Digibron cookies

Voor optimale prestaties van de website gebruiken wij cookies. Overeenstemmig met de EU GDPR kunt u kiezen welke cookies u wilt toestaan.

Noodzakelijke en wettelijk toegestane cookies

Noodzakelijke en wettelijk toegestane cookies zijn verplicht om de basisfunctionaliteit van Digibron te kunnen gebruiken.

Optionele cookies

Onderstaande cookies zijn optioneel, maar verbeteren uw ervaring van Digibron.

Bekijk het origineel

“THE BEST ROBE”

Bekijk het origineel

+ Meer informatie

“THE BEST ROBE”

9 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Luke 15:22: “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him.”

CHRIST’S righteousness is not only called a robe, but the best robe, which some translators render, the first robe; and, indeed, the righteousness of Christ was first in God’s design and appointment, (though there is no first or last with him) yet in the order of things we might so speak, as it was the first, and indeed the last glory robe that he ordained for his people to appear before him in.

Question. But why is it called the best robe?

Answer. Because the heavenly Father has many robes, but none other like this, among all that he hath in his wardrobe.

Question. Wherein doth it appear that he hath many robes?

First. In that he hath clothed angels in created righteousness, every way agreeable to their glorified station, in the most holy place, therefore called holy angels; “The Son of man shall come in his glory, and his holy angels with him.” (Matthew 25:31.)

Second. He clothed Adam with a garment of innocency; he had holiness of nature and moral rectitude; “God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him.” (Gen. 1:27)

Third. But let it be observed, that he clothes all his sons and daughters, the heirs of heaven, with the righteousness of Christ, which made Isaiah say, “Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness;” Daniel saith, “he hath brought in an everlasting righteousness;” and Paul saith, that “he is made unto us righteousness;” and David says, “as for me, I will behold his face in righteousness.” (Psalm 17:15.) And the reason why it is called a robe is, because it covers our nakedness, and hides all our blemished, faults, and imperfections: it shelters, screens, and preserves from storms and prickling briars; it beautifies, decorates, and adorns the person on whom it is put, that infinite wisdom can find no flaw, but says, “Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee.” (Cant. 4:7.) It will be the distinguishing mark at the last day, the sheep that will all be clothed with it shall be placed on the right hand of the King, while the goats shall stand on the left. Christ adorns his people with the robe of sanctification, with the gifts and graces of his Spirit, every way fitting them for eternal glory, which made the Psalmist say, “The King’s daughter is all glorious within.” He likewise clothes them with immortality and eternal life, “for this corruptible must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on immortality,” (1 Cor. 15:53) these vile bodies must be fashioned like unto Christ’s most glorious body; yet notwithstanding all this clothing, his righteousness may be called the best robe.

First. It is a better robe than Adam had in innocency, as that only fitted him for earth, but this for heaven; the first man was of the earth, earthly; but the second man is the Lord from heaven. Adam’s righteousness was liable to be stained, defiled, rent in pieces, and totally demolished; but the righteousness of Christ is an everlasting righteousness, the same yesterday, today, and forever; as sin can never defile it, so the devil’s claws can never rend it: it is so holy, it can never be polluted; so strong, that it can never be rent or worn out; when, alas! Adam’s righteousness was soon worn to pieces.

Second. It is a better robe than angels wear, as the righteousness of angels is a created one, and so far resembles Adam’s; but the righteousness of Christ was wrought out by Immanuel, the God-man, the eternal Word, the great I am that I am, the self-existent Jehovah. The righteousness of angels will justify none but themselves, but the righteousness of Christ justifies all his people; “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39) The righteousness of angels may be lost, and so they perish eternally, as appears; “And the angels that kept not their first estate, but left their own habitaion, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6) But none can perish that are clothed with the righteousness of Christ; for it not only gives a right to eternal life, but secures the enjoyment of it for perpetuity; “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)

Third. It is a better robe than sanctification, as sanctification in this life is not perfect; but the righteousness of Christ is now perfect and complete; which made Paul say, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?” (Rom. 8:34) as sanctification comes in consequence of our justification.

Question. Is it a better robe than immortality and eternal life?

Answer. Yes, this robe gives a right to immortality and eternal life, which flow as the genuine effect of this robe; the cause must be greater than the effect, and had we not enjoyed the former, we could never have enjoyed the latter, “for life and immortality are brought to light by the gospel.” But it appears to be the best robe, inasmuch as it bears the best and grandest titles of any robe belonging to the great King.

First. It is called the righteousness of saints, the righteousness of Christ, the righteousness of God, the white robe, the best robe, the wedding garment; and as no robe can compare with it for titles, it proves it to be the best robe.

Second. It is the most expensive robe, it cost the Father the utmost stretch of thought: infinite wisdom was set to work in order to draw the grand plan; immense fulness drew forth its treasures to furnish out this garment; the love, grace, and mercy of God, with their combined funds, exert all their force to enrich and aggrandize it; it cost our dear Immanuel thirtythree years labour, toil, and travail, to complete it: when he hung upon the cross, just before he expired, he said, “It is finished.” It has cost many a minister his life in a profound study, to find out its excellencies, and by unwearied assiduity to describe and make it known to men. The Holy Ghost hath indited a whole volume to point out and set forth this garment; he hath inspired men in all ages of the world to study, preach, and lay down their lives in vindication of it; some have delivered large and excellent prophecies relating to it; he hath made the most envious men in love with, it and the adamant heart to reverence and adore it: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ.” ‘(Phil. 3:9)

Third. It is the most beautiful robe, as it is the wedding garment prepared for the bride, the Lamb’s wife. John the divine describes it to the life; “Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife; having the glory of God, and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” (Rev. 21:9, 11) Never did the attributes of Jehovah shine forth with such lustre as they do in this garment; the great King might well say to his church, when clothed in this robe, “Thou art all fair, my love;” and it might well be said, “On thy right did sit the queen in gold of Opher.”

Fourth. This robe, my dear readers, will be so far from diminishing the glory of the upper world, that it will give a brilliancy to the whole empire, and throw a lustre upon the throne of the Most High: it will make the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, appear with such beauty, as we could not have beheld him any other way: it will be a crown of glory, and a royal diadem upon the head of our dear Immanuel; “And on his head were many crowns” (Rev. 29:12) which will reflect such glory, that saints and angels will sit and sing, admire and gaze, wonder and contemplate, with transport and joy for ever and ever, saying, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” It is so perfect that infinite wisdom can behold no flaw in it; so pure that immaculate holiness views, admires, and approves of it; unsearchable love, grace and mercy triumph in it; divine sovereignty mantles through it, and Omnipotence shines from every part of it, “Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it.” (Isaiah 44:23)

Fifth. This robe is as extensive as the law of God, which David says, is “exceeding broad:” as it extends to the thoughts of the heart, as well as the actions of life, and requires a perpetual sinless perfection in each. But this robe is commensurate to all its demands, “as he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” It is so strong and durable, that neither Satan, with all his power; hell, with all its force; or man, with all his wickedness, can make any impression upon it; “If thou sinnest, what dost thou against him.” (Job 35:6)

Lastly. This robe will never decay nor wax old; it will always retain its beauty and firmness, therefore called by the prophet Daniel, “an everlasting righteousness.” Angels, and our first parents, had their righteous robes torn and shattered to pieces; but the believer being clothed in this garment, shall shine as the sun in the firmament for ever and ever. In short, this robe is so good, so grand, and so useful to man, it brings such a rich revenue of glory to the eternal King, that Jehovah with all his power and skill, heaven with all its riches, can never furnish out a more rich, excellent, God-glorifying garment.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 september 1945

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's

“THE BEST ROBE”

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 september 1945

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's