Do clothes really make the man? In other words, do they indicate the quality of an individual? Certainly how a person clothes himself affects the judgment of many others regarding him. However, truthfully speaking, the physical appearance of a man does not represent a completely trustworthy gauge. Ted Bundy was considered to be quite a handsome well groomed man, but he lived a life as a serial killer. Many undercover police officers dress and look horribly evil. However, the purpose of their clothing represents a higher quality than their appearance. The greatest and highest quality man to ever walk the earth, Jesus, certainly did not have an outstanding appearance according to man:
Isaiah 53:2-3 – “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
The answer to “Do clothes make the man?” when contemplated from a physical standpoint must be answered “No!”
Now, ask the question once more, “Do clothes really make the man?” and this time consider the spiritual clothing of man. Ponder the Christian, erring Christian, willfully disobedient Christian, disfellowshipped Christian, member of a denomination, member of a religious body which does not recognize the God of the Bible as the one and only God, and finally, the individual with no religious ties. While this seems like a large group to analyze, be assured their standing in God’s eyes can readily be ascertained. Accepting the Bible as the final authority as to how the individuals are clothed will determine if “spiritual clothes makes the man”. The Word of God is truth (John 17:17) and any conclusion of man’s quality not based on scripture cannot stand (Matthew 7:24-27).
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 represents a good starting place for examination. This passage discusses the return of Christ and declares those that do not know God and have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus shall be punished with everlasting destruction. Acts 4:10-12 establishes that only by the name of Jesus Christ will men be saved. Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32-33 that individuals who deny him he will deny before the father in heaven. Denying Christ and refusing His name equate to not obeying him. Jesus told the apostles to teach all creation to observe all that he had commanded them (Matthew 28:19-20). Those commands include hearing the Word that one might have faith (Romans 10:17), confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10), repenting (Acts 2:38), being baptized (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21), and being faithful to death (Revelation 2:10). Christians can be identified by these characteristics. The obedient Christian will be saved because with his sins being washed away he will not be kept from God (Isaiah 59:1-2, Acts 22:16, Revelation 1:5). All of these verses demonstrating the obedience of a Christian relate directly to his clothing. The Christian wears the clothing of Christ and keeps those clothes on by continuing to obey Christ’s commands. His spiritual clothes identify him as precious quality.
Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
John 8:31-32 – “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Approaching the aforementioned groups of men for examination in reverse order (minus the Christian already defined), how many have obeyed Christ and put Him on? Certainly, the individual with no religious ties does not put on Christ. He wears the clothes of worldliness. Romans 12:1-2 tells the Christian to not be conformed to the world. Those who do not recognize the God of the Bible and worship other gods (Matthew 4:10) also clothe themselves in disobedient worldliness. They do not wear the quality clothing of Christ. Additionally, members of denominations, putting aside the name of Christ and accepting labels such as Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Evangelical, Protestant, Charismatic, etc., openly deny Christ by identification. Furthermore, they chiefly deny the baptism Christ commanded for salvation while accepting man made creeds in their worship. Such groups certainly wear the clothes of worldliness rather than Christ. When considering those previously identified as Christians, but who have been disfellowshipped by the Church because they turned to follow worldliness, it can be said they too do not wear the clothing of Christ. Next, consider the clothes of the willfully disobedient Christian (but not disfellowshipped). Matthew 6:24 declares man cannot serve two masters. If not committing to wearing Christ, the Christian commits to wearing the garb of the world. All of these groups due to their purposeful lack of obedience to Christ shall be eternally punished. They do not have salvation which comes only in Christ according the Bible. These folks though fitting into different subgroups, all fit the description of a single group whose clothes identify them as condemned.
Finally, consider the erring Christian who wants to serve God, but still finds himself falling into sin (James 3:2). Should erring Christians be considered one with the willfully disobedient or disfellowshipped Christian? How can those who are clinging to Christ be considered the same as those who willingly reject him. Is the erring Christian the same as the member of a denomination, false religion, or non-religious? No! The erring Christian became an heir of Christ, a brother, while the others have no relationship with Christ at All. Many people believe “real” Christians are supposedly “perfect” or without sin. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Later in Romans 7:14-25, Paul detailed how he battled sin. His battle continually went on, flesh against spirit. Should Paul be considered the same as those lost and without hope in their current behaviors? No! The apostle John says as much in I John 1:8-2:1:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
Erring Christians may not be without sin, but they work to abide in Christ. Unlike those who cling to the world, they are All Christians find themselves in this state at one time or another. They falter in sins of ignorance and presumption (Psalm 19), but asking forgiveness they see their sins forgiven. Thus, they still wear the clothing of Christ and salvation. No man lives without sin. Sin represents a constant battle. Christians often find themselves in error by weakness or ignorance. Their penitent response to sin causes the blood of Christ to continually wash them, enabling them to abide in Christ perpetually. The clothes of an individual can be observed by their deeds in complete. Those spiritual clothes definitely make the man.
In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells a parable of the kingdom of God as a wedding. A great number were invited but only a few came. Those who can be considered as not coming are those of the world, the false religions, the denominations, and disfellowshipped Christians who have returned to the world. Those who came were the erring Christians and the willfully sinful Christians. However, the King noticed the one who did not belong. His clothes gave him away. He was not wearing the wedding clothes commanded. Who could this be? The Christian who willfully sins demonstrates his worldly clothes by his worldly deeds. His quality lacks that desired by the King. The erring, but continually penitent Christian stands with his wedding clothes pure in Christ. While it cannot be said of physical clothes, spiritual clothes of Christ make the man. They demonstrate the acceptable, highly prized quality demanded by God.
A commonly seen bumper sticker reads: “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.” An erring Christian should not be lumped into groups who identify with the world; he should be identified with the God whom he serves. The erring Christian constantly seeks to do right and listens to correction that he might not fall. The difference between him as a Christian and others comes down to love. We know he loves, because he works to keep Christ’s commandments (John 14:15).
Perhaps a last question needs to be asked. Should one fellowship an erring Christian? Absolutely! Fellowship enabled Paul to rebuke Peter when Peter was distancing himself from non-Jewish Christians (Galatians 2:14). Fellowship enables us to “save some” (Jude 1:20-23) from eternal fire. Christians have an obligation to aid their brothers in their struggling. Consider all the words of rebuke, admonishment, and encouragement Paul shared with the erring Corinthians and Galatians. Did he simply drop them like a rock because of their struggles in sin? No! Ephesians 5:11 establishes the Christian is not to share or fellowship the sinful actions of erring Christians. All the while, the Christian reproves his brother to turn back taking time to study with him, encourage him, and strengthen him (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Consider the erring new Christian. Though he put on Christ his knowledge likely remains incomplete. Perhaps for a time he will continue to engage in sinful behavior without realizing the error. However, his heart remains unchanged from the moment he was baptized. He desires to do all Christ commands him. When through study he realizes his error, repentance immediately occurs. During this time of growth (no Christian should stop growing) should he be treated as if out of Christ because he errs? Certainly not! Only when a fellow brother in Christ refuses to hear the Word any longer has he cast aside his garments in Christ and returned to the world. Until that time, the erring Christian shares the blessings of Christian unity, rejoicing in hope, suffering together, and caring for one another (I Corinthians 12:14-27). Demonstrate the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) with such an individual showing longsuffering and love toward him. He wears the clothes of Christ and should be treated as such, not as a foreigner who is of the world.