wedding garment

Bible Study Guides – “THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN”

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By Gordon Anderson

MEMORY VERSE: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

STUDY HELP: Steps to Christ, 17–22.

INTRODUCTION: “More people than we think are longing to find the way to Christ. Those who preach the last message of mercy should bear in mind that Christ is to be exalted as the sinner’s refuge. Some ministers think that it is not necessary to preach repentance and faith; they take it for granted that their hearers are acquainted with the gospel, and that matters of a different nature must be presented in order to hold their attention. But many people are sadly ignorant in regard to the plan of salvation; they need more instruction upon this all-important subject than upon any other.” Gospel Workers, 158.

“ENMITY AGAINST GOD”

  1. How does Paul describe the mind of the one who is without Christ? Romans 8:7.

NOTE: See Steps to Christ, 18.

  1. What is the inevitable consequence of a life of sin? Romans 6:23, first part.

NOTE: “We are required to obey the law of God, and are not only instructed as to the penalty of disobedience, but we have narrated for our benefit and warning the history of Adam and Eve in Paradise, and the sad results of their disobedience of God’s commands. The account is full and explicit. The law given to man in Eden is recorded, together with the penalty accruing in case of its disobedience. Then follows the story of the temptation and fall, and the punishment inflicted upon our erring parents. Their example is given us as a warning against disobedience, that we may be sure that the wages of sin is death, that God’s retributive justice never fails, and that He exacts from His creatures a strict regard for His commandments. When the law was proclaimed at Sinai, how definite was the penalty annexed, how sure was punishment to follow the transgression of that law, and how plain are the cases recorded in evidence of that fact!” Testimonies, vol. 4, 11, 12.

  1. What did the Lord place between Satan and mankind? Genesis 3:15.

NOTE: “God declares: ‘I will put enmity.’ This enmity is not naturally entertained. When man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with Satan. There exists naturally no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin. Both became evil through apostasy. The apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy and support by inducing others to follow his example. For this reason fallen angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had not God specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family would have been united in opposition to God.” Great Controversy, 505.

“HE GAVE HIS ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON”

  1. What provision was made to restore to man the opportunity for eternal life? 1 John 4: 9, 10.

NOTE: “Jesus might have remained in heaven, to receive the adoration of the heavenly host, but He did not do this. For man’s sake He stepped down from the throne, laid aside His royal robe, clothed His divinity with humanity, and for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. In assuming humanity, He exalted the fallen race before God, and made it possible for sinful man to become an heir of heaven. Can we wonder that John exclaimed, ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God?’” Signs of the Times, July 28, 1890.

  1. What is the basis of our justification? Romans 5:9.

NOTE: “True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. Like the poor publican, not lifting up so much as his eyes unto heaven, he will smite upon his breast, and cry, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner;’ and those who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified; for Jesus will plead His blood in behalf of the repentant soul. It is no degradation for man to bow down before his Maker and confess his sins, and plead for forgiveness through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. It is noble to acknowledge your wrong before Him whom you have wounded by transgression and rebellion. It lifts you up before men and angels; for ‘he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.’” Testimonies, vol. 5, 638.

“SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN?”

  1. What change must be seen in the life of the one who has been justified through faith in the blood of Jesus? Romans 6:1, 2.

NOTE: “What is the sinner to be converted from? The transgression of God’s law to obedience of it. But if he is told that he cannot keep the law of God, and that if he should attempt it he would be brought into bondage, to what is he then converted, transgression of the law to a continuance in that transgression? This is absurd. Yet professed ministers of Christ tell the sinner that he is guiltless while disloyal to the law of God. Such conversions are not ratified in heaven.” Signs of the Times, July 18, 1878.

“NOT HAVING A WEDDING GARMENT”

  1. What story did Jesus tell to explain the necessary preparation we must make for heaven? Matthew 22:1, 14.

NOTE: See Christ’s Object Lessons, 311, 312.

  1. What is the evidence that a person knows Christ? 1 John 2:3, 4.

NOTE: “Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine. It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Savior. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. ‘He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’ ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

“A NEW CREATURE”

  1. What change must take place in the life of the Christian? 1 Corinthians 5:7, John 3:3, Psalm 51:10.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 280 and See also Steps to Christ, 57, 58.

  1. In what way did Christ portray the growth that should take place in the life of the Christian? Mark 4:26, 29.

NOTE: “The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development, our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. As our opportunities multiply, our experience will enlarge, and our knowledge increase. We shall become strong to bear responsibility, and our maturity will be in proportion to our privileges.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 65, 66.

“THRUST IN THY SICKLE AND REAP”

  1. What fruit must be seen in the life of the Christian? Galatians 5:22, 24.

NOTE: “The plant does not germinate, grow, or bring forth fruit for itself, but to ‘give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.’ Isaiah 55:10. So no man is to live unto himself. The Christian is in the world as a representative of Christ, for the salvation of other souls. There can be no growth or fruitfulness in the life that is centered in self. If you have accepted Christ as a personal Savior, you are to forget yourself, and try to help others. Talk of the love of Christ, tell of His goodness. Do every duty that presents itself. Carry the burden of souls upon your heart, and by every means in your power seek to save the lost. As you receive the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others, you will grow and bring forth fruit. The graces of the Spirit will ripen in your character. Your faith will increase, your convictions deepen, your love be made perfect. More and more you will reflect the likeness of Christ in all that is pure, noble, and lovely.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 67, 68.

  1. On what are we to feed to promote Christian growth? Matthew 4:4.

NOTE: “By constantly relying upon Christ as our personal Saviour, we shall grow up into Him in all things Who is our head.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 66, 67.

  1. Will the fruit be ripe in the lives of the Christians when Jesus comes? Mark 4:29, 1 John 3:2.

NOTE: “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 69.

The Filthy Garment, Part II

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We need to not only guard our tongues but guard our ears, as well. During these last days, there are things all around us to which a Christian should not be listening. “My ears must be closed to evil. . . . The ears must not be defiled by listening to any gossip that faultfinding ones would have us hear, for I not only cause them to sin in allowing them to talk of others’ faults, but I sin myself in listening to them.” The Upward Look, 237.

Do you want to quit sinning? If it is a sin to listen to gossip and faultfinding, it is a sin to allow someone to tell it to us. We need to say to them, “I am sorry; you will have to stop talking. I cannot listen. You need to talk directly with the person.” “I can prevent much evil speaking in thus having ears consecrated to God. I can say before the evil is done, ‘Let us pray,’ then ask God to enlighten both our minds to understand our true relation to one another and our true relation to God.” Ibid.

As I have been studying this subject, I realize that if I could put this principle into strict practice, it could really decrease my workload! People call me from all over the world, wanting to tell me about someone else’s wrongs. I have decided that I do not need to listen to such things. These people need to go directly to the person about whom they are talking. Ellen White has told us that as long as we are in this world, there will always be something we can criticize. Did you know that? (See Review and Herald, February 16, 1897.) Things are never going to be perfect in this world.

Someone may think that what I am saying seems to be teaching the Pollyanna attitude, and in historic Adventism, we have never held to this teaching. We have always believed that we need to speak out and speak up when there is sin in the camp. Well, there is a godly way to speak out, and there is a saw-tan [Satan] way to do it. The godly way is to go directly to whomever you know is doing something wrong, talk to them in the meekness and tenderness of Christ, and see if you can help them bring their life into harmony with inspired writings.

If you cannot do this, let them go. If they are living in open sin, and you have gone to them two times, according to Matthew 18, it will be necessary to take their situation to the church for action. If the church will not act, and they allow someone with open sin to stay in that church, then you will have to get out of that church if you want to go to heaven.

When we say that we should not find fault, we are not talking about having a Pollyanna attitude and just letting anything go. This was not Jesus’ instruction. This was not Ellen White’s instruction. In the Review and Herald, July 20, 1905, Mrs. White wrote: “Because we are not to find fault, this does not mean that we are to pass by things that are wrong, without saying a word. If you see one doing wrong, go right to him, and tell him his fault in the way outlined in the Scriptures. In the meekness of Christ tell him the truth, and you may save his soul from death. But if you gloss over the mistakes, leaving those who have made them to think that they have done nothing wrong, you must share in the punishment, because you were unfaithful to your trust.”

So, we are to go directly to the person. We are not to go to someone else and tear down another’s reputation. In fact, Ellen White said that we are never to tear down the reputation. “Many are filled with self-importance and esteem themselves above their brethren. Such should let self die; let the carnal mind be crucified. If you have enmity, suspicion, envy, and jealousy in your hearts, you have a work to do to make these things right. Confess your sins; come into harmony with your brethren. Speak well of them. Throw out no unfavorable hints, no suggestions that will awaken distrust in the minds of others. Guard their reputation as sacredly as you would have them guard yours; love them as you would be loved of Jesus. Work for their interest, instead of seeking to tear them down that you may build yourself upon their ruins. It is Satan’s work to injure the brethren, and he loves to have you help him in it. But disappoint him; do not let him triumph over you.” Ibid., April 29, 1884.

“Do not accuse your brethren. Rather accuse yourselves. An untold amount of mischief is done by words of faultfinding and slander. Never tear down the reputation of a fellow being.” Ibid., November 10, 1910. What could happen in our churches if everyone, waiting for the return of the Lord, would say, “By the grace of God, I am never, ever going to tear down anyone’s reputation again”?

Disfellowshipping Sometimes Necessary

If a person is a faultfinder and they have been reproved for it but will not listen, they are to be disfellowshipped. Not only are they to be disfellowshipped but those who sympathize with them are also to be disfellowshipped.

“There are those members who are busybodies, speaking evil, sowing the seeds of doubt and infidelity, who pay no heed to the light God has given them in His Word. If we have but one church member who by his spirit, words, and influence seeks to counterwork the influence of the minister of Christ, labor with that one faithfully; and if after taking the steps required by Christ, he will not hear, will not change his course of action, then separate him from the church, and let him know the reason why the church cannot hold him in her fellowship. And if there are those who sympathize with him, who will not discern the right from the wrong, who, after patient instruction has been given them, choose to keep on the wrong side, let them also be suspended. God’s name must not be dishonored by murmurers, faultfinders, and those who are continually sowing seeds of disaffection.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 163, 164.

Do you realize, friends, that what we are talking about right now is the very thing that kept the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years? Of course, we have been in the wilderness for over 150 years.

Jesus has given us an example: “When Christ was living on this earth, how surprised would have been His associates, if, after becoming acquainted with Him, they had heard Him utter one word of impatience, one word of accusation or of faultfinding!” The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters, 16. His associates would have been shocked if they had ever heard Jesus say anything like that. Oh friend, if you could get a hold of this and if your church could get a hold of it, your church would not only be saved from destruction but it could prosper. People could be brought into your church, and the lambs of the fold, the people who are lost, would not be afraid to come into your church, because it would be a safe place. It would not be a place where people are tearing each other down and destroying each other’s reputations by faultfinding and gossip. It would be a place where people are building up one another. Instead of trying to tear people down by telling them their faults, they would be trying to help them to overcome. “He [Christ] expects those who love Him and believe in Him, to represent Him in character.” Ibid.

A Brand Plucked

Zechariah 3:2 says, “And Jehovah said to the saw-tan [the adversary], Jehovah gives a rebuke to you, the saw-tan. Even Jehovah gives a rebuke to you who has chosen this one at Jerusalem. Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

If you are a part of God’s people, you are one of those brands plucked from the fire. The New Testament talks about this. James talks about it in the last few verses of his book. Jude 23 talks about it. Paul talks about it in 1 Thessalonians 1:10: “We have been saved from the coming wrath through Jesus.”

What an awesome, awesome thing to think about. All of us, friends, were absolutely destined to destruction with no way out. We were headed for the fire, all of us, but the Lord said, “I am going to give you a second chance; if it is your desire, I will get you out of the fire.”

Filthy Garments

In Zechariah 3:3, it says, “And Joshua was clothed in filthy garments; he was standing before the angel.” Joshua was clothed in filthy garments. Friends, this is not just a description of history; this is a prophecy about God’s people at the end of time. It should be something that would motivate us to think very seriously. When the Holy Spirit wrote down in prophecy a description of God’s people in the end of time, He said, “They are clothed in filthy garments.” Filthy garments. Are you clothed in filthy garments? You should know, if you are spending time with the Lord and the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, that this is how you are clothed, because the Scriptures say so.

Friends, no one can enter into the kingdom of heaven with a filthy garment. The filthy garments are representative of the sins and the defective characters of God’s people.

The devil’s accusation is so difficult to meet, because it is true. I have noticed that when any human being is accused of anything, —this is true in the world, and it is true in the church—they immediately try to find some flaw in the accusation, so on a technicality, they can show that the accuser is wrong. That happens in the courts all the time; a technicality brings victory.

But friends, you cannot obtain the victory on a technicality of this charge, because the accusation is true. The devil is a liar, but this time he is telling the truth. “While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God as transgressors. The great deceiver has sought to lead them into skepticism, to cause them to lose confidence in God, to separate themselves from His love, and to break His law. Now he points to the record of their lives, to the defects of character, the unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer, to all the sins that he has tempted them to commit, and because of these he claims them as his subjects.” The Great Controversy, 484. The devil knows accurately the sins that he has tempted us to commit; he has a complete record, and he brings it to the Lord and says, “Look here. These are your people!” He has a record. The accusation is true.

What to do?

What are we going to do? As awful as this is, I have been encouraged, as I have studied these issues, because I saw that the Lord is going to give a command to “Take those filthy garments off.” (See Zechariah 3:4.) I do not know what you are doing in your private devotions, but in my private devotions, I am praying that the Lord will bring me to the position in my Christian walk where He can remove the filthy garments from me. I want them off. I want His clean clothing placed on me. (See Verse 5.)

“Who will now put on the white robe of Christ’s righteousness, which is without spot or wrinkle, so that Satan cannot in derision point to their filthy garments? Keep the soul clean and pure. You have no time to gather up the mistakes of others. Attend to your own mistakes, and make the erring ashamed by your kindly, sympathetic interest in them.” The Upward Look, 117.

Take encouragement in the following quotes:

“Satan tries to bring reproach against those who are trying to serve and honor God. He presents them in a questionable light, as those who are clothed with filthy garments. God says, take away the filthy garments. You have no right to put them upon my children. Take them away. My people may have imperfections of character. They may fail in their endeavors; but if they repent, I will forgive them.” Review and Herald, April 30, 1901.

“The robe of Christ’s righteousness is prepared for all those who will exchange their own sinful, filthy garments for the robe Jesus has prepared for them. This garment was furnished at great cost by the Son of God, and he presents it as a free gift to any one, rich or poor, high or low, wise or ignorant, who will exchange his sin-defiled garments for this robe of matchless purity.” The Youth’s Instructor, August 11, 1886.

“There are very many who cling to their filthy garments, which Christ stands ready to remove, choosing the spots and stains of sin rather than the pure robe of Christ’s righteousness. The pure and holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness and the name of God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal obedience to all of God’s commandments. There will be no covering up of sins and faults to hide the deformity of character; no robes will be half washed; but all will be pure and spotless.” Ibid.

“Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect. Jesus is perfect. Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, Take away the filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment. Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 184.

Are there unavoidable deficiencies? Evidently. We do not know what the unavoidable deficiencies are of somebody else. That is why we must not judge them nor find fault with them. We do not know! There are some people who have physical deficiencies that they cannot help. We can recognize those things. But there are people who have mental and spiritual deficiencies that they cannot help. Only the Lord knows, so we must not judge them. Now, there is no excuse for open sin, whatever the deficiency is. But Mrs. White says that Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies.

This is good news! We should be glad there is Somebody that knows! God does not ask us to do something that we cannot do without His help. He says, “Do not worry about the unavoidable deficiencies.” The Lord is going to make up for those, but are we doing our best, and are we asking the Lord to help us?

Lord’s Injunction

Zechariah 3:7 says, “Thus said Jehovah of hosts: If in my ways you will walk and if my injunction you will keep, also you will judge my house, and also you will keep my courts.” What does He mean when He says, “If you will keep my injunction”? What is the Lord’s injunction? Ellen White tells us very plainly that it is the Ten Commandments. (See Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 385.) The Ten Commandments is not ten laws. It is one law with ten parts, so it is spoken of in the singular throughout the Bible.

The encouraging thing to me, as I have studied this, is that there is going to be a group of people in the world who are going to have the filthy garments removed, and they are going to have the festal garments placed upon them. They are going to be the people who keep the injunction; they will keep the commandments. Friends, I want to be one of those people.

Jesus told the Jews, “If you do not believe that I am the one, you are going to die in your sins.” John 8:24. Many, many times I have prayed to the Lord asking that He does not let me die in my sins. That is all. If I die in this world, that is all right, but I do not want to die in my sins. If the filthy garments are going to be removed and if the festal garments are going to be put on, it is going to happen in this world—not in heaven.

“After the filthy garments have been removed, the subject changes, showing that this has its application in the future. If the people of God will walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His charge, which is the ten commandments, then the promise is that they shall judge His house and have places to walk among the angels.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 385.

There will be a group of people upon whom the Lord will look and say, “These people have repented. These people are not going any longer in the way of sin.” You see, the Lord cannot take away the filthy garments from most of the people in the world and give them festal garments, because they would get them dirty the first day of wearing them. A woman does not put on her wedding dress and then change the oil in her car. She does not put on the dress until she is going to keep it clean.

The same applies here. The Lord cannot take away our filthy garments and place upon us the festal garments until we are in a condition where we will not get the festal garments filthy. That is the condition, the experience, that I want. Is that the experience you want? If it is, ask the Lord to give it to you.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life Ministry and pastor of the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

The Robe of Christ’s Righteousness

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In 11 Timothy 3:12, we find an absolute. It says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” It has always been the case, since Abel, and it will continue to be the case. We have before us, before the world comes to an end, a time of persecution such as never was.

“Because we are now settled here, we seem to think that we shall never be moved. But there will come a time when there will be a great scattering, a scattering that we do not now dream of, and it will be brought about in unexpected ways. Some of you will be taken away to remote regions, but God will have a work for you there.” Publishing Ministry, 92, 93.

“The time is coming when we shall be separated and scattered, and each one of us will have to stand without the privilege of communion with those of like precious faith; and how can you stand unless God is by your side, and you know that He is leading and guiding you?” This Day With God, 93.

Preparing for the Inevitable

What will prepare us for the inevitable? It will come. We can see it on the horizon today. That, which we have been told will come, is coming. It is coming, and it will take this world and everyone who is walking in harmony with the world by overwhelming surprise. But God does not want to have His children surprised.

Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31–33.

Jesus admonishes us in this life to first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness all the time! We should be seeking first His righteousness, because His kingdom is involved in His righteousness. If we expect to someday walk into God’s kingdom, it will be through His righteousness. That is why Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

What is righteousness? Righteousness is doing what is right. Can a child understand what righteousness is, based on that definition? Yes, a child can understand that righteousness is right doing, as opposed to wrongdoing.

Righteousness Revealed

Two verses tell us where God’s righteousness is revealed: “Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.” “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments [are] righteousness.” Psalm 119:142, 172. So we can find God’s righteousness, if we are seeking for it, in God’s Law or His Word. In the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, we are going to find God’s righteousness; it is going to be fully distinct from what the world calls righteous.

To what will the man or woman who seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, finds it, and lays hold on it be likened? “Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Why is this person so taken up with the Law of God that he meditates upon it day and night? It is simply this: he has found in that law the righteousness of God. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1–3.

Are we like that? Are we fresh, alive Christians? Do we have fresh fruit to offer people? If we do not, then we have not found the righteousness of Christ. We are told to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. His righteousness is what we need.

There is another place that we can find the righteousness of God revealed. The law ends somewhere. Did you know that? There are many Protestant churches today that would say, Yes, we are in perfect agreement; the law ended at Calvary. That is not what I am saying, and that is not what God’s Word says. It says, “Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4. Did Jesus, in His life, honor God’s Law? Yes, He did. The Law of God was written upon the heart of Jesus. (See Psalm 40:8.) Jesus was the perfect embodiment of God’s Law in humankind. For 33 years on this earth, He lived out the law. Did He ever sin against God’s Law? No, we are told that He had no sin. Could He have sinned? Yes, He could have transgressed God’s Law, but He did not; He chose not to sin. Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Does that mean the law ends? No, it means that Jesus is the embodiment of the Law of God, and when we choose to accept Jesus into our lives, we are accepting the fullness of God’s Law and its righteousness.

What then is the genuine quality of all righteousness? What is the essence of all righteousness? The answer is found in Christ’s Object Lessons, 97, 98: “The essence of
all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right—because right doing is pleasing to God.”

Faith an Attribute

That leads us to Hebrews 11:6. Paul said, under the inspiration of God, “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” That means that a part of righteousness is faith. You see, that is a quality of righteousness, His righteousness. Does He give that to us? Yes, He does. He gives a measure of faith to every person that comes into this world, but what you do with that faith is up to you. Faith is an attribute of righteousness.

Garment We Choose

Unto what is His righteousness likened? What is this righteousness that is found in God’s Law and is found in the life of Jesus likened unto? “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:7, 8. God’s righteousness is likened unto a garment that we wear, a robe—His robe of righteousness.

There is only one other garment that we can wear. We are wearing one of two garments. “But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. We are either clothed in filthy rags that represent our own righteousness, or we are clothed in the robe of Christ that represents His righteousness. Let us verify, from Scripture, whose righteousness is the righteousness of the saints. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corin-thians 1:30. Christ is made our righteousness if we have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. That means that we have done something with the filthy rags. Can we be wearing both at the same time? No, we cannot.

Righteousness Received

When will the saints, spoken of in Revelation 19:7, 8, be clothed with this righteousness? The message to Laodicea, the last church, the last remnant of God’s people upon the face of the earth before Jesus comes, tells us. Unbelievably, these people are naked—that is the same thing as being clothed in filthy garments. “I [Jesus, the end of the Law for righteousness] counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18. Based on this text, the saints receive the righteousness of Christ before Jesus comes.

Why do they have to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ before He comes? “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5. When does Jesus do the blotting out of the names? In the judgment—the judgment that takes place before Jesus comes. That is shown in Revelation 14:7: “The hour of his judgment is come.” It happens before the Second Advent that is revealed in Revelation 14:14. So the judgment takes place before the blotting out of names.

Revelation 3:5 shows that God’s people have received the righteousness of Christ before He comes the second time. In fact, that righteousness, which is His righteousness that clothes them, allows Jesus to blot out their sins and retain their names in the heavenly books.

A Gift

Notice one thing more in Revelation 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.” The process of sanctification brings us to the point where we are overcomers so we can receive clean, white robes of righteousness. Justification and sanctification are a combined process that produces righteousness. Righteousness is right doing by faith. The whole plan of redemption revolves around God seeking to get humanity back to doing what is right.

Here is a people who have the robe of Christ’s righteousness on them, they are overcoming sin in their lives as a result, and this is their testimony: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation.” What are these garments of salvation? They are the robe of His righteousness. Salvation does not come apart from this robe. There are people today who say it really does not matter if you do right or wrong, as long as you have good desires toward God. That is wrong! That is not what God says. “He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10. Notice who imparts this righteousness to us. It says, He, the One who is righteous, has covered us with His robe of righteousness. Jesus Christ does everything right and at the right time for us. It is a gift to us. “The wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ.” Romans 6:23. What is that gift? It is His robe of righteousness.

Working For or With

No doubt this robe is a gift, but our next text reveals that we must choose to put it on. Job says, “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.” Job 29:14. What is Job saying? He is saying, I put on Christ’s righteousness. Isaiah just said that Jesus puts the robe on us, but this points out the fact that we must cooperate with God in receiving this robe of righteousness. We must put it on; we must receive it. How do we do that? How do we put the robe of Christ’s righteousness on and yet receive it as a gift from Him?

Remember 1 Corinthians 3:9, “For we are laborers together with God.” It does not say for God, it says with God, and there is a difference in those prepositions. There is a difference between working for God or working with God. Jesus points out the distinct difference in Matthew 7:22, 23. He there addresses a people who were working for Him. They stand in the day of His coming clothed in their own righteousness. Jesus says that many will come to Him in that day and say, “Lord, Lord, were we not working for you?” And in essence Jesus says, yes, you were working for Me for your own glory, but you were not working with me for your salvation.

Putting On; Putting Off

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. . . . Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another.” Colossians 3:8–10, 12, 13 (first part). Paul says that if you are going to put on, you are going to have to put off.

Is this not practical admonition? He names things that are part of the robe of man’s righteousness, that are, in the sight of God, as filthy rags. Man can justify himself, even in anger, and believe he is right. That is man’s righteousness, and it amounts to self-justification, but self-justification in God’s eyes amounts to nothing. Man has no reason to justify himself in his own filthy rags and be satisfied with his righteousness when God has revealed so clearly His righteousness, which we so badly need.

This putting on and putting off is learning to say yes to righteousness and to say no to sin.

Practicalities

“God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. . . . Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 187. These testing points are defects of character. That is what this robe of righteousness is all about. God is going to reveal to us where we are deformed so that we can reform.

God leads each one of us, step by step. All transgression of God’s Law and of His righteousness comes right back to selfishness. If there was ever a time for God’s people to have revival and reformation in their midst, it is now! Do you know where it begins? It begins with each one of us individually. God will point out things in our lives, things with which we have become comfortable; things with which we have been satisfied. We think we are all right, but God is going to point out things, and we will discover that we are not all right. How do we make it right? Paul says we make it right by putting off that which is wrong and putting on that which is right. I like the thought that God is willing to spend enough time with me to show me where I am wrong, because I am coming to a determination that I want to be right with Him; I want to have on that robe of righteousness. I want to experience the full intention of His mind for me in my creation. We can do that, if we are willing to accept the life that He gives us, even if it points out something that we need to put off.

The Wedding Garment

How important is the subject about which we are studying? The Bible answers that question in the parable of the guests who came to the wedding supper. The invitation first went to the nation of Israel, and they treated it with indifference. Eventually, when Jesus sent another message to Israel, they killed him, and judgment fell upon Israel. At that time, He told His disciples to go into the highways and the byways and call any who would listen, because He wanted someone to come to His supper. Jesus wants as many as will to come to Him and have supper with Him. The disciples went out and gathered in people of all different kinds—bad and good, sincere and insincere. This represents His church! Jesus is going to make a distinction some day; it has not been made yet.

The Bible says, “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.” What is this wedding garment? It is the robe of Christ’s righteousness, but this man did not think it mattered whether he had on the robe or not. He thought that if he praised God and said he believed in Jesus, that would be enough, but when Jesus came in to investigate the guests, he found this man empty; he was naked; he was clothed in his own filthy garments of self-righteousness.

“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.” He was speechless, because he knew better. The light that had shined upon this man’s pathway was the same light that shines upon our pathways, and we will be inexcusable in that day, if we have on our own robe of righteousness and not the robe of Jesus’ righteousness.

This man said nothing. He could not say, Well, let me tell you why; have a seat, it is a long story. He had nothing to say—not a long story or a short story but no story. We will be condemned of ourselves on that day, because we sit and listen to God’s Word, and if we are going away and not doing, we will be found as speechless as was this man.

“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen.” Matthew 22:11–14.

Brothers and sisters, our righteousness will not cut it. This is the strongest language that Jesus could portray regarding what is going to happen to the lost. Jesus does not want us to be lost. Can we be among the few who are chosen? Yes, we can. But can we be among the many? Yes. It does not matter whether or not you call yourself a Christian, because many who call themselves Christians are going to find themselves in the same situation in which this man found himself when Jesus comes again.

Charity

Paul finishes his admonition about putting on and putting off by telling what is the highest quality—the ultimate quality—of God’s righteousness. Remember, you will have to take off something before you can put this on. He says, “And above all these things, [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14. What is charity? It is love. It is a principle of righteousness, and the highest quality of righteousness is love—to be robed in God’s love.

If righteousness is right doing, and the essence, or the greatest quality of God’s righteousness is love, is it right, then, to love God? Yes. Would it be right to love our neighbor as ourselves? Yes. Paul says, in Romans 13:10, “Love [is] the fulfilling of the law.” He is saying the same thing that John says in 1 John 5:3, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Do you know why they are not grievous? Because they are right. Nothing that is right is wrong, and nothing that is right is grievous.

God is righteous, and He wants us to be righteous. The cost of being what He intends for us to be is only the putting off of all the filthy rags. Some of those rags will be engulfed with cherished idols, and we are going to have to sacrifice everything. When we sacrifice everything for Jesus, we eventually get everything, but when we sacrifice for sin—and there is a sacrifice involved when we sin—we get nothing. Always remember that—we get nothing. We are going to be lost.

A sobering text, of which we need to ask God to make us mindful, is Revelation 22:11. We are living in the hour of judgment. (See Revelation 14:7.) That is the first angel’s message. Within the context of that hour, the curtain will come down—probation will close. The door will close; mercy will no longer plead for the sinner. We are living in that hour. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

There is coming a time when we will no longer have an opportunity to remedy anything in our experience. We shall stand where we are. If we are lost, we are lost; if we are saved, we are saved. It is a sobering time in which we find ourselves living.

Motivation of Love

What is the only thing that can motivate us to do what is right for the right reason? The right reason is to be loyal to Jesus. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Ellen White echoes the same sentiments: “The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer.” That is the only thing that will motivate us to put off and to put on, to be determined to shed our filthy rags and have on the robe of His righteousness. The only motivation is His love.

Do you know how to get His love? There is only one way. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. Until we come to the recognition that Jesus Christ has loved us personally, individually, with an everlasting love, apart from every soul in this world, until we recognize and accept that reality in our lives, we will never love Him as we should. Once we recognize that He has given everything for us—when we lay hold of the reality of Calvary, when we see what He did for us and the love that He has for us—we are going to be moved to a higher calling. God is ready to lift us up to that higher calling.

Ellen White wrote: “The days of our probation are fast closing. The end is near. To us the warning is given, ‘Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’ Luke 21:34. Beware lest it find you unready. Take heed lest you be found at the King’s feast without a wedding garment.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 319.

Craig Meeker is Director of the Bible Correspondence School at Steps to Life. He may be contacted by e-mail at: craigmeeker@stepstolife.org or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Bible Study Guides – Parables of the Master Teacher – Without a Wedding Garment

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August 18, 2019 – August 24, 2019

Key Text

“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:12).

Study Help: Christ’s Object Lessons, 307–319.

Introduction

“The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 307.

Sunday

INVITED TO A ROYAL WEDDING

  • In the parable of the wedding garment, by whose authority is the invitation sent forth? What is the response? Matthew 22:2, 3.
  • How was the king’s invitation treated the second time? Matthew 22:4–6.

Note: “In this parable [of the wedding garment], as in that of the great supper, are illustrated the gospel invitation, its rejection by the Jewish people, and the call of mercy to the Gentiles. But on the part of those who reject the invitation, this parable brings to view a deeper insult and a more dreadful punishment. The call to the feast is a king’s invitation. It proceeds from one who is vested with power to command. It confers high honor. Yet the honor is unappreciated. The king’s authority is despised.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 307.

  • What did the king now command to be done to those who had despised his invitation? Matthew 22:7.

Monday

SEEKING GUESTS

  • Who was then invited to the marriage feast? Matthew 22:8–10. What does this call tell us about those who accept the gospel invitation? Matthew 7:21; James 1:22; John 3:5.

Note: “The class first bidden could not afford, they thought, to sacrifice any worldly advantage for the sake of attending the king’s banquet. And of those who accepted the invitation, there were some who thought only of benefiting themselves. They came to share the provisions of the feast, but had no desire to honor the king.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 309.

“We must not be overwhelmed because good and bad are gathered into the church. Judas was numbered among the disciples. He had every advantage a man could have; but although he heard the truth, and listened to the principles so plainly laid down, Christ knew that he did not receive the truth. He did not eat the truth. It did not become part of himself. His old habits constantly asserted themselves. But Christ did not take forcible means to cut Judas away from the disciples.

“There is a time coming when those who have joined the church, but have not joined Christ, will be manifest.” The Review and Herald, February 7, 1899.

  • What happened when the king came in to the feast to inspect the guests? Matthew 22:11.

Note: “For every guest at the feast there had been provided a wedding garment. This garment was a gift from the king. By wearing it the guests showed their respect for the giver of the feast. But one man was clothed in his common citizen dress. … The garment provided for him at great cost he disdained to wear. Thus he insulted his lord.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 309.

  • What did the king say to the man who was without a wedding garment? Matthew 22:12–14.

Note: “Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God. Few will humble themselves as a little child, that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 50.

Tuesday

A WORK OF EXAMINATION

  • What is represented by the examination of the guests? Daniel 7:9, 10.

Note: “By the king’s examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, ‘to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Revelation 22:12). Before His coming, then, the character of every man’s work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ’s followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310.

  • As this parable clearly has reference to the ongoing investigative judgment, what is represented by the invitation of the king? Revelation 3:20, 21. What do many say by their actions? Verse 17.

Note: “The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment represents the condition of many in our world today. They profess to be Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a transformation of character. They have never felt true repentance for sin. They do not realize their need of Christ or exercise faith in Him. They have not overcome their hereditary or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yet they think that they are good enough in themselves, and they rest upon their own merits instead of trusting in Christ. Hearers of the Word, they come to the banquet, but they have not put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 315.

“Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God or through His messengers is a knock at the door of the heart. It is the voice of Jesus asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, the disposition to open becomes weaker. The impressions of the Holy Spirit if disregarded today, will not be as strong tomorrow. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of life, and of the great eternity beyond.” The Desire of Ages, 489, 490.

Wednesday

POSSESSING A HEAVENLY GARMENT

  • What constitutes the wedding garment which all must have if they want to have a part in the marriage feast in heaven? Revelation 19:7, 8.

Note: “By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. … It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour. …

“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310, 311.

  • How do we obtain a righteous character? Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 5:6.

Note: “When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 314.

“Not by painful struggles or wearisome toil, not by gift or sacrifice, is righteousness obtained; but it is freely given to every soul who hungers and thirsts to receive it.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 18.

  • What does righteousness involve? 1John 3:7, 24; John 15:5.

 Note: “Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine. …

“We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. ‘He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’ ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments’ (1 John 3:24; 2:3). This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312, 313.

Thursday

A BLESSED EXPERIENCE

  • Describe the glorious experience of those who accept Christ’s offer as recorded in Revelation 3:18. Revelation 19:8, 9.

Note: “The spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness is placed upon the tried, tempted, faithful children of God. The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb’s book of life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. … These [faithful ones] are they that stand upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Father’s name written in their foreheads. They sing the new song before the throne, that song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth.” Prophets and Kings, 591.

  • What experience of Christ, while He was on this earth, is possible for us to have today? Psalm 40:8; John 15:10.

Note: “By His [Christ’s] perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1     How can we honor our King as He invites us to unite our humanity with His divinity?

2    How are we sometimes like those who accepted the king’s invitation but had the wrong motive?

3    How does Jesus knock at the door of the heart, and what does He desire?

4    What is symbolized by the wedding garment, and how do we know if we are wearing it?

5    What does it mean to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness?

Are We Properly Clothed?

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Revelation 3:17, 18 says, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

These startling words of Christ are spoken in love to those dwelling in Laodicea who profess to be among God’s remnant. Could it be possible that some of us could be deceived as to our spiritual condition? Such an alarming description given by our Saviour, who discerns the secrets of the heart, calls for some serious thinking.

“What is it that constitutes the wretchedness, the nakedness of those who feel rich and increased with goods?—It is the want of the righteousness of Christ. In their own righteousness they are represented as clothed with filthy rags, and yet in this condition they flatter themselves that they are clothed upon with Christ’s righteousness. Could deception be greater?” This Day With God, 228.

A Question

What is it going to take to awaken our sleepy heads from our deception that we may comprehend how God sees most of us? Ellen White wrote: “The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden from us. We see, but perceive not; we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him. Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we profess to be governed.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 84.

Sadly, rather than accepting Christ’s righteousness, many within the church today have done exactly as did Adam and Eve in their disobedience. “They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311.

Praise God! He is ready, if we are ready, to awaken all lukewarm believers and help them to see the necessity of changes that must be made in their lives if they will be properly clothed. This is no small matter. In fact, it is a life and death issue. “He [God] is waiting to strip them [believing souls] of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; He bids them live and not die.” The Faith I Live By, 134.

Now, since God is just waiting to put upon us the white robes of Christ’s righteousness, why are we so reluctant to accept His precious gift? The Bible has the answer: Because we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17.

Wretchedness

Have you ever really seen such a person? I have. On one of my visits to Africa, I was scheduled to spend 30 days in the Cameroons, visiting every outpost. As we started out by Volkswagen, we had eight flat tires in just a few miles. Our tires were absolutely useless. I suggested we return to the capital city and try to find some other used tires, since new tires were unavailable. We searched for several hours through a huge pile of old, used tires until we finally found four that we hoped would do the job.

As these tires were being put on the car, I decided to see the little town. Believe me, it was only a few blocks in size. As I was walking slowly, looking in the shops, the smell was anything but pleasant, for beside the narrow sidewalk ran an open sewer ditch. Suddenly I smelled a stench I could hardly stand. But from where was it coming?

As I turned a corner, I almost bumped into him. I hesitate to describe what I saw. There he stood, about 6 feet 4 inches tall, dirty, and covered with mud and filth. I could hardly stand the odor, yet there he was stark naked, with not even a loincloth. On his stomach and sides were large ulcers, some as large as six inches across, with puss oozing from them. Some of his toes were missing, for he was filled with leprosy. I also noticed that half of his fingers had been eaten away. But when I looked at his face I was really shocked, for the leprosy had eaten away both eyeballs—only the sockets remained—and part of his nose was missing. What a shocking experience! I shall never forget this man who was in such a hopeless condition.

There is Hope

The Scriptures describe what God sees in many of us as believers today. Isaiah 1:5, 6 says, “Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

Yet there is hope. While we have failed to grasp God’s grace and strength provided through Christ, none are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus who died for us. The True Witness not only points out our Laodicean spiritual disease, but He offers the remedy. We are invited to come to Him and buy the white raiment of His righteousness, that we might be clothed with the robes of His righteousness so that the shame of our nakedness will not appear.

How do we buy Christ’s white raiment? “When the work of repentance is earnest and deep, the individual members of the church will buy the rich goods of heaven. [Revelation 3:18.] Oh, how many behold things in a perverted light, in the light in which Satan would have them see.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 961.

Imputed and Imparted

If only we could see ourselves as God sees us, not as Satan wishes us to see ourselves, then through earnest repentance we could buy the remedy for the Laodicean condition. The True Witness exhorts us to “be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19. The white raiment of Christ’s righteousness is often referred to in inspired writings as a robe or as robes in the plural. In truth, Christ has only one righteousness, but His righteousness is applied to man in two different ways—imputed and imparted. These are given to man for two different purposes.

“The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven; the second is our fitness for heaven.” Messages to Young People, 35. Thus, the robes of righteousness that Christ provides for repentant man consist of:

  1. justifying righteousness, and
  2. sanctifying righteousness.

Robes of Righteousness

Inspiration often uses the plural noun when speaking of Christ’s robes of righteousness. A few of those references are given here: “Christ could stoop to raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the spotless garments of His own righteousness.” The Great Controversy, 415.

Revelation 16:15 says, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”

“Only those who are clothed in the garments of His righteousness will be able to endure the glory of His presence when He shall appear with ‘power and great glory.’ [Luke 21:27.]” Sons and Daughters of God, 368.

We notice from these quotations that ‘garments’ is in the plural. We might think of the imputed robe of Christ’s righteousness as being the foundation garment, for we must receive it first. This robe signifies that the believer has confessed, repented of, and forsaken his sins; that he has been forgiven or justified.

Immediately after we are clothed with this robe, Christ places upon man His imparted robe of righteousness. Christ enters his heart to dwell there by faith. Christ’s imparted righteousness signifies that the believer is being sanctified; that his character is being fitted for heaven. Christ, with man’s cooperation, is living out His life within. This outer garment of sanctifying righteousness is often referred to in inspired writings as “the wedding garment.” [Matthew 22:11, 12.] All who attain to these two robes of divine righteousness are properly clothed and ready for the coming of the bridegroom to the wedding. Without these two divine garments, no man can see God and live.

Man’s Part

The next Bible verse introduces to us a different part of God’s truth. It declares that man has a part to act in wearing the robes of Christ’s righteousness. In Revelation 7:14, we are told, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Now the questions arise, What robes does man wash? And how does he wash them? We need not wash the imputed robe of Christ’s righteousness, for it is spotless. “It is the righteousness of Christ that makes the penitent sinner acceptable to God and works his justification. However sinful has been his life, if he believes in Jesus as his personal Saviour, he stands before God in the spotless robes of Christ’s imputed righteousness.” The Signs of the Times, July 4, 1892.

Neither does man wash Christ’s robe of imparted righteousness, for it too is spotless. When it comes to sanctification, we find that during sanctification the imparted righteousness of Christ is to become part of man’s very own character, for it is the character of man that must be fitted for heaven. This is not done instantaneously. Verily, it is the work of a lifetime, be it long or short.

At the new birth, Christ imputes and imparts His righteousness to the believer. Both are spotless robes. The repentant one is now ready for Christ to come just as was the thief on the cross. But then, during sanctification, man’s character is to be developed to recognize and resist sin and temptation in its many forms, and to become more and more Christlike every day. This requires cooperation between Christ and man, for Christ does not furnish man with a ready-made, spotless character. God furnishes the talents and His imparted righteous building blocks. But we build the character. For further study, I suggest you read Christ’s Object Lessons, 331.

Cooperation Needed

Please allow me to illustrate. For some years now I have been wearing one suit for preaching engagements. The other day, my wife told me it was time to get a new suit, so we went shopping for one. Fortunately, we found a department store that had a sale on men’s clothing. Surprisingly, the first suit that the salesman showed me was exactly what I wanted.

As I put the suit on, I felt there was a problem, probably necessitating the need for an alteration, for the suit felt slightly snug. But the tailor, after careful examination, said, “No, it does not need to be altered. The suit is a perfect fit exactly as it is, but you must lose about ten pounds.” I agreed and purchased the suit, and I am cooperating by reducing my weight; then the suit will fit properly.

This is a striking illustration of how we are to cooperate with God. He does not alter His character requirements; we must develop characters that fit His divine pattern. In our human, defective, stained, and polluted robes of character, we are to wash in the blood of the Lamb every day. As we continue to wash, God accounts our character as perfect in Christ. So, washing our garments is a very important work.

“The provision has been made for us to wash. The fountain has been prepared at infinite expense, and the burden of washing rests upon us, who are imperfect before God. The Lord does not propose to remove these spots of defilement without our doing anything on our part. We must wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb. We may lay hold of the merits of the blood of Christ by faith, and through His grace and power we may have strength to overcome our errors, our sins, our imperfections of character, and come off victorious, having washed our robes in the blood of the Lamb.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 183.

Work of Leaders

In this process, there is a work for God’s ministers and leaders to do. “We should teach those who are filthy how to cast away their old, sin-stained garments of character, and how to put on Christ’s righteousness.” The Southern Work, 27. We should also teach men that if they cooperate with the divine, the divine will cooperate with them, and they will come off victoriously.

“The whole purpose in giving His Son for the sins of the world is that man may be saved, not in transgression and unrighteousness but in forsaking sin, washing his robes of character, and making them white in the blood of the Lamb. He proposes to remove from man the offensive thing that He hates, but man must cooperate with him in the work. Sin must be given up, hated, and the righteousness of Christ must be accepted by faith. Thus will the divine cooperate with the human.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 632.

Repentant sinners also need to be informed that God has given detailed instructions for them as to how to wash their robes. In The Signs of the Times, August 1, 1878, Ellen White declares, “Here is a work for man to do. He must face the mirror of God’s law, discern the defects in his moral character and put away his sins, washing his robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. Envy, pride, malice, deceit, strife, crime will be cleansed from the heart that is recipient of the love of Christ, and cherishes the hope of being made like him when we shall see him as he is.”

In The Review and Herald, August 5, 1887, she wrote, “The Lord would have us wash our robes of character now, remove every stain in the blood of the Lamb. …

“We need to have higher and more distinct views of the character of Christ, to lead us to copy his example. We need to better understand what constitutes a pure religious life. We must learn to be Christlike in disposition and character.”

In these quotations, we are told how to wash our robes, for God would have us:

  1. face the mirror of God’s Law,
  2. identify our sins,
  3. put our sins away, and
  4. learn to be Christlike in character. When must this be done? Now! Day by day!

“A probation is granted us in which to wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Who is doing this work? Who is separating himself from sin and selfishness?” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 960.

Again we read, “Now we have the precious opportunity of washing our robes of character in the blood of the Lamb till they are spotless in his purity.” The Signs of the Times, December 22, 1887.

Wedding Garment

We will quickly note that the wedding garment and our robes of character are one and the same thing. “The wedding garment in the parable is represented as a pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310. The wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding. “The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence.” Ibid., 307.

What happens to the man who comes to the wedding feast without a wedding garment? These are “they who would not put off the garment of earth in order to be clothed with the robe of heaven.” Ibid., 318. In Matthew 22:13, we read of the king who declares of these, “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

How different the experience will be for those who have put on the wedding garment. Revelation 19:7, 8 says, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” “Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ’s righteousness, they have a place at the King’s feast. They have a right to join the blood-washed throng.” Ibid., 315. Why? Because they have washed their robes of character, they are a blood-washed throng.

So we see that this parable of the wedding garment, as told by Jesus, contains a lesson of the highest consequence. “The wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.” Ibid., 307. After the marriage, these fit guests will have a home with their King forever and ever.

“If we now wash our robes of character at this fountain, God will give us a place in the mansions that are being prepared for those who love Him.” The Signs of the Times, November 22, 1905.

Inspiration asks some very serious questions which each of us must, sooner or later, be prepared to answer. Are you keeping your garments unspotted from the world as you read in James 1:27? “Have you been washing your robes of character and making them white in the blood of the Lamb; or are you defiling your robes of character with moral pollution?” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 442.

Fullers’ Soap

We will now turn back to the topic of our preparation for the glorious coming of our King to the wedding. The prophet Malachi brings to light a time of special preparation for God’s people who are to face the exceedingly turbulent times of the end. God will give them special help for this special time. As they are washing their garments of character in the blood of the Lamb, God will come to their aid even as a refiner’s fire and as fullers’ soap. This glorious promise is recorded in Malachi 3:1–3: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”

Most of us seem to understand what is meant by the refiner’s fire—the process whereby gold and silver are refined and purified. But just what is the significance of the fuller’s soap? In Bible times, a fuller was a person who laundered, or whitened, cloth or clothing. Webster’s Dictionary states that fuller’s soap is extracted from a certain type of clay. “Fuller’s earth is a highly absorbent substance composed of clay and silica material, either natural or artificial, used for taking grease out of cloth. Fuller’s herb,” says Webster’s, “is a plant formerly used for taking stains out of cloth.”

In several places in the Scriptures, a fuller’s field is said to be located “at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field.” Isaiah 7:3. The field was located in a place where the fuller could get not only the necessary detergent, clay substance, and needed bleach and herbs, but also an abundance of pure water. It was thus that he was able to achieve fantastically white, bright, spotless cloth and clothing.

We can readily appreciate what a great help fullers’ soap, God’s special cleansing grace, would be in the washing of our garments and character. Mark vividly describes, in Mark 9:3, the garment of Jesus on the Mount when He was transfigured before some of His disciples. “And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.”

We can scarcely imagine the whiteness of Christ’s garment! However, Jesus has opened an abundant fountain of His blood for us in which to wash our garments of character. He promises to supply fullers’ soap in abundance. Praise His name! His provisions are complete. We need only to cooperate.

Time of Judgment

We are now in the time of the judgment. In The Review and Herald, May 9, 1893, after penning the three verses in Malachi, previously quoted, Ellen White explains: “The coming of Christ which is here referred to is not his second advent to this earth, but his coming to the investigative judgment in the most holy place of the sanctuary in heaven. Thus the message is especially to us, who are living in the time of the judgment.”

For emphasis, permit me to repeat that last phrase, “The message of Malachi is especially to us who are living in the time of the judgment.” That time is now! The time of the judgment spoken here, that began in 1844, had a two-fold purpose:

  1. to accomplish the investigative judgment, and
  2. through a special work of putting away sin, to prepare a people to be able to stand when Christ appears.

To the members of God’s church, I will say that we are the modern sons of Levi, brought to life in Malachi. If we are to abide the day of His coming, our garments of character must be refined, purified, and purged. Why? So that we may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Read from The Great Controversy, 425. In the first paragraph, Ellen White quotes Malachi 3:1–3; then she follows with this vivid description: “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God, and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.

“When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing. ‘Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.’ Malachi 3:4. Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive unto Himself will be a ‘glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ Ephesians 5:27. ‘Then, she will look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’ Song of Solomon 6:10.”

What a solemn time in which to live! A time when a whole group from among God’s professed people, through the grace of God and their own diligent efforts, must be conquerors in the battle with evil. For it will be necessary for them to stand before God during the time of final trouble without a mediator in the heavenly sanctuary. This means that if they were to sin, there would be no forgiveness available. No other people will have lived under such a condition as this, but we need not be discouraged, for God is our Helper. What a Saviour is our Lord!

Get Ready

What a glorious future we have to look forward to! Preceding each of the following passages, Ellen White first quotes Malachi 3:1–3:

“Soon every man will be judged according to his deeds. Wake up, my brethren, before Christ comes to your name in the record books of heaven, and passes judgment upon every unchristlike word and deed.” The Kress Collection, 95.

In The Review and Herald, December 1, 1896, in connection with these verses, Ellen White declares, “A message which is as a two-edged sword must be given to the people, to clear away the evils that are seen among them. A living testimony that will awaken the paralyzed conscience is to be borne.”

But alas, at such a time when Jesus wants to come to take unto Himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, as we read in Ephesians 5:27, what is the condition of this people? He finds them in a condition of self-deception, thinking that they are properly clothed when they are actually wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Rather than being among those who are deceived and spiritually paralyzed, let us determine to be one of God’s messengers to bear His special awakening message, though it may be as unflattering as the Laodicean message and as piercing as a two-edged sword.

With Ellen White, let us sound the alarm, “Wake up, my brethren, get ready! get ready! get ready!”

“In a view given June 27, 1850, my accompanying angel said, ‘Time is almost finished. Do you reflect the lovely image of Jesus as you should?’ Then I was pointed to the earth and saw that there would have to be a getting ready among those who have of late embraced the third angel’s message. Said the angel, ‘Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever died.’ I saw that there was a great work to do for them and but a little time in which to do it.” Early Writings, 64.

Properly Clothed

Permit me to give one more important point. All need to understand the answer to the question, What does it actually mean to be clothed in the garments of Christ’s righteousness; to be clothed in the white raiment that is offered in Revelation 3? I will let Inspiration answer: “When we submit ourselves to Christ the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged to His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garments of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, nor the nakedness and the deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

When the Lord dwells in our hearts, we think the thoughts of God and do the works of God. After reading these inspired messages, let us ask ourselves, Am I properly clothed? If we are not, we need to heed the words of the angel, “Get ready, get ready, get ready.”

For over 60 years Pastor Lawrence Nelson served as an evangelist and minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of that time, he served 13 years as the director of evangelism for youth at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Upon retirement from the General Conference, he continued to pastor, but when, as a result of his stand for truth, he was denied the opportunity to continue his pastorate, he started Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry, recording his sermons and making them available to individuals. Before his retirement from this ministry in 2004, over 18,000 audio tapes were being sent around the world each month.

The Wedding Garment

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The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.

To the church it is given “that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,” “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, “is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.

The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.

This is what the transgressors of God’s law have done ever since the day of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God. But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. “I counsel thee,” He says, “to buy of Me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” Revelation 3:18.

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. “All our righteousness are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God “was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” Sin is defined to be “the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:5, 4. But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Ps. 40:8. When on earth, He said to His disciples, “I have kept My Father’s commandments.” John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.

The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.

It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. “He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.” “Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.

He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God’s great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment . . .Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God’s commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we cannot obey them. But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey every one of God’s precepts.

Taken from Christ’s Object Lessons, 307, 310–314.

 

The Wedding Garment

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When God looks at the Laodicean church of Revelation 3:15–18, He sees a people who are neither cold nor hot; they think they are rich and in need of nothing, but they make God sick. In fact, so much so that He will spue them out of His mouth. Their condition appears appalling but there is still hope for them if they buy “gold tried in the fire” and anoint their “eyes with eyesalve, that they may see” their need.

We are encouraged when we read in Revelation 19:7–9 that there is a small company within the Laodicean church who have heeded this counsel and availed themselves of the righteousness of Christ. It says, “and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints: And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

Every normal individual wants to wear good apparel to cover his or her body in a manner that is representative of Christian standards of morality. No Christian in his right mind would want to appear before God improperly dressed. Yet some are totally unaware of their wretched appearance and so blind that they are actually unaware that they are naked.

How could this be? God’s last day servant tells us how such a thing could take place. “The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden from us. We see, but perceive not, we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him. Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we profess to be governed.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 84.

Christ advises us to take certain steps that will place upon us the proper clothing that will cover our nakedness. The problem is we do not see for we are blind because we have not surrendered our will to the Saviour. The fact is Christ does not live within the life. Such individuals do not possess His perfect character which He developed while on earth as a human being and which He offers to us as a free gift.

Our condition as God sees it is hidden from us so that we perceive it not. We hear His voice describing our condition, but we do not understand. Many are naked of God’s garments. They want God’s way but they want it their way. “When Adam and Eve sinned the covering of light, God’s clothing, disappeared. Perceiving they were naked they tried to fashion clothing for themselves from fig leaves and this is what the transgressor of God’s law has done ever since this time. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311. God cannot accept us if we wear our own clothing, for our clothing reveals our nakedness. Without the divine clothing that God has provided for us, He cannot save us, for we are spiritually unclothed.

This is exactly why God could not save the Jewish nation when Jesus lived here on earth among them. “It was this that proved the ruin of the Jews, and it will prove the ruin of many souls in our own day. Thousands are making the same mistake as did the Pharisees whom Christ reproved at Matthew’s feast. Rather than give up some cherished idea, or discard some idol of opinion, many refuse the truth which comes down from the Father of light. They trust in self, and depend upon their own wisdom, and do not realize their spiritual poverty. They insist on being saved in some way by which they may perform some important work. When they see that there is no way of weaving self into the work, they reject the salvation provided.” The Desire of Ages, 280.

This is why God has declared of Laodicea that they are wretched, miserable, poor, and blind, and naked because they are following man’s divisive teachings instead of being clothed in obedience to God’s word.

God’s Clothing

Now it’s time for some vital questions. What is God’s clothing? How do we put it on and keep it clean? These questions must be answered, for we are about to enter the new earth and no one will go there if they are naked in God’s sight.

The clothing which is designed by God is spoken of as the robe of Christ’s righteousness, but many have overlooked the fact that Christ’s righteousness consists of two parts. One, the robe of Christ’s imputed righteousness, and the other, the wedding garment of imparted righteousness. Both garments must be worn to be acceptable in God’s sight and approved for heaven and some day sit with Christ on His throne.

This lovely gift from Christ when placed upon us provides us with forgiveness and justification before God because we are now covered with Christ’s righteousness, not our own righteousness which is but filthy rags. As we examine the fabric of this garment we find it to be imputed, meaning to be attributed vicariously. This simply means that the condition of the sinner is now assumed by another, which Christ called a born-again experience, for when we are clothed with Christ’s righteousness, we can then stand before God justified as though we had never sinned. This condition gives us a legal right to possess heaven because it legally satisfies the requirements of God’s eternal law.

Once the filthy garment has been exchanged for Christ’s robe of righteousness in the sinner’s life, he is now in a position to put on the second article, which is called the wedding garment. This is also a gift from Christ to the forgiven sinner and it is imparted to sanctify, to make holy, the person’s character. This is clearly explained in the chapters of Christ’s Object Lessons, beginning on page 307. Here we told that the article of clothing is called a garment, the robe of heaven, and as you examine the texture, it is referred to by Ellen White as our character. “It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments.” Ibid., 319. The moment we put this garment on we begin the sanctification process, which, if consistently followed daily by faith in Christ we shall be recognized in God’s sight as perfect, making us fit to live in heaven with Him.

Perhaps you have never thought of Christ’s righteousness as two separate garments, but note how Inspiration indicates that there are two garments, for it is always referred to as being in the plural. “He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes [plural] of righteousness.” Steps to Christ, 53.

“Only those who are clothed in the garments [that’s plural again] of His righteousness will be able to endure the glory of His presence when He shall appear with ‘power and great glory’ (Matthew 24:30).” The Review and Herald, July 9, 1908. So in comparing the robe of light which surrounded the first sinless parents to the garments we must put on, Ellen White has stated in Christ’s Object Lessons, 310, “The robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments.”

Again speaking of Christ’s willingness to clothe the repentant sinner, we read in The Great Controversy, 415: “Christ could stoop to raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the spotless garments [plural] of His own righteousness.”

“Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ’s righteousness, they have a place at the King’s feast. They have a right to join the blood-washed throng.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 315.

Did you catch that phrase apparel of Christ’s righteousness? Since Christ’s righteousness involves two garments we should be very careful to be sure that we are clothed with both garments, because He is coming soon and unexpectedly, and we must be appropriately attired to rise in glory with Him.

In Revelation 16:15 He tells us, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments [plural], lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Plainly is seen that the righteous garments which Christ provides are 1) the robe of justification which is imputed to the repentant sinner and, 2) the wedding garment of sanctification imparted to those forgiven and justified and willing to cooperate with Christ in the development of a Christ-like character.

“Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous within is not hard-hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled, and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory.” The Review and Herald, June 4, 1895.

In clear words we are told: “The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.” Ibid.

Oh what precious gifts God has made available to us, especially to those longing to be saved. We should be proclaiming this message of Christ’s righteousness and justification and sanctification everywhere we go, for this is indeed the third angel’s message.

“All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 92.

Christ’s righteousness, both justification and sanctification, are the clothing necessary to be worn by a candidate for heaven. This is God’s prescription for naked Laodicea and it is a prescription to be taken by the individual.

“The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. … He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” The Great Controversy, 490.

Now when God says Laodicea, He means you and me, for we are the church. Let us carefully consider our individual spiritual condition, for the scriptures tell us that the majority within the church are unaware of their personal condition. Remember, we have all sinned. We must never forget what happened to our first parents who sinned.

“When sin entered, they [Adam and Eve] severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.

“This is what the transgressors of God’s law have done ever since the day of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. … They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable to God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311.

God is permitting the shaking which is now taking place within the church to awaken the sleepers to their nakedness so that they put on the clothing that God is anxious to provide to enable them to stand before our God, fully clothed in the righteousness of Christ, justified and preparing unto perfection by the sanctification process. We are to be arrayed in the garments of heaven: “… in the fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:8).

There is no doubt that most everyone reading these words has experienced the effects of wearing the first garment where you have repented of your sins and have been forgiven and by faith, believed in Jesus Christ who has justified you before His Father as though you have never sinned. So there’s no doubting that you have received the imputed righteousness of Christ because you accepted Christ as your personal Savior. But what about this second garment which has to do with our character?

“It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted [meaning, given] to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310. This imparted gift will transform our character, making our character Christ-like.

“Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:16). It is conformity to the law of God, for ‘all Thy commandments are righteousness’ (Psalm 119:172), and ‘love is the fulfilling of the law’ (Romans 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light and life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him.

“Not by painful struggles or wearisome toil, not by gift or sacrifice, is righteousness obtained; but it is freely given to every soul who hungers and thirsts to receive it. ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat, … without money and without price.’ ‘Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord,’ and ‘This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness’ (Isaiah 55:1; 54:17; Jeremiah 23:6).” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 18.

Character has to do with our moral constitution, our peculiarities, our qualities. If Christ is to conform our character to His character, we must therefore partake of His divine nature. In Selected Messages, Book 1, 374, it says, “In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature.” And why is it so important to be a partaker of divine nature? Because by this power we can gain the victory over every sin.

“He [Christ] makes an end of the controlling power of sin in the heart, … for it is necessary that every believer should be delivered from pollution, as well as from the curse and condemnation of the law. … for Christ works within us, and His righteousness is upon us.” Ibid., 395.

Then these words: “Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven.” Ibid.

That should cause us to think. So the wedding garment when worn gives us Christ’s character and this means victory over every sin. This is why we must bring our character into conformity to Christ’s character so we can stop sinning before He comes. Sanctification is a gift of God to each one who will cooperate with Him. His character is to become our character. Without this garment no one will be fitted for heaven. So I ask you sincerely, are we permitting Christ to impart His pure, spotless character, His divine nature, to us?

Consider how sanctification is tailored to fit the individual. First, it is God’s gift. It is free for the asking. Secondly, it requires a hard, stern battle with self every day, through and by the grace of God. “Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-around character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to examine ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.

“Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you can not overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 331.

We have a perfect right to the imputed righteousness. This garment of justification gives us a title to possess heaven, but in order to possess heaven we must also have a fitness for heaven, which is sanctification.

This is the difference between the Seventh-day Adventist church and all other Protestant churches. The other churches claim to have received the imputed righteousness, that is, they accepted Jesus. Therefore they are forgiven and they are justified. They’ve only put on the first garment. But the Laodicean church of Christ is to put on both garments. Not only are we to have a title to heaven, having received forgiveness and justification, but we are to put on a wedding garment tailored to each individual so that our humanity can be combined with divinity. Are you grasping this mighty wonder? For as it was experienced by Christ, so it may happen to you.

“Christ’s humanity was united with divinity, and in this strength He would bear all temptations that Satan could bring against Him, and yet keep His soul untainted by sin. And this power to overcome He would give to every son and daughter of Adam who would accept by faith the righteous attributes of His character.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 223.

Praise God! Can we comprehend such a gift? God giving us power, the same power He gave to His Son? We too can then live above sin if we will permit the sanctification process to develop within us a Christ-like character. When the imputed righteousness of Christ is received by the repentant sinner it is then possible for Christ to impart through the Holy Spirit His pure spotless character to the believer, thus placing the wedding garment upon Him. So it is that we become partakers of the divine nature which enables us to overcome just as Christ overcame, having developed a perfect Christ-like fitness for heaven.

But the problem of Laodicea is an alarming problem, for so many seem to be content with only the robe of forgiveness and justification, giving them a title to heaven. But friend, a title to heaven is worthless until we take possession of heaven, which involves obtaining a fitness for heaven, an experience gained only through the sanctification process. We all agree we have been born with a sinful nature, but given the wedding garment tailored to our perfection by divine nature, we can possess a power to overcome as Christ overcame.

Here’s where new theology and the truth differ. The new theology would have you believe that because you inherited a sinful nature you are going to sin till Jesus comes. This is a most dangerous and damnable teaching that is being promoted by the devil himself, but God gives us both the imputed and the imparted gift of righteousness so that the following statement can be fulfilled in our lives: “The obedience that Christ rendered God requires from human beings today.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 282.

Since His power of divinity is to be ours, a few words of caution are now in order.

“Let not God be dishonored by the declaration from human lips, ‘I am sinless; I am holy.’ Sanctified lips will never give utterance to such presumptuous words.” The Acts of the Apostles, 561.

“If we do not progress, if we do not place ourselves in an attitude to receive both the former and the latter rain, we shall lose our souls.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 306.

“The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed to the likeness of Christ.” Ibid., 506.

But, “Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection.” Ibid.

“As we seek God for the Holy Spirit, it will work in us meekness, humbleness of mind, a conscious dependence upon God for the perfecting latter rain.” The Faith I Live By, 334.

You see, the seeds of grain must have received the former rain to germinate and continue to mature. They must be watered by the latter rain until the characters are perfected in Christ’s likeness. It is encouraging to learn from Steps to Christ that such growth in Christ is as effortless and natural as the growth of flowers (see the chapter “Growing Up Into Christ”).

“Let no one despair of gaining the victory. Victory is sure when self is surrendered to God.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1095.

That tells me that I can do it and that you can do it. But we must depend on God and not on man’s word, for we must have heaven’s robes upon us to cover our nakedness.

“The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is progressive. When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the blood of the atonement, the Christian life has but just begun. Now he is to ‘go on unto perfection’ (Hebrews 6:1).” The Great Controversy, 470. Therefore, let us recognize that God has placed both justification and sanctification in their proper order. Both are of faith and both are necessary in God’s plan for saving man. Remember, the nakedness found in Laodicea is largely because of an improper understanding of justification and sanctification. The vast majority are satisfied with forgiveness and justification only. They feel no need of sanctification, of developing Christ-like characters.

May God help each of us to lay hold on and to put on the robes of justification and sanctification, for we cannot continue to hold on to one sin and be saved. Our commitment must be inclusive, absolute, and complete.

[All emphasis supplied.]

For more than fifty years, Lawrence Nelson served the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a church pastor, evangelist, and then in Conference, Union, and General Conference leadership. When God laid upon him the responsibility to “tell it like it is” to alert the people how the church was leading them into the worldwide ecumenical movement, he was forbidden to preach in any church within the Oregon Conference. Elder Nelson passed to his rest on April 18, 2012.