Put on Christ – Gal 3:27

If you like this post, you might consider these others ones as well…

• Except a man be born of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (2014)
• The most powerful prayer to break strongholds (2010)
• Put on Christ – Gal 3:27 (2008)
• Jesus’ righteousness is the key to Christian overcoming (2006)
• Justified by faith (2006)

This is an interesting scripture and IF we pay attention, it can trigger a wonderful understanding of who we are IN HIM

for all of you who were baptized into Christ HAVE clothed yourselves with Christ. – Gal 3:27

The original Greek says “have clothed” and it’s in the past tense. That can be very confusing. A discussion between two people could go like this:

It’s done?
Yes it is done on the cross, every work of the devil is destroyed, it’s all waiting to be received.
But. But. I’m addicted, sick, fat, lonely and poor… are you sure it’s done and finished? Are you sure I’m free?
Yes, you are free, begin to receive it… let me explain.

This brings up the issue of walking by faith or by sight. Will you believe what you see in your body, or will you believe what He says He has done and what He said you should do?

Uh. When did He say to do it? Apart from it being in the bible, God’s scripture, I think that is contained in this pivotal teaching…

So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? – John 13:12

There are TWO things to note in this verse.

1. In that verse Jesus washed His disciples feet, He then declared them spiritually, morally and legally clean. He specifically said they are cleaned and pruned because of His word – what He had taught them had cleaned them. He then said “go do the same to one another”. We are to spiritually wash one another’s feet.
2. He then put on His garments… this is included in John’s writing, because we are to put on Jesus Christ, in the same way He put on His garments.

Let’s have a look at all instances of “put on” in the NT – and consider what it means to put on an imperishable and immortal nature, as described in the first two verses. The answer is contained in the third and fourth verses…

1. For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death) – 1 Cor 15:53
2. Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling, – 2 Cor 5:2
   

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3. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. – Gal 3:27
4. And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. – Eph 4:24
   

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5. Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. – Eph 6:11
6. Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. – Eph 6:13
7. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, – Eph 6:14
8. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. – Col 3:14
9. But we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corslet) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. – 1 Thess 5:8

In each and every instance of this phrase “put on” it refers to putting on Jesus Christ – and what’s more, if you have been baptised (an act of faith) then you HAVE already put on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ IS God’s armour. Your faith in Jesus Christ IS your shield. When you put Him on (by having faith in Him alone) you are wearing the belt of truth… because the Truth of Him is what sets you free… the Truth is Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. – John 14:6

So let’s look one more time at our first scripture

So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? – John 13:12

After He had cleaned them He put on His garments and then He said for us to do the same. So will you cleanse yourself in Him and put Him on? He is the way to the Father and you simply cannot get to the Father by yourself. You cannot be holy enough, you cannot repent enough, you cannot work hard enough, you cannot love enough, you cannot earn it, you cannot be worthy… you simply receive His righteousness and put Him on and receive every spiritual blessing a free gift.

There is so much more to receive, but the first step is to receive the complete cleaning that comes from Him and put Him on. Receive what He has done for you, put it on. You may not even know what He has done for you, so then take it upon yourself to go and investigate.

He alone is the Way, He alone is the Truth, He alone is the Life – you can only come to the Father through Him. His blood is the only thing that can purify you and make you acceptable to God.

How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God? – Heb 9:14

As Paul explained, we must ceased from our works, and we can only come into the Holy of Holies once the outer tabernacle has ceased to exist. You have to put off the old ways, put off making yourself acceptable, put it all off because you best works are filthy rags. You and I need a Saviour and God anointed His Son to do that job. Reject Him at your own risk.

Pictures of the earthly tabernacle design

Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,by this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh – Heb 10:19-20

You can come to our Father in Heaven, but it is by putting on Jesus Christ, wearing Him, wearing His robes of righteousness. Abandon your hope of ever being holy apart from Him. Nothing you can do will earn you holiness or righteousness. If you desire those things, receive them as a free gift from Jesus Christ.

We ALREADY are all of these things IN HIM, but we simply fail to receive it, because we don’t mix the message with faith, just as Paul taught.

For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith – Heb 4:2

If the message of the bible clashes with your belief, it is your belief that has to change, not the bible.

By the way, here is a superb description of the earthly and heavenly tabernacle.