Get Up And Get Dressed

Wakeup call at our house – a ritual!

First call – “Time to get up and get ready.”

Fifteen minutes later – “Come on get out of bed! We have to go soon!”

Then in frustration and desperation Glenys pulls the blankets back and hollers, “DALE, it’s time to get up! We leave in an hour!”

You thought it was the girls!

Morning comes very quickly doesn’t it?

Scripture - spiritual awakening and getting dressed. They speak extensively about “putting on” or “changing our clothing” – speaking figuratively of a change of character, of heart, of behaviour and intentional striving toward moral and spiritual excellence:

– Romans 13:14, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

– Ephesians 4:24, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

– Ephesians 6:11, Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

THE PUZZLING QUESTION

If the command is important enough for God to repeat it multiple times in Scripture, it is important enough for us to pay attention and obey. But what does it mean to “put on” Christ? How does one do that?

1. LIVE IN GOD’S WORLD VIEW

Begins with looking at life through a different lens, from a different perspective:

Verses 1-4…

1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ

– Paul is presuming that because of new life, we are not living according to the old way of life. If in fact we are, his message is, we shouldn’t be and don’t need to be.

– Ants are born with wings which they tear off and live as insects on the ground rather than have the scope of the skies. Sadly we often choose to be less than what we were made to be.

– Verse 1 the catalyst for victory; our confidence!

set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. 2Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. (Aliens – 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here.”) 4And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

When we look through a different lens (see above) we quickly identify

2. OLD CLOTHES

Remember those days of new school clothes?...

My early days of meeting my wonderful young bride-to-be – I didn’t invest much money in new clothes. I looked poorly because much of it was so worn…

Since we are commanded to “put on” Christ it is necessary to assume that there is equally something that needs to be “taken off”.

Verses 5-9…

5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry (Good things often have a compelling force that we struggle to reject and so they replace God’s priorities). 6God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. 7You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. 8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior (spite, deliberate in trying to harm people – e.g. malicious gossip), slander (rumours, false statements), and dirty language. 9Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.

We not only hear the command. Knowing the alternative through heaven’s eyes we want nothing more than to obey!

Back to our earlier question, what does it mean to “put on” Christ? How does one do that? 1) Live in God’s world view; 2) Identify what is old clothes to be removed; and now we put on

3. NEW CLOTHES

Verses 10-13…

10In its place (back to verses 5-8 to recap) you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ,

My mind captures the picture of one with a new prosthetic limb – from awkward to becoming a part of human function.

Recall how learning a new job or new skill – at first it takes careful effort and practice but over time it becomes natural and you can function without a second thought to what you’re doing.

My first job – sorting capelin! I didn’t know the difference between male and female or “spawn” capelin. I was slow but once I knew the difference I was processing capelin as good as any person could!

11In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. No cultural boundaries or restrictions. What is commanded here is for all people of all times, of all places, of all races. Jesus Christ is enough for every one and every nation!