Robed In HIS Righteousness!

Remember the picture that God gave us of OUR OWN righteousness in Isaiah 64:6? What did He compare it to? Filthy rags!
He said that all of our attempts at obedience cover us like dirty, filthy, smelly, tattered, greasy, grimy, worn-out rags...and that's the best we could ever hope to accomplish on our own!

"Rich Robes"

"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 'Take away the filthy garments from him.'"
- Zechariah 3:3

Have you ever had to go out in public while wearing dirty clothes? How did you feel about it? If you're like me, this carries a little bit of shame. You can try to make yourself look presentable in spite of your clothes, but that self-consciousness is still there. We all like to look our best, and we hate to look as if we're less than other people. We even have a term for this concept..."under-dressed."

In Zechariah's vision, Joshua represents us. Like this man, we were clothed in our sin as if it were dirty clothes.  This is how God saw us before we were saved. Ashamed. Embarrassed. Stinky. And as if that weren't bad enough...we didn't have anything else to change into! That was our best.

But when we were born again, those dirty clothes were taken from us. God's declaration over us can be read at the end of this verse: "Take away the filthy garments!" Praise God! You and I are no longer bearing our sins anymore! This is the idea of forgiveness...the removal of the filth.

But He didn't stop there. God wasn't willing to leave us undressed. Look at the next verse:

"And to him He said, 'See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will cloth you with rich robes.'"

If our iniquity is represented by the filthy rags, then what do the rich robes represent?

We find that answer in Isaiah 61:10 - "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness..."

This is the rich robe we've been clothed with: It's the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus!

Sheared From Jesus Himself

"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth." - Isaiah 53:7

We're all familiar with the phrase "lamb to the slaughter" - but have you ever noticed the next statement? What does "a sheep before its shearers" mean...especially as it applies to Jesus' death? I firmly believe it's connected to our new robe of righteousness. 

As Jesus was on trial, He was slandered and lied about...being accused of all kinds of heinous and terrible things. And yet, He never once defended Himself or set the record straight. Why? Because this was when His righteousness was sheared away from Him like wool from a sheep.  Righteousness was His very nature, it grew out of Him.But like wool on a sheep, it was there for the very purpose of being taken away.

This is what our robes are made from now! This rich robe that you and I are clothed with was literally woven from Jesus' own righteousness. This is why 2 Corinthians 5:21 now calls us "the righteousness of God in Christ." As we stand covered in this robe, you and I can boldly declare - "I am right with God! Sin is no longer a factor! I stand as righteous before the Father as Jesus Himself does!"

How could I say something like that?

Because I'm wearing the same righteousness that grew out of the Lamb of God!

No More Shame

Matthew 22:11-13 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness...'"

This was a parable Jesus told to illustrate our arrival in Heaven, celebrating in the kingdom of God. In this parable, Jesus spoke of a man there who was under-dressed...who wasn't wearing the correct garment. His point was, this person who lacked the correct robes had no place in the kingdom.

I believe this is symbolic of Christians who refuse to accept that God made them righteous. They won't claim their righteousness by faith...even though they'll pay lip service to it. They'll say things like "I'm forgiven" or "I'm saved from my sin" - but would never call themselves a "righteous person."

No...in their religious mindsets, righteousness is still something they have to earn.

So they try to enter into the Kingdom dressed in their best...oblivious to the truth. The fact is: our King is offering HIS best clothes at the door!

Did you notice this man's reaction in verse 12? He was "speechless."

This is always what shame does to a Christian; it shuts their mouth.

But that's not us, my brother! That's not you, my sister! No! We've been made right with God. We are not clothed in OUR best anymore...we're clothed in HIS best! This ought to give you a new sense of courage and confidence. It's like Proverbs 28:1 says, "the righteous are as bold as a lion." When you understand the robes that God has dressed you in, you'll never hang your head again...not even for a second!

Speak this over yourself right now: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness..."