The Garment You Did Not Buy

You cannot dress well enough for this. Standing before a holy God was never going to happen on the strength of your own record.

Jesus told a story about a wedding where the host provided the clothes. Matthew 22:11-12 says, "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless." The man was not thrown out for being poor. He was thrown out for refusing what was handed to him free.

That garment is the righteousness of Christ. It comes with the invitation, and everyone at that table is wearing one they did not buy.

It does not matter whether you rate yourself as one of the good ones or one of the messy ones. Both need the same garment. Nobody has ever generated right standing with God out of their own effort.

Paul had the best religious record available and walked away from it. Philippians 3:9 says he wanted to "be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." He traded his best for God's own righteousness, which is not a fair trade, it is a gift.

So check what you are wearing today. If you are still trying to earn the seat, you are refusing the coat. Let the Holy Spirit settle it in you that you are already dressed and already welcome.