I was given a picture painted of a woman who was clothed in a spotted torn robe (symbolizing a life of sin), and the hands of God placing a robe of white (symbolizing the blood of Christ) over her spotted torn robe. This picture was a visual of a doctrine many hold. They see God, through the blood of Christ, covering over our sins. All God will see is the righteousness of Jesus and not the life of sin. Revelation 6:9-11 gives us a picture of those martyred for the cause of Christ given white robes. Revelation 7:13 asks the question, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?" This is the question, which we are asking today. Revelation 7:14 gives us the answer to our question, "These are they which... have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Their spotted sinful robes were washed in the blood of Christ, cleaned and made white, free from sin. Thayers Lexicon, expounding says, "Christ's blood makes one pure and sinless." Revelation 1:5 states our case clearly, "Jesus Christ...washed us from our sins in his own blood."

Many believe the robe is Jesus' righteousness, which God cannot look through and see a life of sin. Revelation 19:7, 8 helps us understand this point, "she (the church) should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." The robes are the saints righteousness, not Jesus' righteousness. The washing of Jesus' blood removes from our robes every spot and stain, making it pure and holy. Our sin is removed and our covering is spotless.

"...My God...hath clothed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10. How is this done? Zechariah 3:4 explains, "Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Our filthy garments of sin are removed, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and returned to us, a white robe of righteousness, in its place.

What are we covering ourself with? Isaiah 30:1, "Woe to the rebellious children saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:" God is saying that the rebellious attempt to cover sin, but that is not His counsel. Revelation 3:5, 6 says, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life." This is the red letter part of the Bible, Jesus is saying when we overcome sin, remove it from our lives, wash it from our robes then we will be clothed in white raiment, then our names will be written in the Lambs book of life.

The white robe of righteousness we wear will remain if we continue to live a righteous holy, sinless life. 1 John 3:10 says, "whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God." The blood of Jesus will wash our robe but our righteous life will maintain it pure and spotless. [ The End ]