… for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Summary: When we talk about being clothed in Christ we might wonder what that is like. Fortunately, Jesus tells us a wonderful story about a father and his son.
When we are baptized, God sees us as we are, naked. You could say he sees us in our “birthday suit.” When we come out of the water, something amazing happens. God gives us spiritual clothes to wear. Specifically, we “put on” Jesus Christ.
That sounds a bit weird, doesn’t it?
It is weird, but it is also true.
There is a wonderful story in Luke* about the “Prodigal Son.” If you have heard the story, you know that a father had two sons, and the younger one demanded his share of the estate and then left home.
In the story, the younger son travels to a “distant country” where he “squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15: 13). When he runs out of money, he finds that he also runs out of friends. Nobody takes him in.
In desperation, he takes a job working on a farm, feeding the pigs. Farms are generally smelly, and pig farms are among the worst. Carrying food for the pigs puts him in the position of being a servant to the pigs. The pigs lounged around all day, rooting in the mud and filth, while he worked to haul their food from the barn to the pig pens.
Something was wrong!
Finally, it occurred to the young man that his father’s servants lived better than he was. He could go home, but there was a problem. He had left on bad terms, and they were all of his own making.
Perhaps, one day, he had a conversation with the pigs. Leaning against a fence post after emptying a basket of pods into the feeding trough, he might have asked, “What should I do?”
The nearest pig might have looked up from rooting in the mud, stared at him, and seemed to say, “Go home, idiot! Apologize!” Apologize! Now there was an idea.
He left the farm and started walking back home. As he walked, he worked on what he would say. He looked like a mess. He was covered with mud and smelled of pigs. As bad as he must have looked on the outside, he looked worse to himself on the inside.
Suddenly, as he came over the hill in sight of home, his father spotted him. The father ran to meet his younger son. At the sight of his father running towards him, the young man shrank back. Shame covered him from head to toe. He wanted to hide, but hunger and need forced him to stand his ground.
As his father neared, he started to stammer, “Father … I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21)
And then, a miracle happened.
His father embraced him, mud and stench and all. He kissed him and welcomed him home. He sent for the best robe he had and put it on his son. Then he threw a party.
Family bonds are like that.
God is like that, too.
The best robe he has is his own Son, Jesus Christ. When we realize our need for God and turn toward home, he wraps us up in love. The mud and stench of our past sins are covered up. We are welcomed home and have been “clothed with Christ.”
Application: Rejoice! All heaven celebrates your return! (Luke 15:10)
Food for Thought: Is being “baptized into Christ” different than just being baptized?
- Luke 15:11-32
Thanks brother. Good analogy this morning.
I think being baptized in Christ is definitely different than being baptized without faith in Christ. Being baptized without Christ is just talking a bath.
However, if one is being baptized to show people they have placed their faith in Christ and are followers of Jesus, then it has great significance. It is a demonstration that God Himself chose to show that we are identifying with Christ’s death and that we have been raised to new life by faith in Christ (Romans 6: 3 – 5; Colossians 2: 11 – 15).
Thank you, Rich!
“Just taking a bath” is right! 🙂
When Christ is involved, it is so much more!
Good devotion! I like the parable of the prodical son because it so closely illustrates how our Heavenly Father welcomes those who repent and come back home.
In Matthew 3, Jesus showed us in His baptism that complete submission to the Fathers Will pleases the Father. When we accept the gift of salvation through Christ, accept Him as Lord of our life, and are baptized, it pleases the Father. Our submission draws us closer to Him. Not only are we calling out to Him, but He is answering. The physical act of the baptism is a representation of the inner working of the Spirit. Without the inner working of the Spirit, baptism then becomes a “work.” Our hope is not built on being baptized, it is hope that Christ brings and lives within us that makes baptism an act of submission and worship.
Chris,
Great point! I like how you tied the question to “works” versus an act of obedience and faith.