New Clothes
The older I get the more I care about clothing. I’m not super concerned about the latest fashions or a certain “brand name” of clothes. I tend to go with what has worked well for me previously. I guess I’m simply not a “fashionista”! The recession, that is now over ten years old, taught me to shop for bargains on clothing too. I appreciate that my clothes tend to cover up imperfections on my body as well as they provide protection from the sun, freezing temperatures and other outside elements. My clothing doesn’t do anything to protect my soul though. That is a different set of “clothing”.
Paul is explaining to the church in the Galatia region about the role of the law and the difference in being saved by believing in Jesus. Check this out…
23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. (Galatians 3:23-29 NLT)
I grew up under the law of my parents. When I moved out and was “on my own”, I didn’t have to follow their rules anymore (even though lots of them were really good for me). I had the freedom to do as I pleased. I learned very quickly that with freedom comes great responsibility. Now as I grow in my faith, I realize why the law existed in the first place. I also realize that the law was powerless to save me. Jesus did just that with His death on the cross. I like the visual picture of baptism “clothing me in Christ”. Christs’ covering of me protects me from me. He also protects me from temptation and sin (when I listen). He also guides my steps through struggle and suffering. He celebrates victories with me as well. Now that I’ve put on the new “clothes of Christ”, my perspective on EVERYTHING has changed. I can sing with joy and confidence knowing that I’m saved, and I have a future life with Him. I can navigate whatever life here on earth throws at me because I’m “dressed” for ever occasion!
Pressing On!
Dwayne