Adornment Befitting A Christian

ADORNMENT BEFITTING A CHRISTIAN

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wear-ing gold, or putting on fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." I Peter 3:3-4.

FIRST: START BY PUTTING OFF THAT WHICH IS UNBECOMING:

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6.

"That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." Ephesians 4:22.

This is accomplished by putting off the "old man" which is marked by lust, greed, jealousy, covetousness, anger, arrogance, strife, profanity, self-ishness, pride…to name a few.

SECOND: TAKE ACTION TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY CLEAN:

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” II Corinthians 7:1.

Christians must continually cleanse themselves from the contamination that is all about them in this world. We must be careful not to adopt the ways of the world, its attitudes, moral code, language and its values.

THIRD: PUT ON THE HIDDEN PERSON OF THE HEART:

“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man who was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 6:23-24.

This is accomplished by putting on "the new man". Merely to cleanse ourselves is not enough! Let’s not forget the words of our Lord in Luke 11:24-26 that teach us that an empty spiritual house is not a secure house.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be with this wicked generation.”

We must replace the things that harm and hinder our fellowship with God with the things that accompany salvation, such as: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galatians 5:22-23.