Clothing is always a person’s calling card. Whatever we may think and however we may view this subject, our appearance and facial expression create the first impression of us. Sometimes a person’s occupation can be identified by his clothing. Without saying a word, anyone’s clothing tells us a great deal.
Among the Heavenly goods Jesus offers us is white raiment, which covers the shame of my nakedness. I understand that this clothing is not literal but symbolizes something very important in the spiritual world—something Heaven desires to see upon me. Anything else is simply unacceptable. I cannot imagine appearing unclothed before a Holy God. How could I claim any privileges in such a condition?
Many formal events have a dress code with which everyone present must comply. Any departure from this protocol is a serious breach of etiquette and an expression of disrespect toward the event’s organizers. You may simply be denied entry or asked to leave the gathering. But although the world may make exceptions and the influence of fashion may change styles of clothing, Heaven has one established standard for everyone.
The Bible describes God clothed in a white garment (Daniel 7:9). We may also read about Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, where He was clothed in raiment white as the light (Matthew 17:2), exceeding white as snow (Mark 9:3). The angels present at Christ’s resurrection and ascension were also clothed in white garments (John 20:12; Acts 1:10).
In the message to Sardis, the Lord says that there are a few people there who have not defiled their garments and “shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4). He then gives the assurance that “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment” (verse 5).
After this, we read in the message to Laodicea that Jesus counsels us to buy this white raiment. John then describes a great multitude clothed in white robes and standing before the throne (Revelation 7:9). One of the elders explains who these people are and why they wear white robes: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).
What does the symbol of “white raiment” mean in the message to Laodicea? It has nothing to do with literal things, but represents God’s special clothing for a person’s character. We read the explanation in Revelation 19:7–8: “For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. 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.”
We first encounter the expression concerning righteousness in Genesis 15:6: “And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.”
In the law of Moses we find this definition in Deuteronomy 6:25: “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us.”
But the prophet Isaiah declares that, in the end, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
After Christ’s death and resurrection, everything became clear, and the apostle Paul explains the garments of righteousness in his epistles. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” And then in Philippians 3:8–9: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
This very “righteousness by faith,” which is the “Righteousness of Christ” and which Jesus Himself calls white raiment, is what He offers me in exchange for my righteousness. In His eyes, my righteousness leaves me naked; in the eyes of the prophet Isaiah, it is filthy.
What does this transaction mean for me? It means that in the eyes of Heaven I become righteous through Christ’s merits and by faith in Him. His righteousness is imputed to me. It also becomes part of my character, producing a righteous person’s new way of thinking and a new heart transformed by God Himself, according to my desire and through faith in Jesus.
Righteousness has always been imputed by faith, but in the last days the Lord has united it with His Agape love through the Holy Spirit so that, through these gifts, He may work in my heart and mind in all His fullness and carry out through me His plans for this perishing world.
Because of iniquity, I lost my understanding of righteousness by faith and decided to seek it in the law and in my good works. But God cannot accept such obedience, because any sin of mine cancels out all my good deeds and sentences me to death. Only by faith in Jesus, because of His shed Blood and the sacrifice He offered for me, can I receive justification. This is precisely how the Lord desires to see me when He offers His goods.
Righteousness by faith is imputed to me when I turn to Jesus as my Savior. Afterward, it is imparted to me as I grow spiritually in faith and in the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent.
White raiment is not something new; it is an essential quality of the soul for the people of the last days. I must not only possess it but also understand what it is and what advantage it gives me. If God Himself desires to see me wearing this raiment, I should not hinder Him.
This garment is not placed over my unclean clothing; it is given in exchange for my indecently filthy garments. This is so painful. My whole soul, all my understanding of holiness, all my ambitions, and all my achievements have been invested in this clothing. Must I remove it and give it to Christ? Yes, this is exactly what the Lord desires from me. I must also be washed, and the best means of cleansing is the Blood of Christ.
Humanly speaking, I do not particularly want to do this, but the new heart desires precisely that. It draws me to Jesus.
Together with the gold, the white raiment makes me one of Heaven’s own. All that remains is for me to anoint my eyes so that I may understand and see this.
I am storing up all these Heavenly blessings for the future battle and for the conflicts of the present. I now look ahead boldly, knowing who I am and believing that I am special in God’s eyes because I am in Him and He is in me. Christ Himself comes each day into the home of my heart to teach me how to represent His authority rightly in this world, how to preserve everything I have acquired by faith in Him, and how to multiply God’s blessings and talents for His glory.
And I am learning. I put on Christ, clothe myself in His love, and go into the world in which I still live so that I may be tested and established in love.
Homework 86
What was revealed to you in this lesson? What is the righteousness of Christ, and how do you envision it in your life? Why does Jesus counsel Laodicea specifically to buy white raiment? What does white raiment have to do with Agape love? Why are they offered together? What is “the shame of thy nakedness”? How can I know whether I have it? How can I determine whether I possess white raiment? Please read Genesis 3:10; Matthew 22:10–14; Zechariah 3:1–5; Jeremiah 17:9; and Matthew 5:8 in the light of our lesson.