Clothes Make the Man

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.

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Is One as Good as Another?

There is an attitude in our society toward religion that they are all pretty much the same. Once this concept is embraced, the door is open for each of us to make choices which best suit our own lifestyles. This really makes it easy, but it may be too easy!

The concept that “one is about as good as another” just does not make sense. Is one wife just as good as another? Is one school just as good as another? Is one boss just as good as another? Is one residence just as good as another? Is one parent just as good as another? Is one doctor just as good as another? Hardly anyone uses this “one is as good as another” in making life choices.

What about religious books? Is the Koran just as good as the Bible? Is the Book of Mormon just as good as the Bible? Are books written by fallible men just as good as the Bible? Are the edicts which come from church councils just as good as the Bible?

What about life styles and the partners we choose? Are “one night stands” just as good as marriage? Are “same sex marriages” just as good as marriage? Are those “living together but not married” arrangements just as good as marriage? Is polygamy just as good as marriage?

As you think more deeply about this, you sense an element of truth that “one is as good as another,” until you consider that this all changes when there is divine intervention. One book might be as good as another book as long as you leave the Bible out of it! When the Bible becomes part of the consideration, one is not as good as another.

One “marriage” arrangement might be as good as another, until you consider the divine arrangement for marriage. As long as one leaves holy matrimony out of consideration, one way might be equal to another and this allows personal choices. Yet, when God’s arrangement is included, one is not as good as another.

The same is true of churches. Jesus established a divine church and purchased it with His blood. It teaches His morality. It worships in His divinely given ways. There are humanly designed churches and one of these is just as good as another. But when His church enters the picture, one is not as good as another. As the Bible is a divine book and marriage is of divine origin, so the church itself is divine.

Because of this, we are not at liberty to ignore His revelation about any spiritual matter! His thoughts and His ways are higher than our thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). My thoughts and yours are equal, but His thoughts are all that matter!

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The Uncertainty of Life

The normal life time of a person today averages about 75 years. As we consider these facts we ought to determine to live according to God’s instruction so that our years here will be pleasant and perhaps a bit longer than 75. We know that the Bible teaches that man may live perhaps 80 years if by reason of physical care and condition of the physical man as well as the spiritual man; God’s Book tells us this in … {1 Peter 3:10 – For, He that would love life, And see good days , Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: ASV — Psalms 90:10: “The days of our years are three score years and ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow [RSV, “trouble”] …” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

As we look thoughtfully at the teaching of the Bible and to past history and experiences in our lives {i.e. depending on age} we may realize the importance of our existence each day. Indeed; God created each one of us for great things but the extent of our greatness is dependent upon our reaction to events in our live from God’s perspective.

The accomplishments of ours as individuals may be meager but as part of an active and approved of God congregation {i.e. a faithful member of a sound church of Christ –cf. Romans 16:16}; we may be a sound, growing, united, and faithful to God’s Word movement in a city of false religions, doing God’s work without failing in our responsibilities to our wives/husbands and children as well as doing everything that WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE THOSE IN OUR FAMILY, OUR NEIGHBORS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WILL LISTEN TO US AND CONSIDER OUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO VISIT THE CONGREGATION, TEACH THEM ALSO TO CONSIDER SALVATION FROM SIN BECAUSE WE PURSUE THEM, TALK ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF GOD; THE CHURCH AND APPLAUD THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH AMONG THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

Yes; life here is uncertain but we can make our lives count for Almighty God if we will volunteer to be a Christian and live a faithful and fruitful life in His service – cf. 1 Peter 1:3-10 – 3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, (being) more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, (even) the salvation of (your) souls. 10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that (should come) unto you: ASV

by Garreth L. Clair

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Contradictions in the Bible (Part 4)

Matthew 1:16 “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

Luke 3:23 “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.”

According to 1 Corinthians 14:33 “God is not the author of confusion….” However, these verses appear to be at odds over the lineage of Christ. Surely two men cannot be the father of Joseph. What is going on here? The answer to this supposed contradiction is relatively simple, but requires some explanation. Most scholars today agree that the first seventeen verses in the first chapter of Matthew give the genealogy of Joseph, while Luke gives that of Mary, making Jacob the father of Joseph and Heli the father of Mary. This is shown by the two narrations of the virgin birth. Matthew 1:18-25 tells the story only from Joseph’s perspective, while Luke 1:26-56 is told wholly from Mary’s point of view.

A logical question to ask is why Joseph is mentioned in both genealogies? The answer is again quite simple. Luke follows strict Hebrew tradition in mentioning only the names of males. Therefore, in this case, Mary is designated by her husband’s name. R.A. Torrey stated: “Joseph’s name is introduced into this place in place of Mary’s, he being Mary’s husband. Heli was Joseph’s father-in-law; and so Joseph was called ‘the son of Heli.’ While Joseph was son-in-law of Heli, he was, according to the flesh, actually the son of Jacob.” The term “son” as commonly used in such tables had three different meanings according to James Coffman: “1. son by actual birth; 2. son-in-law, and; 3. son by creation, as in the case of Adam.”

These two separate genealogies of Jesus Christ were, in fact, absolutely necessary in the establishment of Christ as the Messiah. The Messianic title, “Son of David,” that we so frequently apply to Christ required dual proof: (1) that He was entitled to throne, as Matthew’s genealogy indicated; and (2) that He literally descended from David, as Luke’s genealogy demonstrates. The verses in Matthew clearly establish Christ as the legal heir to the throne by tracing His ancestry down through the royal line of the kings of Israel, with Luke’s account demonstrating that He was a descendant of David.

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Contradictions in the Bible (Part 3)

Whether they are 5 or 50, do your children know they can rely on God’s Word? Think for just a moment before you answer that question. Far too often, children learn the Bible similar to the way in they might study a textbook. They read and isolate passages, and various Scriptures—memorizing verses that are most often repeated. Some may even have a good working knowledge of the way the Bible is laid out. But do they truly look to it for guidance and strength? For many homes, the answer to that question is no. Many children reach an age where doubt and skepticism interfere with their relationship with God. And as such, their reliance on the Truths found in God’s Word become insignificant, and wind up straying away from New Testament Christianity. In John 17:17 we read “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” One way to combat doubt and skepticism is to challenge alleged discrepancies and contradictions that atheists proclaim exist in the Bible.

For instance, Matthew 28:1 records: “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb.” From this passage it would seem safe to presume that these two Mary’s went to the tomb. But what about John’s account in which we are told “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early…” (John 20:1). There is no mention of the second Mary. If that weren’t confusing enough, Mark then adds another name to the mix: “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1). So which account is correct? Are these verses contradictory?

The answer is that they are all correct. Some of the Bible writers choose to give more information that others. Technically speaking this is called supplementation—and supplementation does not equal contradiction. Another example of this can be found in the Gospel accounts of the arrest of Jesus, where we are given various pieces of information about the servant of the High Priest whose ear was cut off.

Most people readily understand that a message is often changed according to the audience. For instance, I routinely change my lessons depending on the age and education level of my audience. Likewise, if 4 eyewitnesses to a car wreck were asked to give their testimony they would all probably add different details while explaining the same incident. As we come across passages like the ones above we must remember that the writers were writing to different groups of people, and they stressed different items. This by no means deems the Bible as unreliable.

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