Long ago, in the first garden on Earth, a man and woman struggled to cover their naked bodies. The couple had disobeyed their Creator and they were in need of a covering. When God came to visit, they hid themselves because they had been unsuccessful covering themselves with tree foliage. Then God killed the first sacrifice and made coats of animal skins to cover the naked people. We have the same problem today and God will make a robe for each of us if we come to Him in the proper way.
The robe is not given to us in an indiscriminate way because it is made of the righteousness that was paid for by the blood of Christ. A great prophet of God once told of his joy at receiving the beautiful robe of righteousness, my soul shall be joyful in my god; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments (Is 61:10) Isaiah went on to prophesy that the gentiles would someday have the opportunity to own a robe. This robe is very important because we are all spiritually naked. The robe is to cover our bad nature because no one is born pure. Our sins must also be forgiven by the Savior. Anyone wanting to live with God must have this robe of righteousness to cover their fallen nature.
In this discourse, our fallen nature is compared to a person with leprosy. If a child was born to a leprous parent it would have the disease, similar to how all our children are born in sin. We must all be recreated in the image of God or perish and this is why Jesus said we need a second birth. The first man had fallen away from the image of God and now all his descendants need to be made over again.
Many people want to be in the image of God but they make a fatal mistake when they do no obey God completely. Adam obeyed God for a time but one day because of circumstances he felt the need to disobey a command of the Almighty. Disobedience is called "sin" by God and will always separate us from Him. Paul tells us that we may be recreated when the Spirit of Christ lives in us and brings "life because of (the robe of) righteousness." See Romans 8:10b
The prescription for the healing of our fatal disease (we are Lepers of Sin) is contained in the scriptures but it is a mystery to people using normal logic. Jesus explained this to his followers when he said Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. (Mk 4:11) God does not allow sinful people to understand the mystery of salvation because He is looking for people of faith who want only to trust Him. God is looking for real followers. He is not interested in saving people who are just looking for "fire insurance" so they may live their life anyway they desire. The Creator allows only real seekers to understand the way to eternal life. Everyone must desire a life different from our natural walk or we will never find salvation. The Lord is very clear when he tells us the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:8) Death will come to everyone and we must decide now what is to be our final destination. We should be seeking help with all our strength because people, in their own power, cannot live a life that is acceptable to God. Let us seek Christ and wear his robe of righteousness to cover ourselves.
The leper was required to cleanse both his soul (need the robe) and also his body (need forgiveness). At least one law has been broken by each of us and we are therefore guilty of a sin that needs forgiveness. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10) We must understand that to break one law makes us a sinner because only perfection counts in God's world. Terror should grip any heart when it realizes we are living with a fatal disease. We all face the horrible penalty of incarceration in the eternal Lake of Fire which rages for eternity, to carry out the punishment of mankind. There is no chance for our redemption until we are gripped by a conviction of each sin and we admit our need of cleansing. Jesus Christ will cleanse us from our sins and save us if we come to Him in faith and follow Him forever.
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