Clean Clothes

Introduction:

· The walk of shame...

LET’S LOOK AT HOW WE ANSWER THE ACCUSER, HOW WE EMBRACE A NEW STANDING AND THE POWER FOR GENUINE TRANSFORMATION.

I) How Do We Answer the Accuser (vv. 1-2)

A. Court is in Session: The Accuser Points Out our Guilt (vs. 1)

i. The Setup: Where & Who (see Ps. 109:6)

Psalm 109:6 ESV

Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.

1. “Right hand” = Court, priest = God’s people, the adversary = prosecutor

2. Satan puts God’s people on trial, reminding them of their guilt & failure

ii. Court is In Session In Our Heart

1. The Holy Spirit is gentle, convicts, calls to repentance, promises grace

2. But that’s not the voice we hear: The accuser loves “remember when…”

3. EXAMPLE: Weighing us down with the guilt of our past lies, temper…

B. God defends his Children Against Attacks (vs. 2)

i. God Defends His Chosen against accusations

1. The “burning stick” is a reference to God’s chosen vessel

2. God’s “Mama-bear” reaction when someone badmouthshis child

ii. Christ is the new “accuser” (see Rom. 8:33-34)

Romans 8:33–34 ESV

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

1. Jesus stands as “accuser” who knows all about you but doesn’t condemn

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2. Therefore: DO NOT listen to that accusing voice against God’s child!!

BUT, THE PROBLEM RUNS DEEPER THAN JUST GUILT. LOOK AT VERSE 3.

II) How Do We Embrace the Standing God Gives Us

A. Sin Leaves us in a Shameful Condition (vv. 3)

i. To Stand with filthy garments is to know deeply your unworthiness

1. As priest, Joshua’s disgustingly defiled garments represent Judah’s shame

2. This “shame” is Judah’s deep unworthiness before the presence of God

ii. If Guilt says “I do wrong” Shame says “I AM Wrong:

1. Shame says: “I am what I do…and I can never do enough, àworthless”

2. EXAMPLES: constructive feedback goes to your heart; It’s why you try something and it doesn’t work out, you feel worthless.

iii. As in Eden, we deal with shame by: (Gen. 3:7-8)

Genesis 3:7–8 ESV

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

1. Hiding: Why do you have such difficulty being vulnerable?

2. Covering: You’re always trying to impress people

B. God Graciously Gives New Clothing (vv. 3-5)

i. God will restore His people

1. The clothing is festival clothing; the turban is what royalty would wear!

2. God restores Judah from unworthy sewage to be his royal bride!

ii. How this changes How We see ourselves

1. If shame measures worth by performance, gospel measures by God’s view

2. EXAMPLE: How much of your worth is tied to how God sees you?

I CAN HEAR SOME OF YOU PUSHING BACK.

III) The Power for Real Transformation

A. God Graciously Restores The Priest…IF He Will be Faithful (vv. 6-7)

i. But this Gift was conditional (vv. 6-7)

1. Doesn’t the “If” means that these benefits depend on obedience?

2. YES! A defiled priest would be destroyed in the perfect presence of God

B. God Graciously Supplies Our Need!

ii. God would appoint a “chosen branch” to fulfill this work

1. Branch is a Messianic term pointing to God’s coming obedient servant

2. This “Branch” would be the greater “Jeshua”: A representative whose work applied ot the whole

iii. Jesus exchanges his royal clothing for our defiled garments

1. Jesus wore the whitest garments anyone has ever seen (Matt. 17:2 )

Matthew 17:2 ESV

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

On the cross, Jesus exchanges his brilliant white garments for rags and a crown of thorns, he enters into God’s presence and is destroyed

2. What happens to the priest applies to all whom the priest represents

3. SO: Look to the priest who was consumed so we are clothed in Christ

Transition:

Conclusion

THEREFORE: Our priest no longer accuses but defends; he no longer condemns, but faithfully prays for you!