Put On Christ!
Thank you for reading the post today! This study will give you direction and understanding of what it means to follow the directive we have been given as followers of the Lord, to ‘Put On Christ.’ I pray, as always, that you will be encouraged and experience the enlightenment given by the Spirit of God in what it means to conform to the image of Christ, as you study His Word. Eric
The Word of God is incredible! It is through the Word that we learn about the Godhead. We discover Who the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are! We are taught and given tremendous revelation of what God’s plans and purposes are for His creation, mankind - us.
Over the last few weeks, we have been sharing amazing truths revealing how God equips us so that we are able to fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives.
Our September 4 (Marvelous Transformation!) post revealed that by God’s promises, He enables us to share His divine nature and to escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (2 Corinthians 3:18). We entered the world with a sin nature and amazingly are being transformed into the image of Christ.
On 9/11/24, we posted, “Body of Christ, Doing His Work!”, wherein we presented what it means to be a part of and doing the work of the Body of Christ.
Then, in our September 18, “That’s Amazing!” post, we taught about our using the power of the Spirit of God to do His work, by ministering to those He calls us to minister to and doing whatever He asks of us.
Today, we are going to examine what it means to ‘Put On Christ.’ You will see its importance, as it enables us to fulfill the will of God and to be truly ready for when Jesus returns for His spotless Bride, the Church.
To ‘put on Christ’ is not a ‘once and done’ event. We will discover that our Christian walk is an on-going process which will never be complete for us until the day the Lord calls us to enter into His presence for eternity.
In order to be effective in our Christian walk, we must be endued with the power and presence of God. We must be transformed from our carnal nature to the nature of God. Also, for all of this to work, it is necessary that we live out our life in the likeness of Jesus.
We read in Ephesians 5:1 that we are to be ‘imitators of God.’ Jesus was God in the flesh here on earth, thus, we are to imitate or walk in this life, just as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6).
John 20:21 and 22 (CSB) reads, “Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you." 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Father sent Jesus to fulfill God’s purpose and plan in the power of the Holy Spirit. In these verses, we see that Jesus was sending the disciples out to do the same. The Great Commission given to the disciples was to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is one who studies and follows Jesus’ teaching. We have been given the nature and power of God so we can reveal who He is to all those around us, so that they may also become His disciples.
I would encourage you, that if you have never committed your life to be a follower or disciple of Christ, that you would make that decision soon. (To simply know Who He is, does not make you a disciple). At the least, I encourage you to actively strive toward that goal.
We are exhorted, in the Scriptures, to be prepared for the day Jesus returns for the church, His bride. The bride He returns for will be spotless. (Ephesians 5:27).
The textural notes for Matthew 24:44 (New Spirit Filled Life Bible) states, “In a time of indifference and carelessness the Lord will appear with startling suddenness.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 6 (CSB), we read that we know perfectly that His coming will be as a thief in the night. Only the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus’s return. (Matthew 24:36). Verse 6 exhorts us to: not sleep or be indifferent, but to stay awake, to be alert, to give strict attention to, and to be circumspect, calm, and collected regarding our salvation.
According to John Piper at desiringgod.org, “Sleep is what people lost in this age are doing. They are sleepwalking. All the glitz and flash and skin and swagger and muscle and brilliance and scientific achievement and art and military might and business and industry are sleepwalking compared to life in the day of glory of Christ.”
Our key scripture today is Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV), “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
In verse 12 we are instructed to discard the deeds of darkness and to put on the armor of light. The ‘armor of light’ is a spiritual armor of light or righteousness. Jesus is the Light of the world and as we ‘put on Christ,’ we will have that armor of light in place. 1 Corinthians 1:30 reveals that His righteousness makes us righteous.
Then, in verses 12 through 14, we are told to ‘cast off’ the works of darkness and make no provision for the flesh. Verse 14 in the NLT reads, “Don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
Also in verse 14, we are exhorted to ‘put on’ the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase ‘put on’ is translated from the Greek word, endyo, which means to clothe or array (in the sense of sinking into a garment). The textural notes in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible gives added clarity to this verse by stating, “Paul emphasizes a high standard of moral conduct, particularly in view of the nearness of the Lord’s return, when our salvation will be consummated.” To ‘put on’ the Lord Jesus Christ is described as : “ submitting to His Lordship; accepting His moral standards; living in constant fellowship with Him; and depending upon His strength.”
For us to be transformed into His image requires the work and power of the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of the believer. Even though we become new creatures when we accept Christ as our Savior, we still must actively put on that new man. We live in the flesh and Ephesians 4: 23 and 24 reveals we are to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” and to “put on the new self.”
To further understand what it means behaviorally for us to ‘Put On Christ’, I want to share the textural notes on Romans 13: 11-14 found in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible: “To put on the Lord Jesus, we must : 1). submit to His Lordship; 2). accept His moral standards; 3). live in constant fellowship with Him, and 4). to depend on His strength.” Note: these are all action words. There is nothing passive about our relationship with God.
We also receive added insight as we read in Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: “To put on the Lord Jesus means to take his life as a pattern and guide; to imitate his example; to obey His precepts; and to become like Him. He was temperate, chase, pure, peaceable, and meek; and to ‘put Him on’ is to imitate Him in these respects. Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; Isaiah 53:9; 1 John 3:5).”
There are three activities you must make a priority in your life for you to be able to ‘put on Christ.’ The first is to read, study, and know the Word of God. It is only through His Word that we will know and understand the will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV) reads. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We can only renew our minds through the Word of God.
Secondly, we need to be in prayer or communicating with the Lord. We are to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Remember, prayer isn’t just you talking, it is a conversation. You need to also listen.
The third action that will facilitate our putting on Christ is to worship God. God inhabits or dwells in the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3 NKJV).
I have made it a habit to pray each morning for the Holy Spirit to help me to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to make no provision for the flesh. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me bring every thought into the captivity or obedience of Christ. Then, I also ask that He would transform me by His power, into the image of Christ.
The greatest way to ‘put on Christ’ is to spend time with Him in every way you can. It takes making a quality decision to make that time with Him a priority. We must put aside all distractions that would draw us away from Him.
Choose to make Him your best and most intimate friend!
You, put on Christ!
Fulfill His plan and purpose for your life!
CSB Christian Standard Bible
NKJB New King James Bible
NLT New Living Translation