DRESSED IN CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
Genesis 3:7-11, 21
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
MAIN IDEA: we are guilty, shamed naked sinners but
God forgives and dresses us in His righteousness
MAGIC: Any shame to honor magic
Cross iodine ‘ink’ out of cup Coloring bk colors
INTRODUCTION
SUPPOSE arrested for doing terrible crime
Know you are guilty and must pay
No excuse, no defense
Penalty – lose life – Eternity in hell
Stand before judge who must pass sentence
THAT’S HOW WE ARE BEFORE GOD
Guilty of sin against holy God – He is holy and we are not!
Or perhaps you can better picture it this way
SUPPOSE rejected by friends family, mock & hate you
Kicked out with nothing,
no clothing, shelter, food, money, nothing
Embarrassed, unworthy, no hope
Have to beg for money or food
Scraps of paper, trash to cover self
How would you feel?
THAT’S HOW WE ARE BEFORE GOD
We are shamed before God, have no honor
Kicked out of the family – Eden
Poor and penniless beggars
TRANSITION
The Bible says we that’s how we stand before God
Nothing to cover our sin and shame
Guilty, deserving eternity in hell
I. SPIRITUAL NAKEDNESS
A. OUR NEED
STORY OF ADAM & EVE IN EDEN – SIN!!
Genesis 3:7-8 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
NAKED PHYSICALLY embarrassed, before sin no guilt
SPIRITUALLY shame, honor gone, guilt
COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES can cover own shame
Stand before God with no honor, excuse
HID FROM THE LORD – avoid, run from God & guilt
Make excuses
Turn to false Gods where sin not an issue
Can’t hide from God!
Gen 3:10-11 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
AFRAID shame brings fear
We all deal with fear, it comes from sin
“WHO TOLD YOU?” guilty conscience
Know inside we can’t stand before God
Could no longer be in God’s presence with sin
Had to leave Eden, daily contact with God
Guilt of sin PASSED ON to everyone born Job 1:21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, & naked I will depart.”
TRANSITION
Nothing we can do to impress God
Nothing we can do to cover our own sin, shame
B. GOD’S PROVISION
ONLY GOD CAN TAKE AWAY OUR SHAME
Genesis 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Only God can cover us, make us presentable
Remove shame and guilt
Give back honor
Make it so we can stand before Him
Of skin– innocent blood had to be shed to cover sin!
PLAN OF SALVATION explain clearly
TRANSITION
God removes shame, gives us honor instead
God removes guilt, gives forgiveness instead
II. SPIRITUAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. PROVIDED BY CHRIST
TOOK OUR SHAME ON THE CROSS
Hung there naked, suffering for 6 hours
Rejected by family (‘forsaken me”) friends, everyone
HONOR to have Him care about us to take our place
Honor to have Him take our shame
and give us His honor!!!
Sharing our shame was honorable for Him
Gave us that honor so we have honor as well
SALVATION = PROVIDED TO REMOVE OUR SHAME
Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
YOU: begging on street – no food, clothes, etc
Multimillionaire sees you, stops car, walks to you
Takes off clothing, takes your place
Wears your scraps
Sits and begs for you
Gives you his clothes to wear
Gives keys to office, wallet, paper giving you all
Another document stating you adopted into family
Accepted by family, loved
PRODIGAL SON FATHER TOOK AWAY HIS SHAME
Luke 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
TRANSITION
HE provided it all, its up to us to accept, let Him put it on us
B. ACCEPTED BY US
WHEN GIVEN HONOR BY GOD CAN NEVER LOOSE IT – can’t be shamed again Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
HAVE HONOR FOR ALL ETERNITY
Marriage supper of the lamb
given white garments, pure and holy
CONCLUSION
ME not know dress BEFORE YOU (embarrass, shame)
BEFORE GOD no problem – His righteousness
FROM SHAME: naked, helpless, kicked out beggars
TO HONOR: righteous garments as bride of Christ
Challenge/application
Come to Him
Let HIM dress you in His robes of righteousness
For free
For all eternity!