Christian Apparel

AUGUST 8, 2023

 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 13:14)

The Apostle, in the closing paragraph of this chapter (Vs. 11-14), is setting forth a very important Christian duty. He does this under the metaphor of one rising up in the morning and preparing himself to go forth and meet the day with its labors and conflicts. “The sun riseth,” says the psalmist, “and man goeth forth to his work and to his labor.” Here Paul says, “…it is high time to awake out of sleep for…The night is far spent, and the day is at hand…”

When the morning comes and a man rises to begin preparing himself for the day that is begun, what is the first thing he must do? Obviously, he must first put off his night clothes, and get dressed for the day.

Paul is here describing Christians with whom the long night of sin is passed, and the Sun of righteousness has arisen in their souls; who after a long nature’s night, have experienced the dawning of life’s perfect and eternal day; those to whom the Lord has come, “prepared as the morning,” calling them “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Born again souls must therefore do in the spiritual sense what folks do when they wake up from their night’s sleep. We must take off the night clothes and get dressed for the day. What self-respecting person sits around the house in his pajamas when there’s work to be done?

The Apostle here metaphorically sets forth the changing process from night clothes into work apparel. He also shows what these garments are respectively. “Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” The night clothes, “works of darkness,” include “rioting and drunkenness, clambering and wantonness, strife, and envying” (Vs. 13). The list could go on, but we get the picture. Clearly, there is a measure of undress required before one puts on his or her day’s apparel. Many professing Christians do not seem to understand that we do not put on religion over our old sins; put a religious garb over our old character. “Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications, lying.” (Col. 3:8) The Lord said, “Take the filthy garments from him, and I will clothe him with a change of raiment.” (Zech. 3:4)

Next, let us see what the Christian’s day clothes include: “Let us put on the armour of light.” This gives a fair indication of what the believer’s life of service involves. We must put on “the whole armour of God,” because the Christian life is, indeed, a warfare. (Eph. 6:10-13) The word here rendered “armour”may also mean simply appropriate garments. We must put on our work clothes and be ready to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith (we) are called.” Our text simply says, “Walk honestly, as in the day.” This is a fitting word to describe regenerate souls who are “children of the day.” Dishonesty loves darkness. Christians are children of light and truth – they speak truth, and are not deceitful or two-faced, but walk becomingly with dignity.

The Christian’s daily apparel can be summed up even more simply. Rather than to name every article of his spiritual clothing, the Apostle simply concludes by saying “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” He is our complete wardrobe. We need not go from closet to closet, or from drawer to drawer trying to decide what to wear. No, that’s not necessary. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. (I Cor. 1:30) As for armour, He is the whole panoply. To put on Christ is to put on the whole armour of God.

Notice, we are to put on all of Him. “Put ye on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.” He is our Sovereign Ruler; our Savior; our Anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. He is our all in all!!