Romans Eight and the Wonder of Oz

Romans chapter eight is by far my favorite chapter in the entire N.T. scripture. Its premises and promises are so incredibly powerful as to provide perfect peace in the midst of the worst of circumstances (incidentally, just like my favorite passage in the O.T. scriptures, the 46th Psalm).  Are you in Christ? Are you a Christian? Are you hurting? Do you sometimes feel powerless despite your God given, daily, no condemnation, complete, right now, Romans eight-defined victory? If so, then probably you need to re-read that Romans 8 text, repeatedly; and then perhaps, reconsider Dorothy…

Poor, pitiful, pilgrimatic and problematic Dorothy; a stranger who was stranded in a strange land where she’d strangely landed. She simply wanted to go home. If only she knew how. Then someone suggested that surely the wizard would know how, and so, she sets out on a perilous and dangerous pilgrimage down the yellow brick road towards Oz. Along the way she meets some weary souls who are willing, like her, to face whatever perils might come – including death itself if necessary – in order to obtain the one thing that they themselves most desired; to the simple scarecrow, a brain; to the tarnished tin man, a heart; and to the cowardly lion, courage. And then, after a long and dangerous peril-fraught journey which involved repeatedly facing death and destruction at the hands of their enemy, when they finally reached their all-important destination it was revealed to them that the very powers they had so zealously and desperately sought to possess, had in reality, been within them from the very beginning. They just hadn’t realized this simple truth. And just think how much trouble they could have saved themselves if they’d only realized what was already theirs, and in fact, had dwelt within them from the very beginning! Amazing!

But is it really any different with us, as we, along with many other weary souls, journey through untold darkness and danger toward home and heaven, always seeking to at last experience the God-promised peace, joy, and victory that we so desperately desire – while facing incredibly powerful and seemingly overwhelming opposition and heartache at every step from Satan himself?

God wants you to know that you don’t have to go through life like that. God wants you to know that some of the blessings you seek from Him, He’s already placed within your grasp. God wants you to know that you don’t need to tackle the terror to taste the triumph. He’s already faced it, beaten it, and given you the victory: both in it, over it, and through it. You don’t have to daily go through hell to get to Heaven despite what the old rock-n-roll song says to the contrary; Christ already has, so you already can. He’s trying to tell you in Romans eight that the victory you seek is already yours now – don’t leave (for) home without (knowing) it!

Understand, God doesn’t want you to be like the scarecrow; a poor, pitiful, and paltry imitation of a man, confined to a lonely, forgotten post, whose sole purpose for existence was to try to scare away all of those flitting black little pests who were totally unafraid of him and who attacked him relentlessly. Why, when he figured out that he didn’t have a brain (really think about that one for a moment), it was the “last straw.” So, he joined Dorothy on her journey, “witch” really got him “fired up.” God wants you to use the brain He’s already given you, to understand the victory He’s already given you, here and now in Christ Jesus. That’s what Romans the eighth chapter is all about. Just re-read verse one alone!

And, although you may have found the tin man to be a rather riveting character, God doesn’t want you to be a spiritual tin man either; empty, hollow, hapless, helpless, and hopeless. Do you remember how a sudden rainstorm would leave him rusted and immobile? It rendered him useless. Unfortunately many Christians today wind up in the same condition at the slightest suggestion of an approaching storm themselves. However, those who understand that they don’t have to wait until the “sweet by and by,” but are “More Than Conquerors” right here in the “down and dirty now and now,” are not paralyzed by sudden spiritual storms, but instead, realize that they are: prepared for them, protected through them, and perfected by them.  They allow their rainstorm to become His “reign-storm,” and their problem to become His pathway (Matthew 14:22-33; 1 Peter 1:3-9; James 1:2-3).

Another reason we must not be like the tin man is because he didn’t know that the heart he so desperately sought to possess was already within him. Occasionally it can be difficult to discern if we have one like Jesus desires for us to have (James 3:13-4:12). Just look at how we often treat one another – particularly those who hurt us. And yet God loves them from the depths of His heart just as He does us. Can we love them that same way? Absolutely; but only because He has so very graciously given us the power and ability to do so if we’d only choose to acknowledge and utilize it; if we, unlike the tin man, understood that we possess that power within our hearts even now if we are faithful Christians and children of the living God. Consider: the same spirit that enabled Jesus at the cross to say “Father, please forgive them…” resides where now? In you – if you’re a Christian (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9-11). And if He resides in you, you must allow Him to lead you in order to be pleasing to God and God-like to men (see Romans 8:12-14 and 1 John 4:17).

God also doesn’t want you to be like the cowardly lion. He spent his days in fear, petrified at every “bump in the night” and afraid of every shadow that silently slithered by. It wasn’t that he lacked the courage or power to deal with and defeat his life’s problems; it was just that he was simply and sadly, completely unaware that he even possessed such powerful abilities.

Jesus does not want you to be discouraged, disheartened, or afraid of anything Satan did, does, or might attempt to do to you. Just look at what Jesus Himself said the very night before His own betrayal and subsequent crucifixion and separation from God His Father, at the hands of sinners: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). He also said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Oh how these eternal encouragements from our one Lord and only Savior Jesus Christ echo the divinely-inspired words of the Godly prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 26:3 (which see).

The courage to face each new day, despite whatever your circumstances (and let’s face it folks, Romans 8:35-39 contains a pretty comprehensive list wherein I’m sure that all of our own “unique” problems can certainly be placed under one heading or another) comes from understanding that the victory “in all these things” is undeniably, irreversibly, and absolutely guaranteed by God Himself; that you are more than conqueror in them all right now through Jesus Christ. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It’s a win-win, no-lose situation where and when we understand that God is in complete control. He doesn’t know how to lose because He’s never been defeated and never will be (Acts 4:23-31)! Paul understood this win-win, no-lose situation when walking with God when he reported:  “…for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lords” (Romans 14:8). When exactly are we going to get this?

And lastly, don’t be a Dorothy. She could easily have been destroyed on her journey home, simply because she failed to comprehend the power already at her disposal and within her grasp during the trip. She should have begun to get a clue when the wicked witch had to actually ask her for the slippers as opposed to just simply taking them off of and away from her. And we must understand that Satan cannot take away from us that which matters most; it can only be lost through our ignorant or impetuous surrender or swapping thereof. Although she did finally make it home, many Christians today tragically do not. They die needlessly along the tempestuous trail, victory intact, but completely untapped. And Satan laughs gleefully… in the face of the grace of almighty God, as the following so ominously illustrates:

“An old vulture sits atop a dead tree whose roots cling uncertainly to the rocky soil at the upper rim of the canyon. The human eye can detect no sign of life in the dry valley far below, but the bird slowly and languidly pushes away from his branch and launches himself into the atmosphere. All is quiet except for the wind’s whisper and the quiet and solemn “coo” of a mourning dove. As the sun slowly rises towards its zenith, a dark speck in the sky looms larger, and larger, and more familiar. It is our friend, the vulture, who, with lazy ease, is floating home. The reason for his excursion, unseen by us, lies on the dry canyon floor; a lamb’s last remains, from one separated from the flock and the shepherd’s staff, and eaten by wolves. He preens himself and flaps his wings in contentment, and once again, turns to survey the canyon below. ‘Be sober, be watchful; your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour’” (1 Peter 5:8).                               ~Carson Stephens

So tell that wicked witch to take a flying hike in the other direction in the name of your victory giving Jesus! And you know what? He has NO CHOICE but to do so (James 4:7). God has promised you right there in His all-authoritative and inerrant Word, in Romans, chapter eight, that you can overwhelmingly conquer right now, in all these awful things – which obviously won’t be in heaven but exist only here on earth – through Him who loves you (present tense, not future). Now that’s an “intact fact for when you’re attacked,” present-tense and Providential promise brethren! Now that’s what Romans eight says, and it’s “in-tense!”

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What Some Call Legalism …

What Some Call Legalism, God Calls a Blessing.

The nation of Israel stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai and saw all that was happening. They felt the ground shaking beneath their feet. Then, the voice of God thundered and spoke the Ten Commandments to them. They were so terrified that they begged Moses to climb the mountain and let God personally deliver His laws to him. Their words were, “You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you” (Deut. 5:27). They then added, “And we will hear and do it.”

The Lord heard these words of commitment and the promise they made that, when the revelation of God’s message was complete, they would listen to the message and do it. His response was, “They are right in all that they have spoken” (Deut. 5:28). Some people today mock such promises of devotion to listen to what God says and a commitment to do whatever He wants. They call that legalism. Whatever derisive name they might call it, they are wrong. The Lord said that every word of the Jews spoken that day was right. To use the word legalism in this way mocks how God feels about obeying Him.

The next few verses show even further that God wants His followers to be concerned about finding His will and precisely doing what He teaches. Read the following words from our Creator and note the words I have emphasized. “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” How can anyone read these words and then sarcastically mock those who are trying to obey the Lord? Look at His words again and see that this attitude would not only be a blessing to those who had it but to their children forever.

He then told Moses, “Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you . . . you shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you that you may live and that it may be well with you” (Deut. 5:32-33).

It is obvious that those who mock attention to finding His will and obeying it have been reading too many books and listening to far too many theologians. Their whole attitude of obedience would be changed if they would look at how God speaks about this matter. We are not at liberty to come to His word and find what pleases us and mock those who seek to obey everything He said. Read the words highlighted in the words of God quoted above. Do it all!

There is true legalism in the gospel and that legalism is that men must seek His will, love it, and obey it!

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Making the Cut

Tuesday Rachel and David played in the Northern Kentucky Amateur Golf Tournament. They had to place in the top half of their respective divisions in order to “make the cut” and qualify to play in the second day of the tournament. Unfortunately neither of them did. We talked about what we had gone right and wrong, what we learned, and what was needed to play better. Then we discussed a plan to improve… there is still work to do.

While watching them play I received an email through the church’s website. The individual said he had reviewed our beliefs about God and salvation and wanted to point out his “differing view” of the gospel. The first thing he said was that the apostle Paul “never mentioned baptism, confession or anything other than faith in Christ.” His lack of understanding when it comes to what faith in Christ entails set the tone for the rest of the email. His statement about what Paul “never mentioned” is patently false.

The writer mentioned Galatians 1 in his email and if he would read just a little more of his Bible he would have come across Galatians 3:26-27, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Can one be saved without faith? No. Can one be saved without being in or putting on Christ? No. How does one faithfully obey Christ and put him on? Through baptism!

In Acts 22:16 Paul said he was commanded to be baptized in order to have his sins washed away. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” And in Romans 6 Paul said, “…do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (3-6).

Also Paul said “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
The email went on to explain this individuals understanding of the gospel message as revealed in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Nothing he said here caused me to disagree with him nor did I disagree with his affirmation that we are saved by the grace of God and through Jesus Christ. However, he assumed that we believe and teach that one can earn salvation and some how deserve it in eternity. Let me be clear, I have never said that we can merit salvation nor do I think it is deserved! I do believe and trust that God will do what He said and that is that all who obey Him and are faithful will be saved (Hebrews 5:8-9). The author’s false doctrine of salvation by grace alone is a sad battle being waged upon the souls of men everywhere!

We believe and teach that “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

You see, the grace of God doesn’t mean that we are saved unconditionally! God requires all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). He requires all to obey Him in order to escape His wrath (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Yes, God so loved the world that He sent His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16). His work is completed; our work has not! He expects us to love, obey and serve Him faithfully.

There is only one road that leads to heaven and that road is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Will we “make the cut?” only if we put in the diligent spiritual effort required. We will have to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,” and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). “Not
everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

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The Problem of Sin

— SIN —

A constant problem faced by everyone is the problem of sin. Sin is the great separator between God and man today as in all ages past. The reality of sin plagues the man that never attends religious services as well as those that do attend religious services. To this great problem that mankind continues to confront in daily life we direct the following comments.

DEFINING SIN:

SIN (Heb. hatta’a; Grk. hamartia, a falling away from or missing the right path). Also numerous other Heb. words.

General. The underlying idea of sin is that of law and of a lawgiver. The lawgiver is God. Hence sin is everything in the disposition and purpose and conduct of God’s moral creatures that is contrary to the expressed will of God (Rom 3:20; 4:15; 7:7; James 4:12,17).

The sinfulness of sin lies in the fact that it is against God, even when the wrong we do is to others or ourselves (Gen 39:9; Ps 51:4).

The being and law of God are perfectly harmonious, for “God is love.” The sum of all the commandments likewise is love; sin in its nature is egotism and selfishness. Self is put in the place of God (Rom 15:3; 1 Cor 13:5; 2 Tim 3:2,4; 2 Thess 2:3-4). Selfishness (not pure self-love, or the exaggeration of it, but in opposition to it) is at the bottom of all disobedience, and it becomes hostility to God when it collides with His law.

All sin therefore has a positive character, and the distinction between sins of commission and those of omission is only on the surface. In both cases, sin is actual disobedience (see Matt 23:23).

(From The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)

COMMENTARY (glc): People in the world becomes amenable to the law of Christ whenever they reach the age of accountability. Now, the age of accountability may be different in people, some people who are born are born with brain damage so that they never in life will be able to make a choice between good and evil, still others that may be born with the ability to choose between good and evil are damaged in auto accidents, etc., so that they too, are unable to choose between good and evil — all such people will not be amenable to God. Only those that develop normally with normal intellect in place will attain to the age of accountability (i.e., having the ability to choose good and/or evil whenever the choice is made available to them). The individual that chooses to disobey God will be considered by God as transgressor (i.e., sinner), cf.,

James 2:8-12, Howbeit if ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one (point), he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. ASV

CONSIDER THIS: Here in James 2:8-12 the subject of sin (i.e., transgression) is considered from both the Law of Moses and according to the “law of liberty” (i.e., the law of Christ). In both cases one is considered to be sinful even though he/she may keep part of the commands but fail to keep other parts of the same law. In this contexts we can surely see, man’s sin will separate him from the God that will eventually be his judge even though he might keep some law faithfully. The important point in this context is, man cannot keep part of the law of God and fail to keep other parts of the same law and expect God to reward him. Again, man cannot consider the good deeds he does as more important than keeping all of God’s law — cf.,         1 Samuel 15.

KEEPING SOME OF GOD’S COMMANDS

There are far too many people today involved in religious activity that are not obeying God’s commands and they know that they are not. Those that keep some of God’s commands are weighing their good deeds against their failures and are accepting their definition of righteousness based upon their partial obedience to God’s law and simply ignoring their failures to obey God in many other areas. This self standard of determining righteousness is completely unacceptable to God — cf.,

Col 3:24-4:1, knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. ASV

Matt 6:24, No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ASV

Consequently, no person can partially serve God and please Him. To serve God correctly let us determine to do all that God requires of us. God requires of us first that we become converted, converted from the kingdom of darkness (i.e., Satan’s kingdom) into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13-24). Secondly, once we have been converted to Christ’s Church we then need to continue to serve God faithfully for the rest of our lives, this faithfulness is not to be a pick-and-choose type of faithfulness but an acceptance of all God’s instructions continually — cf.,

Revelation 2:10, Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing. ASV

Let us always serve God willingly and completely, let us determine to do whatever we learn from God as our responsibilities.

DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN SIN

1.         FAILURE TO OBEY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS:

Acts 5:29, “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.”

2 Thessalonians 1:8, “rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:” ASV

1 Peter 4:17, “For the time (is come) for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if (it begin) first at us, what (shall be) the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?” ASV

2.         DOING MORE THAN GOD INSTRUCTS:

2 John 9-11, “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into (your) house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.” ASV

3.         DOING LESS THAN GOD INSTRUCTS:

James 2:10-11, “10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one (point), he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. ASV

Matthew 23:23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. ASV

Luke 11:42, “But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

4.         ALTERING GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS:

2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;” ASV

1 Timothy 6:3, “If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, (even) the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

Galatians 1:6-8, “6I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.ASV

2 Peter 3:15-16, “15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; as also in all (his) epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as (they do) also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” ASV

Matthew 15:3, “And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” ASV

CONCLUSION: The disciple of Christ will always be careful to love God and neighbor but will also make every effort to comply with God’s instruction that relate to other areas of life and service also. Cf., Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ASV

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How should we dress?

How should we dress according to the Bible?

Solomon wrote, “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” (Prov. 7:10) Notice that Solomon addresses the harlot’s attire who was lying in wait for a man, caught him, kissed him and enticed him with sweet words (Prov. 7:12-20). She used the seductiveness of revealing or suggestive clothing to entice another. Now in the beginning, God made man and woman (Gen. 1:26; 2:13) and joined them in marriage one to another by which they were naked and not ashamed (gen. 2:24-25). Yet, when Adam and Eve sinned and became ashamed of their nakedness, they sewed together aprons of fig leaves (Gen. 3:7). However, despite this effort to clothe themselves, they were still naked in the eyes of God by which he clothed them more adequately by making coats of skins (Gen. 3:21). Thus, God showed them what was acceptable to wear.

Over the millenniums, when one views the television today, there is lewdness of dress exhibited by men, women and sadly even children. Oddly enough, parents even encourage their children to parade their nakedness in public view which includes but is not limited to: mini skirts, string bikinis, thongs, push-up bras, low cut blouses, and all those clothes, that as one designer said, gives us a, “look at me attitude.” Furthermore, there are many who wear their clothes so tight that you can actually read the labels of their undergarments! Thus, we live in a sexual world by which we are bombarded with sexual billboards, sexual song lyrics, sexual commercials laced with sexual innuendoes and with mothers who claim, “if ya got it, flaunt it!” They have forgotten God and they have forgotten what God showed Adam and Eve as being acceptable. Peter commanded to, “not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts . . . be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living (1 Pet. 1:13-16 ASV). Yet we live in a world, by which many Christians, sadly, show little concern for their manner of dress and present themselves shameful and embarrassing to God. Now while stating this claim, notice that the Bible says nothing about current styles and many would classify the styles of the Bible as: “That was then . . . that is too old fashion . . . those are out of date . . . things have changed since then,” but has God really become too old fashion? I hope this is not what we are trying to say.

The fact is, God has always demanded a certain dress code. In the Old Testament, the priest had a high standard of modesty (Lev. 8:6-9) because he commanded the priest to be set apart by their dress. This command was to Aaron, his sons and priest after them. So, they were to be clothed by God’s standards. Thus the question is, by whose standards are many Christians living by, when they wear clothing so tightly that the entire chest of a woman is exposed or you see on a man what his mother and father saw at birth?

Now, some may say, “Well that is under the Old Testament and not under the New Testament.” O.K. First of all, “whatsoever things are written afortime are written for our learning . . . “ (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11-12). Second, whatsoever (meaning everything) ye do in word (meaning by your voice) or deed (meaning an act of doing), do all in the name of the Lord (Col. 3:17). Now, when one wears something that is immodest, would he still wear it in front of Jesus’s face? Third, the New Covenant calls Christians priest (Rev. 1:6). Therefore my question is: Who was the person who said that it does not matter what the priest (Christians) under the New Testament wear? Were is the book, chapter and verse for backing it up? Thus, if Christians are to be the royal priesthood and holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9), are we not also to be, “holy in all manner of conversation (which means living)” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). In addition, wasn’t it the apostle Paul who commanded that, “women adorn themselves in modest apparel” (1 Tim. 2:9-10)?

The fact is, God wants purity out of his children. He does not want the Christian’s body to become an instrument of lust (Matt. 5:28). He desires Christians to glorify God in our bodies and in spirit because they belong to him (1 Cor. 6:19-20). So, is God’s requirement for proper dress difficult to understand or are there those who are trying to find some sort of loophole in the Gospel so that we may wear something inappropriate? If Christians are to exhibit Christ in their lives, then before they leave the house, they need to look in the mirror and hold a Bible right next to them and ask, “Is this acceptable to God?” When thinking about our decency think of it this way: Our mates (husband and wife) ONLY have privileges of viewing and touching that which is to be covered (1 Cor. 7:4-5). NO ONE ELSE IS PERMITTED TO HAVE THIS RIGHT. Therefore, why should we tempt another to lust? Let’s keep ourselves clothed in modesty according to God’s standard and not to our own!

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