me you are powerless.” John 15:5 TPT

The enemy is at work in the world today to bring death, destruction, and evil. But we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is our Redeemer, Savior, Protector, Provider, etc. He is our Peace. We should not fear what we see happening in the world today or about future events. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Our faith and trust are in the Lord. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus tells us we will suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, but when this happens, we are blessed because the kingdom of heaven is ours. He said He would never leave nor forsake us, and He would be with us until the end of the age.

“Just remember, when the unbelieving world hates you, they first hated me. If you were to give your allegiance to the world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own. But because you won’t align yourself with the values of this world, they will hate you. I have chosen you and taken you out of the world to be mine. So remember what I taught you, that a servant isn’t superior to his master. And since they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. And if they obey my teachings, they will also obey yours. They will treat you this way because you are mine, and they don’t know the One who sent me.” John 15:18–21 TPT

“And I will send you the Divine Encourager from the very presence of my Father. He will come to you, the Spirit of Truth, emanating from the Father, and he will speak to you about me.” John 15:26 TPT

“But when the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every truth within you. He won’t speak his own message, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come. He will glorify me on the earth, for he will receive from me what is mine and reveal it to you.” John 16:13–14 TPT

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

We are well-equipped because we co-labor with Him in His strength. Psalm 93:1 describes the LORD clothed with Majesty, and He has girded Himself with strength. Isaiah 52:1 tells us to awake and put on strength. We allow His strength to infuse us.

Ephesians 6:10‒13 tells us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and be able to withstand in the evil day. Verses 14‒17 explain what we will put on and what each piece represents. We can do this daily!

According to the Bible, we know what the last days and end of time look like, but we must have a victorious eschatology. Eschatology is that part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and humankind. We are not to be focused on what the kingdom of darkness is doing but on advancing the kingdom of God and His truth and light. We are here on earth for such a time as this, but we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, a place of victory.

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1–3

This is a time when God will bring forth a triumphant bride even as great darkness is moving on the earth. We must prepare ourselves because the enemy’s intent and key strategy in these last days is to cause us to leave or deny our faith in Christ. We must hold onto our faith and carry out God’s divine assignments. His church is a restraining power on the earth, and God needs all of us to take our place to thwart and restrain the enemy’s power and bring people out of darkness.

Our assignment is to declare that God’s kingdom has come and to bring heaven to earth. All of creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19–21). God’s original design for us is to rule, subdue, and fill the earth, which hasn’t changed (Genesis 1:28). We need to steward the earth that God has given us, but that is not His entire mandate. We are to bring restoration to the earth, filling the earth with His glory!

Step into who you were called to be, becoming more like Jesus and putting Him on!

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