Christians have to have two garments:
The first one is free according to the principle of grace;
The 2nd one is conditional according to the principle of righteousness.
When a sinner willingly repents and receives Jesus as his Savior, he immediately is covered with the first garment, which is Christ as his objective righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30; Luke 15:22). At this point, Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27); Christ is living in us as our inner life.
The first garment is just the beginning. Christians have to continue to “earn” the 2nd garment, which is Christ becoming our subjective righteousness (Revelation 19:8). As we deny our natural life and take Christ as our life in our daily walk, God’s nature will be constituted into us little by little everyday. At this point, we are in Christ (Philippians 3:9); Christ is lived out through us as our outer expression.
The first garment qualifies us to enjoy Christ as our grace (Luke 14:17) so that we may have the strength to run the heavenly “marathon”. The 2nd garment qualifies us for the wedding (Matthew 22:1; Revelation 19:7-9). Christians without the 2nd garment will be rejected by the Lord at His 2nd coming (Matthew 22:12).
Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). All Christians have the 1st garment, but few will have the 2nd garment for the wedding. Would you like to be the former or the latter?
The 2nd one is conditional according to the principle of righteousness.
When a sinner willingly repents and receives Jesus as his Savior, he immediately is covered with the first garment, which is Christ as his objective righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30; Luke 15:22). At this point, Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27); Christ is living in us as our inner life.
The first garment is just the beginning. Christians have to continue to “earn” the 2nd garment, which is Christ becoming our subjective righteousness (Revelation 19:8). As we deny our natural life and take Christ as our life in our daily walk, God’s nature will be constituted into us little by little everyday. At this point, we are in Christ (Philippians 3:9); Christ is lived out through us as our outer expression.
The first garment qualifies us to enjoy Christ as our grace (Luke 14:17) so that we may have the strength to run the heavenly “marathon”. The 2nd garment qualifies us for the wedding (Matthew 22:1; Revelation 19:7-9). Christians without the 2nd garment will be rejected by the Lord at His 2nd coming (Matthew 22:12).
Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). All Christians have the 1st garment, but few will have the 2nd garment for the wedding. Would you like to be the former or the latter?
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