–George Sheffield He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. (Jn 3:36) Jesus came at Christmas to bring us new clothes, new garments to wear. The garment we are born with is the garment of wrath. John the Baptist preached that the wrath of God abides on us, we wear it like a garment, all because of our sin.
But Jesus wants to clothe us in different garments--the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness (Isa 61:10), garments that can only be received at the new birth. When saved, we shed the garment of wrath, and then are dressed in these new dressings. The garment of salvation because we are saved. The robe of righteousness because we are made holy. All done by being washed in the blood of Jesus. The hymn Rock of Ages sings: Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure. Salvation is a double cure--it saves us from God’s wrath against sin and it makes us holy.
I pray that as this new year begins, you are wearing the new clothes of the new birth. Without these garments you will not be allowed into Heaven (Matt 22).
