Parousia and Kingdom Pt 4: Clothed In Christ’s Righteousness

Parousia and Kingdom Pt 4 – Clothed in Christ’s Righteousness

• Scripture: Revelation 19:13-14
  • Revelation 19:13 “He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.”
• Illustration: Reflect on significant moments involving clothing:
  • Wearing a great suit or dress.
  • School clothes, formal dances, wedding attire.
  • Walking down the aisle in a wedding dress.
  • Clothing symbolizes preparation and purpose.

I. The Necessity of a Covering

• Key Idea: To live with God, you must be covered because you will be exposed to his complete presence. No one can see God and live.
• Biblical examples of God’s glory:
  • Nadab and Abihu consumed by His presence (Leviticus 10:1-2).
  • Uzzah was struck dead for touching the Ark of God (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
• Analogy: Earth’s magnetosphere protects life from the sun’s radiation; similarly, Jesus clothed the fullness of Godhead so that we could come near him on earth in a garment of flesh that was torn so that we could be clothed in his righteousness and be endued or clothed by his Spirit.

II. Christ as Our Garment

• Scripture Reference: Colossians 3:3, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God,”
• The only way to get into heaven is by putting on and hiding in Christ. We enter into His side where blood and water flowed as His bride, just as the woman was taken from a rib in Adam’s side. The church hides in Christ and sneaks into heaven.
• Jesus’ sacrifice enables us to be clothed in His righteousness:
  • He was torn so we could wear His garment of salvation.
  • No man sees God’s face and lives, but a man clothed in Jesus and his Spirit can for eternity.

III. The Symbolism of Garments

• Biblical Themes of Garments:
  • Joseph’s changes of garments depict Christ’s Garments
    • Multi colored garment given by his father Jacob – Servant Garment – His Death
    • The garment that Pothipar’s wife took from him (Gen. 39) when – The Garment that defeated temptation. Was stripped from Jesus at the cross.
    • The garment that the jailer gave Joseph in prison – The garment for seeing the King – Jesus rose from the grave and appeared before the Father.
    • The garment that Pharaoh gave Joseph – ZEPHNATH PENEAH (Savior of the World)
    • Genesis 45:22 He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes – The garments he gives his family, father, and brothers.
• New Testament Application:
  • Believers are to put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).
  • The believer is to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11).
  • The believer is put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12).
  • The believer is to put on love (Colossians 3:14).
  • The believer is to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).

IV. The Blood and the Word

• Revelation Connection:
  • Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.”
  • Jesus’ robe dipped in blood signifies victory already won at the cross.
• Blood speaks life and redemption
  • Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.”
  • Hebrews 12:24 “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
  • The life of God is in Jesus’ blood—infinitely powerful against sin and Satan.

V. Wedding Clothes vs. Battle Armor

• Why Fine Linen?
  • Revelation 19:14 “And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.” depicts believers dressed in white garments, not battle armor.
  • The battle belongs to the Lord, and it is already over!
• Two perspectives on Jesus’ return:
  • From behind Him – A beautiful, finished picture for His bride.
  • From before Him – A terrifying judgment for His enemies.

VI. Practical Application

• Daily Spiritual Clothing:
  • Invite God’s presence each morning to clothe you spiritually.
  • Put on garments intentionally:
    • Praise instead of pouting.
    • Peace instead of contention.
    • Forgiveness instead of bitterness.
    • Kindness instead of frustration.
• Illustrations:
  • Firefighters wear protective suits to save lives.
  • Surgeons wear scrubs for sterility.
  • Christians must wear faith to engage a hostile world.

VII. Conclusion

• Challenge:
  • Ask yourself daily, What kind of garment are you wearing?
    • Are you wearing a garment of praise or a garment of pouting?
    • Are you wearing a garment of peace or a garment of contention?
    • Are you choosing a garment of prayer or a garment of bickering?
    • Are you wearing a garment of forgiveness or a garment of bitterness?
    • Are you choosing a garment of kindness or a garment of frustration?
    • If it isn’t something you should be wearing or want to be wearing, it’s not too late to change it. Just like you change your clothes, you can ask the Lord to help you change.
      • Isaiah 61:10 “For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”