Are You Properly Clothed?

Introduction:

Bible clearly teaches that God cares how we dress

1 Timothy 2:9–10 NKJV

in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Proverbs 7:10 NKJV

And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.

Bible also teaches the importance of being properly dressed “spiritually”

1 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

1 Peter 3:3–4 NKJV

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Revelation 3:17 NKJV

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

I. We Must First Remove the Improper Clothing (vv.8-9)

A. “Put Off”

“They must put off or removed from one self as one would put of or remove a garment from one’s body” - Weaver

“as one puts off garments of the night” - Vincent

Bible knowledge -”means to ‘put off” like a suit of clothes. In its ethical use here it means to ‘throw it off like a dirty shirt”

B. Anger

Anger is not always sinful -

Ephesians 4:26 NKJV

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

This anger “suggests a more settled or abiding condition of mind, frequently with a view to taking revenge” - Vine

Wuest - “an abiding, settled, and habitual anger that includes in its scope the purpose of revenge”

Need to be careful not to justify all anger as “Righteous indignation”

Ecclesiastes 7:9 NKJV

Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

C. Wrath

“boiling agitation of feelings, a sudden violent anger” - Wuest

The only difference between anger and wrath seems to be one of degree

Anger uncontrolled can lead to wrath

; ;

Proverbs 14:29 NKJV

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

Proverbs 16:32 NKJV

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28 NKJV

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

D. Malice

1 “malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, deparvity” - Thayer

2. Distinguished from “Evil” in that malice may never express it self outwardly

3.

1 Peter 2:1 NKJV

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

E. Blasphemy

“railing , reviling, slander.....speech injurious to another’s good name” -

ESV - “slander”

While blasphemy is often direct to God - Context indicates man is the object -

Proverbs 10:18 NKJV

Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

v.

Jude 8–10 NKJV

Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.

F. Filthy Language

ESV - “obscene talk” ; NASV- “abusive talk”

includes profanity, cursing, dirty, jokes, and discussion of filthy topics

G. Lying -

Revelation 21:8 NKJV

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

II. Why Put Off These Things?

A. They Stir the Wrath of God (v.6)

B. They Don’t Fit the New Man (vv.9-10)

they do not fit with one who is renewed after God’s image

III. We Must Put on the Proper Clothing (vv.10-17)

A. Tender Mercies

ESV - “compassion”

It describes a caring and sympathetic heart

One Another -

1 Peter 3:8 NKJV

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

Sinner -

Jonah 4:1–3 NKJV

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

Enemies -

Romans 12:20 NKJV

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

B. Kindness

Translated gentleness in

Galatians 5:22 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

“The ancient writers defined chrestotes as the virtue of the man whose neighbor’s good is as dear to him as his own’

Matthew 22:39 NKJV

And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

C. Humliity

1 “having a humble opinion of one self; a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness; modesty; humilty…having a modest opinion of oneself” - Thayer

2. Not a false humility - ,

Colossians 2:18 NKJV

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Colossians 2:23 NKJV

These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

3. Jesus is an example -

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

D. Meekness

1. Difficult words to define - There is no one synonym that explains meekness

2. It is not weakness but he fruit of power -

Numbers 12:1 NKJV

Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Numbers 12:1–3 NKJV

Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

3. Attitude that accepts God’s will without disputing or resisting -

James 1:21 NKJV

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

4. Associated with self-control -

Galatians 5:23 NKJV

gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

5. Bears with the insults and injuries given by others

6. It is not occupied with self at all

E. Long-suffering

1 . ESV, NASV - “patience”

2. “patience, steadfastness, endurance.” forbearnce”

3.

James 1:19 NKJV

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

F. Bearing With One Another

Robertson - “holding one self back from one another”

Weaver - “to be forbearing with one another is” to bear with that person, usually by making allowances for him in certaain ways.”

Weaver -”forbearance is patience demonstrated”

G. Forgiveness

- we should forgive because Christ forgave us

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 17:1–5 NKJV

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

H. Love

This is an agape which seeks best for the receipient of this love

ESV - “hold everything together in perfect harmony”

;

Colossians 2:2 NKJV

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

John 13:34 NKJV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

I. Peace of God

Peace he gives to those who serve him faithfully

Thayer - “tranquil state of the soul assurance of its salvation through Christ and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort it is” - Thayer

Rule - act as an umpire

J. Word of God

Dwells - it is at home in us

Conclusion:

How are you dressed?

Are you properly clothed? -

Matthew 22:1–14 NKJV

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”