Garments Of Salvation

Ever since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, sin has held sway over the entire world. The authority placed on man by God over the earth was usurped by Satan. Sin brought death and decay. One interesting fact to note at the time was that man (man is used collectively for Adam and Eve here) suddenly realized that they were naked.

Our first parents needed no clothes for covering against cold or heat, for neither could hurt them and they needed none for ornament. Life was easy and man was happy in his state of innocence. How good God was to him! How many favours did he load him with! How easy were the laws given to him! Yet man, being in honour, did not understand his own interest, but soon became as the beasts that perish.

The ignominy of their act made them realize that they were now exposed completed. To hide their shame they stitched leaves together to cover themselves. The "fig leaf" expression can be traced to this act in Eden.

In Genesis 3:21 we read that God made coats of skin for man to hide his shame. Blood was spilt in Eden for the skins to be made into clothes. A type of the blood that would be shed later for the sins of all mankind.

In Isaiah 61:10 we read: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, 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, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

This is the garment that the Lord provides to those who hear His voice and come to seek Him. Notice that the verse says that He will clothe us. This garment is not something you can buy. Neither can you earn it. The Bible says that Salvation belongs to the Lord and He offers it freely to all. All you need to do is ask and you shall receive.

Zechariah 3:4 says: "And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." [Raiment means clothes.]

When a person comes to Christ and accepts His gift of life, the Lord removes the garment stained by sin and gives us a new set of clothes. One that is necessary to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Notice that the Bible also speaks of good works but this good works is the result of a change in heart and destiny. When you follow Christ you can't help but do good works. Good works cannot get you salvation but salvation will generate good works through you. These good works have a different reward - the robes of righteousness.

The robes of salvation is given by God to His chosen. Notice:

Revelations 6:9-11 - "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

Revelation 7:9-14 - "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

All the Lord's saints will be clothed in the garments (robes) of salvation.