Paul tells us we need to change clothes. We are supposed to take off the works of darkness, the body of flesh, the old pattern of behavior. In this place, we are told to put on the new form of conduct: kindness, meekness, patience, love, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
Like a change of clothing
The words for “putting off” and “putting on” are in fact words that mean undressing and dressing. Paul presents an interesting figure, one that he uses in at least six other contexts. With such widespread usage, he must feel it’s a very apt figure to represent the change we must undergo.
What are clothes for? Well, they help us to keep warm, but their first use was to cover nakedness, and that remains their primary function. What happens when we take off our clothes? There is nothing left to cover our nudity and imperfections. We are exposed. Unless we have absorbed the callousness of the age, we feel shame. Herein is an excellent figure to describe the painful necessity to uncover our moral imperfections before God. We get undressed when we confess our sins.
But just look at the filthy garments (Zech. 3:3) we were wearing — the works of darkness! After taking those off, we surely don’t want to put them back on. We may find that kindness, meekness, and patience don’t fit very well when we first try them on; but if we give ourselves time, it’s possible to fit into them.
The most beautiful part of Paul’s figure comes when he talks about “putting on Christ.” Picture it: my own flawed, unpleasing body covered by perfection. I need feel no shame!
Our faces still show
But wait. Something of us still shows even after we are dressed — our faces. Could Paul have forgotten this detail? I doubt it. There is meaning here as well. We may be covered in Christ, but he never removes or disguises our basic personality. Who we are remains visible to all. This is an important feature. God doesn’t want faceless robots, He wants each one of us as individuals.
And He intends for us to remain individuals forever. The same language of getting dressed is used of gaining immortality (I Corinthians 15:53-54, II Corinthians 5:2-5). In the eternal kingdom of God, we will remain forever who we are — our faces still visible.
This thought provokes a serious question. What kind of “face” do I have? Angry, hostile, vengeful? Proud, vain, selfish? Miserable, joyless, bored? Deceitful and crafty? Confused and depressed? Will the Lord want to keep any of these personalities around forever? Are we counting on him to change us into something we are not?
Our bodies will be changed — immortal and immune to temptation. But our character is our responsibility and will remain unchanged. The kind and gentle look, the joyful and confident demeanor, the honest and humble countenance, the loyal and resolute visage — it is with these that the Judge will choose to share eternity.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One