It must be time for the Oscars because I hear people asking, “Who are you wearing.” My favorite response was, “J. C. Penney.” It is a great question to ask any time of the year. And considering what Paul wrote in Galatians the answer is Christ. Galatians 3:26 -7 says, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
This is a favorite theme of Paul. He must have had a secret desire to be a fashion designer because in Romans 13:14 he wrote, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” And in Ephesians 6 he has a whole wardrobe for us. He starts with a breastplate of righteousness. He tells us what shoes to wear and ends with a helmet. Now that’s not something you would see on the red carpet in Hollywood. Or maybe so.
Paul wants us to be ready for anything Satan hurls at us and when we are wearing Christ we are ready. In Romans 8 we read that nothing can harm us. No powers of darkness nor angels of darkness are a match for us because we are more than conquerors in Christ. Paul saw some really rough times. He was stoned, shipwrecked and bitten by a snake. Not to worry. He had Christ.
Jesus told us not to fear those that can harm our bodies. Our bodies, unlike our heavenly identity, are temporary clothes. When we are worn out, wrinkled and maybe torn apart by God’s enemies we will toss off this corruptible and put on a whole new body and wardrobe that will never tear or even fade. See I Corinthians 15.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 29, 2016
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