Clothe Me, O God

I had a dream last night. It was not a nice dream, nor a good dream, but perhaps it was a useful dream. You see, in this dream I stood accused of an unknown crime. I was arrested, and carried before the judge, but the details of the crime were not revealed to me. Finally, after I begged the judge for justice, I was taken into a room where a man of color was laying. I asked him what was wrong, and it turned out that he was attacked, viciously attacked, by someone welding an ax that had my name on it. I begged him to understand that, though the ax had my name on it, I label all my tools with my name, and it was not I who perpetrated this crime. Then I woke up.

A flood of relief overwhelmed me as I realized that this was only a dream. Then, as I finished waking up, I wondered - was this only a dream, or was it symbolic? As believers we often look the other way when we see injustice and cruelty not of our own making. As long as we ourselves are not guilty of committing the act or the atrocity, then we look away and "TSK, TSK" over it. In the words of a "deacon" who sought to justify the racism in a church, "You and I know it's wrong, Brother, but I have to consider the Church". In our local churches, in most churches in America, 11:00 on Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America. We preach holiness and goodness, righteousness and peace, and yet - are we making a difference in our society? Are we making a difference, or compromising with the status quo?

Until we as believers deliberately clothe ourselves with the righteousness that God our Savior has provided, until we cease "business as usual" and S-T-R-E-T-C-H ourselves out to love as Christ taught us to love:

Love for the leper, who told Jesus "If you will you can make me clean" (Matthew 8:2), and Jesus said "I will, you're clean!". Love for the publican, like Zacchaeus, who hid in a tree and was invited to feast with the King of Glory (Luke 19:5). Love for those of other color, like the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:9). Love, though not compromise, with our enemies - the enemies of the Gospel.

We must clothe ourselves as servants of God, and children of the King. We must clothe ourselves, not as the peasants that we once were, but as those who are inheritors of the riches of Heaven. And that's what our sermon is about today...

Ephesians 4:22-32 "That ye put off [apotithemi {pronounced ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee}, to put off, aside, away. Take off like clothes] concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (verse 23  ) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (verse 24 ) And that ye put on [enduo {pronounced en-doo'-o} clothe yourself with] the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (verse 25 ) Wherefore putting away [apotithemi {pronounced ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee}, to put off, aside, away. Take off like clothes] lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (verse 26 ) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (verse 27 ) Neither give place to the devil. (verse 28 ) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (verse 29 ) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (verse 30 ) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (verse 31 ) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away [airo {pronounced ah'-ee-ro}, IMPORTANT, a change of the Greek here - means to be "lifted up", to "allow it to be lifted up"] from you, with all malice: (verse 32 ) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

One of the biggest lies that Satan has ever sold the church is that, "Once you walk the aisle and are saved, that's it! Sit down in a soft pew and relax - your journey is at an end." So many have bought into this lie that, in many local churches, you cannot tell the meeting of the church from a meeting of a local club. In this section of Scripture we as believers are given two commands: to "put off", APOTITHEMI, the old clothing that we had on prior to salvation and "put on" or clothe yourself, ENDUO , with the new clothes that salvation provides.

Ephesians 4:22-24 "That ye put off [apotithemi {pronounced ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee}, to put off, aside, away. Take off like clothes] concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (verse 23  ) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (verse 24 ) And that ye put on [enduo {pronounced en-doo'-o} clothe yourself with] the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. "

Let me quickly hasten to tell you several things about this text.

FIRST, this text in NO WAY addresses unbelievers. Those whom Paul addresses are CHRISTIANS, as the entire context of the letter specifies. In fact, these are Christians IN THE CHURCH, for at one point Paul states in Ephesians 4.25,

"Wherefore putting away [apotithemi {pronounced ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee}, to put off, aside, away. Take off like clothes] lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another."

We are not to lie to ONE ANOTHER IN THE CHURCH because we are MEMBERS TOGETHER in the same Body. The unity of the Church, the marriage of believer to believer in this great work of Christ is amply illustrated in:

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (verse 13 ) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (verse 14 ) For the body is not one member, but many."

The Spirit of God joined all who accept Christ as Savior together in ONE BODY, that Body being the Church. Paul is not addressing unbelievers, but believers. To say that Paul is addressing unbelievers or the unsaved in the Ephesians text is just wrong.

SECOND, this text in NO WAY implies that the goals presented are instantaneous. There are many who walk around in the church today who arrogantly and self righteously proclaim, "If you were saved, you wouldn't do these things". Then the self righteous list off a series of "sins" that they no longer fall under - perhaps smoking tobacco, or drinking alcohol (two favorites among the pure) - and these things are then condemned. I know of a brother (and I know he's a brother, for I see his heart) who stands ready to backbite and condemn another, yet he never has time to talk with those who are not of his lofty status in Christ. An apostle to his mind, yet always condemning those who are weaker - yet without presenting alternatives for the brethren to follow. This is Phariseeism, not Christianity. Christ never condemned the seeker, even if that seeker was a drunkard, or a publican, but went - in love - and met them where they were.

When you were a child - though you may not remember it - your parents had to teach you how to put on your clothes. Though putting on your clothes may have seemed like a mystery as deep as the sea, in reality clothes and shoes were designed so that anyone could put them on. I remember, not learning how to button my clothes, but teaching my children how to clothe themselves. I remember showing them - over and over - how to push the button through the hole. I remember showing them how to loop the shoelaces, to push the "rabbit ears through the hole", and how I had to show them over and over again before they finally remembered.

Clothing yourself as a child is possible, but not an overnight or immediate reality. It is a GOAL that you strive toward, knowing that it is possible because Father tells you it is possible. And, when you fail, you go back to Father for further instruction, or to your Bigger Brother Jesus. As we read this text, remember that this is not to be approached as - BAM - you are magically enabled to put on this clothing. This is our goal, we shall reach it, for we all who have accepted Christ as Savior have the POTENTIAL to put on these clothes - in Him.

We have the potential because we are "created in righteousness and true holiness". I wish someone had taught me this truth when I was first saved, that we are God's Workmanship:

Ephesians 2:10  "For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

and that He is at work within me. That, though I may fall, just as my children often forgot how to button their clothes or tie their shoes, and just as I never gave up on them, GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON US. He made us by the driving of the nails of the Cross, and will continue to work in us:

Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (verse 21  ) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Often our hands are unable to achieve that which He has set out for us to do, yet never forget that He is at work in us - teaching us to tie our shoes and clothe ourselves for the kingdom. Through Him we will eventually triumph!

Ephesians 4.25-30 "Wherefore putting away [apotithemi {pronounced ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee}, to put off, aside, away. Take off like clothes] lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (verse 26 ) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (verse 27 ) Neither give place to the devil. (verse 28 ) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (verse 29 ) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (verse 30 ) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Young children often do not understand the importance of cleanliness, nor of clean clothing. I remember as a child hating to take a bath - though now I love the experience (as do those in my periphery). Though I would go to the bathroom to bathe when ordered to do so, often I would be slovenly in my hygiene. Or, once I bathed, it would be nothing to me to put the same clothes back on. After all, I was clean, and these were my favorite clothes. What's a little dirt anyway?

We have all experienced this both as small children and as Christians. We are bathed, cleansed, clean because of the action of Christ:

Ephesians 5:26  "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word"

Jesus cleaned us up, saved us by the sacrifice of the Cross and by the regenerative power of the Spirit. Yet we, like young children, often want to put the same clothes back on after our baths. We want to put on the wadded up clothing of:
 

a. LYING, pseudos {pronounced psyoo'-dos}, that which camouflages or hides the truth. This clothing is wrong for it is deceptive. William Barclay said of lying:

"We can only live in safety because the senses and the nerves pass true messages to the brain. If in fact the senses and the nerves took to passing false messages to the brain, if, for instance, they told the brain that something was cool and touchable when in fact it was hot and burning, life would very soon come to an end. A body can only function accurately and healthily when each part of it passes true messages to the brain and to the other parts. If then we are all bound into one body, that body can only function when we speak the truth. All deception impairs the working of the body of Christ (The letters to the Galatians and the Ephesians, p. 184)."

The church of Christ has for too long said one thing in public, yet another in private. For too long members have put one face on while in the sanctuary, and another face on while in private. We must be:

Ephesians 4:15  "... speaking the truth in love ..."

to one another, realizing that lying or withholding the truth is destructive. More churches are destroyed because brothers and sisters talk about one another behind their backs rather than, privately and in love, honestly approaching one another to edification.
 

b. Lying to one another leads to another filthy garment that needs to be left off, and that is ANGER [orgizo {pronounced or-gid'-zo}] :

Ephesians 4:26-27 "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (verse 27 ) Neither give place to the devil. "

There are times when it is good to be angry, times when anger is justified. Jesus was often angered at the density of the Pharisees and hypocrites that followed and harassed His ministry, and at one point in His ministry He chased the hypocrites out of the Temple (John 2:13-16). However, we are to be careful in our anger in that it is not misplaced nor volcanic:

Colossians 3:8-10 "But now ye also PUT OFF [apotithemi {pronounced ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee}] all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (verse 9  ) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (verse 10  ) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him"

Lying, as well as anger, explosive or seething anger - these are clothing that the believer is to strive to LEAVE OFF. We are washed, and as the washed our anger - if it comes - needs to come slowly and graciously, just as it was with our Lord Jesus.
 

c. Just as we should not steal the truth by lying, or steal someone's peace by misplaced anger, we should be careful to avoid STEALING from others in our periphery.

Ephesians 4:28-30 "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (verse 29 ) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (verse 30 ) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Our drive as Christians should be to GIVE, not TAKE. To give of ourselves to our fellow members in the Body of Christ. To give good communication, to be ENCOURAGERS to others in the Church, to be gracious as Christ was and continues to be gracious. As He hung on the Cross, despised and rejected of men, He looked out at the jeering crowd of US and said:

Luke 23:34  " Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  .."

And they parted his clothes, and cast lots while Jesus hung naked and shamed for us. After Jesus rose again mankind, in part anyway, began to understand the power of salvation through Jesus, and the love that the Cross represented. Jesus gave, and we who are His by faith must also give, not take. When we take rather than give we grieve the Spirit of God by our selfishness.

Ephesians 4.31-32 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away [airo {pronounced ah'-ee-ro}, IMPORTANT, a change of the Greek here - means to be "lifted up", to "allow it to be lifted up"] from you, with all malice: (verse 32 ) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

What if I, as a child of Christ, can't achieve these lofty standards? What if I still am unable to button my clothes, to tie my shoes. What if this mystery is out of my grasp, and I can't do it?

Then submit, believer, to the Father who still works in you. When I was a child there were often times when I could not achieve what my parents set before me. There were times when momma had to button my shirt, or when daddy had to tie my shoes. As an adult there was a time when, after a particularly nasty motorcycle accident, that I was unable to get in the bathtub to bathe myself without my wife's assistance.

There are times when we just CANNOT do what we want to do. At those times we need to SUBMIT OURSELVES to the Father. To raise our arms to the Heavens and say, "Father, I can't! Will you lift this up off of me? Will you button my shirt, tie my shoes, dress me, O Lord, for I am unable?" There are times when we, like Joshua the High Priest, have to stand before God our Father and say "Clothe Me":

Zechariah 3:1-4 "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. (verse 2  ) And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (verse 3  ) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. (verse 4  ) And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment."

or, like King David, we need to say:

Psalms 51:10  "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

This is not the attitude of the Pharisee who says, "I am so holy, God, and not like this publican over here", but this is the attitude of the publican who would not even look Heavenward, saying:

Luke 18:13  "God be merciful to me a sinner."

God grant us the strength as Christ's Ekklesia to throw ourselves on Him. To seek to clothe ourselves in the clean garments, which are our potential, and to avoid the foul clothing of our past lives. May we recognize our need to change our clothing. God bless and strengthen us, clothe us, when we fail in this goal, praise be the name of Jesus. Amen.

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