SCRIPTURE: John l: l2...'But those who received him, to those who believed on His Name, he gave the right 'to become' children of God.'

The truth is being 'clothed in Christ' is a mystical thing. Nobody can fully explain it to you unless you experience it for yourself. Otherwise, to be wrapped with Christ means His intense presence has come upon you. His presence comes to live inside your body with you as you are to be the temple of the Holy Spirit after being born again. Where there was one abiding within, now, there will be two.

But, this intense presence can only be explained as it happens to you personally or unless you see it happening in someone else's life in a way that will influence your understanding. Unless this presence comes to dwell with you within, you will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You will not understand your walk with Christ simply by reading the Bible. That presence will lead you into all truth where you dwelt in darkness in the past.

The original Greek says it is like this - (Christ Have Put On). This is a work of Christ, not you, where He clothes you with His Son by an act of heaven.

Just as clothing we wear gives an impression of what we are to others, the expression..'Clothes Make The Man'...When Christ comes to live inside, when we wear Christ and allow Him to flow through us, the old self has passed away and behold, we have become new. Stepping aside, Christ is allowed to shine and flow through us. We have become 'Christ-like'.

The true Chosen of Christ will have and bear the life style of Christ. Christ has become first in their life above and beyond anything else. They now walk in His character, His love for others, His compassion, His mercy, His forgiveness, in all He embodies in us as we yield to His Spirit in us. Nothing, Nothing is more valuable than knowing He lives in us to His will and good pleasure.

He becomes our 'greatest love', protector, councilor, teacher. His power indwells us and appears when we least expect it or have grown to dwell in. The things of this world have become secondary to our love for Christ and doing the will of the Father.

When in a large group, anyone would be able to easily pick out the Chosen of Christ. Many will be drawn to them and many may not. Why? Because you have the countenance of Christ. Those still in darkness may withdraw because they feel the weight of their sin in your presence. Others, however, will be drawn to you. Children especially will be drawn to you and you may notice animals too will feel comfortable in your presence. (See Galatians 3:27; Isaiah 64:6 or Zech 3:3-4.

Paul's instruction to 'put on Christ' is a message that we should not rely on our own righteousness but rely on Jesus as our righteousness and only means of Salvation. As it is only through Him that people can be saved.. Jesus used the same image in the Parable of the Prodigal Son...Luke l5:22.

John also refers to the same where in the Book of Revelation, it speaks of the saved being clothed in a while robe of Christ's righteousness, washed in the blood of the Lamb. (See Rev. 6:11, Rev. 7: l3-l4, Rev. l9: 7-8, and Rev. 22:l4). Paul goes onto explain the idea of 'putting on Christ' in Ephesians 2:21 - 24; Romans l3:14, and in Colossians 3:9-10. Thus, to be "clothed in Christ" or to "put on Christ' is to be seen as Christ shining forth out of us and we are transformed into His very likeness.

Be Imitators of Christ..To be imitators of Christ is one of the central parts of the 'plan of salvation'. Essentially, the Bible tells converted Christians that they will be transformed into the likeness of Christ by the renewing of their minds.

Here are some sample scriptures available for further reference: Eph.5:1, Genesis l:26-27, 5:1; 9:6; Eph. 4:20-24, I Jn 3:2. (Note that this means that one of the purposes of salvation is to restore the likeness of God in humans that sin has erased. I John 2:6; Matthew 4:1...'being born into the Spirit wrapped in and clothed in Christ. John 3:5; Acts 2:38; Galatians 5:25; John 6:63; Phillipians 3:3; John 4:29 - In fact, the whole life of Christians is to put aside the 'psychical' mind and live by Christ within, (God's very Spirit within)...the holy life within.

Romans 8:29 speaks of 'conforming to the likeness of the Son'.

Romans l2:l-2 speaks of transforming our will and bodies to conform to God's will.

I Peter l: l5 - l6 speaks of 'Be ye holy as I Am holy'.

2 Corinthains 3:l8 speaks of we being changed into Christ's glory.

Phillipians 2:5 speaks of we will have the mind of Christ.

In closing, in Galatians 2:20, Paul said he was crucified with Christ and that Christ now lived in him. In another place, Paul tells us to imitate him as He imitated Christ.

Again, I must say now that just being invited to come doesn't mean we are 'in'. For, we must see clearly that in John l:l2, it says...'Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right 'to become' children of God...What this means, once again, Jesus crossed paths with many people in the Bible, all seeking Him, all were 'invited' But, only those who 'put on Christ' and were transformed by the renewing of their minds could enter the Kingdom of God, those of true faith, true repentance, and true surrender. The rest were left behind. It wasn't merely by invitation but through transformation as Christ clothed us with His presence that we were chosen. And, this transformation only came from the Father's imparting it to us and not by anything, any work that we did on our own. The final work had to come from above. We just have to open our hearts to receive and not turn away from His full plan of salvation. Amen?

Prayer - Lord, there is so little time left. And, the church has been deceived into thinking all may enter in if we just say one prayer and attend church. Nothing is required. We can just sit in our pews, eat, drink, and be merry with nothing required further of us. But, Lord, we have not been taught the true picture of salvation and what is required. You had a plan and a purpose. To those who came to the wedding had to be 'clothed in Christ'. Let us see the full picture now and ask you to fill each one and 'clothe us in Christ Jesus'. Transform us now in ways that we never thought possible. All we have to do is open up our hearts and receive. In Jesus' Name...Amen?

The Wilderness Preacher

John 3:3...Jesus answered, saying to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man is not born again (from above), he cannot see the Kingdom of God.'