For many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27
This is a little Jewish Culture note from the life application Bible.
In Roman society a youth coming of age laid aside the robe of childhood and put on a new toga. This represented his move into adult citizenship with full rights and responsibilities. Paul joined this cultural understanding with he concept of baptism. By becoming Christians and being baptized, the Galatian believers were becoming spiritually grown up and ready to take on the privileges and responsibilities of the more mature. Paul was saying that they had laid aside the old clothes of the law and were putting on Christ’s new robe of righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21
What is righteousness? The greek word for righteousness/just is dikaiosune. This bears two meanings in the New Testament. One is the sphere of God’s gracious covenantal relations to God’s people toward each other. The other meaning is in the sphere of life in conformity to a known standard or law – Honesty and legality. Righteousness can be tied with mercy, loving kindness, and justice.
Repentance and righteous behavior is pleasing God. Righteousness is a conformity to his own teachings about the requirements of the will of God and the Kingdom of heaven.
We now have a little history and a little meaning. What does putting on Christ mean? it means maturing in Christ. One having a close and intimate relationship with God. We have received Jesus as our righteousness. We walk as he walked. This is not an outward imitation but an entire change. Putting on Christ is putting on his sentiments, opinions, characteristic traits. We put on the Lord’s righteousness is compared to a garment – the best robe, fine linens, robe of righteousness.
Are you putting on Christ?
God,
I pray from this time forward, we will put on you. We will choose not to put our old self on. Put a desire in our hearts that we will want to know you more. We will choose to obey your word and turn away from sin.
Amen
