God's Promise in the Garment

Chapter 8
I Will Give You My Robe

Seats at God's table are not available to the sloppy. But who among us is anything but? Unkempt morality. Untidy with truth. Careless with people. Our moral clothing is in disarray. Yes, the standard for sitting at God's table is high, but the love of God for his children is higher...

The clothing of Christ on the cross? Sin-yours and mine. The sins of all humanity...

Since he bore the sin of the murderer and adulterer, he felt the shame of the murderer and adulterer. Though he never lied, he bore the disgrace of a liar. Though he never cheated, he felt the embarrassment of a cheater. Since he bore the sin of the world, he felt the collective shame of the world...

Jesus... offers a robe of seamless purity and dons my patchwork coat of pride, greed, and selfishness. "He changed places with us" (Gal 3:13). He wore our sin so we could wear his righteousness.

Though we come to the cross dressed in sin, we leave the cross dressed in the "coat of strong love" (Isa 59:17) and girded with a belt of "goodness and fairness" (Isa 11:5) and clothed in "garments of salvation" (Isa 61:10).

Indeed, we leave dressed in Christ himself. "You have all put on Christ as a garment" (Gal 3:27).

It wasn't enough for him to prepare you a feast.

It wasn't enough for him to reserve you a seat.

It wasn't enough for him to cover the cost and provide the transportation to the banquet.

He did something more. He let you wear his own clothes so that you would be properly dressed.

He did that . . . just for you.

(Excerpt from He Chose the Nails page 72, 74-75)