It is not the dress which adorns the bride, but the bride which adorns the dress. What, then, is the bride adorned with? The bridegroom.
While many criticized Princess Meghan for the simplicity of her wedding dress, this writer saw her as beautiful. Everything about her on her wedding day was beautiful. The dress only emphasized her loveliness. This is how it should be.
But how does this relate to the church? The Church, the Bride of Christ must be beautiful, too: before the dress ever goes on. Her character must be of good repute, her heart must be ever turned toward her beloved. Focused only on Him her eyes will shine and reflect the love she sees in His eyes. She is beautiful.
Her dress is immaculate: spotless and without blemish. She is clothed in the righteousness of her Bridegroom. Romans 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
Romans 3:22-24 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
The righteousness of Christ with which the Bride is clothed is "By Faith in Jesus Christ and by Believing in His Name". We are adorned by the hand of God with His Grace and His Mercy, which are extended to us through the blood of God's Lamb, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:22-23 "But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence -- indeed if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard..".
She is clothed in the righteousness of the saints: Revelation 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
What is the righteousness of the saints? God's approval of our actions regarding our obedience to His Word. It is justification on His part, choosing to see us, upon our belief in Him and His Holy Word, as sinless; for when God looks in the direction of the saints, he sees His Son, for it is His Son who clothes us with Himself.
The more obedient we are to God's Word the more ready we are to obey when He calls our name to attend to this matter here, or that situation there. Choosing to obey Him and increase Him rather than ourselves.
Through our belief in the Name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven, acquitted, if you will, of the sins (unrighteousness) we have committed. We are shown mercy moment by moment; grace extensively; love unconditionally. Our repentance, the turning away from our sins, marks the beginning of making us beautiful. Without this as our first step, anything else we do is worthless.
While many criticized Princess Meghan for the simplicity of her wedding dress, this writer saw her as beautiful. Everything about her on her wedding day was beautiful. The dress only emphasized her loveliness. This is how it should be.
But how does this relate to the church? The Church, the Bride of Christ must be beautiful, too: before the dress ever goes on. Her character must be of good repute, her heart must be ever turned toward her beloved. Focused only on Him her eyes will shine and reflect the love she sees in His eyes. She is beautiful.
Her dress is immaculate: spotless and without blemish. She is clothed in the righteousness of her Bridegroom. Romans 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
Romans 3:22-24 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
The righteousness of Christ with which the Bride is clothed is "By Faith in Jesus Christ and by Believing in His Name". We are adorned by the hand of God with His Grace and His Mercy, which are extended to us through the blood of God's Lamb, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:22-23 "But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence -- indeed if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard..".
She is clothed in the righteousness of the saints: Revelation 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
What is the righteousness of the saints? God's approval of our actions regarding our obedience to His Word. It is justification on His part, choosing to see us, upon our belief in Him and His Holy Word, as sinless; for when God looks in the direction of the saints, he sees His Son, for it is His Son who clothes us with Himself.
The more obedient we are to God's Word the more ready we are to obey when He calls our name to attend to this matter here, or that situation there. Choosing to obey Him and increase Him rather than ourselves.
Through our belief in the Name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven, acquitted, if you will, of the sins (unrighteousness) we have committed. We are shown mercy moment by moment; grace extensively; love unconditionally. Our repentance, the turning away from our sins, marks the beginning of making us beautiful. Without this as our first step, anything else we do is worthless.
