Posted by Edwin M. Cotto
12/29/2021
The idea that we must merely put on the “robe of righteousness” without turning from sin is antithetical to the very purpose of that robe. Having on the robe of righteousness means much more then just being “covered.” There is more then merely being “declared” justified and righteous. Like as putting on a coat during winter causes a CHANGE of temperature in the body, so putting on the Robe of Righteousness causes a change as well, but in character. Thus it is written:
Isaiah 61:10-1110) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath COVERED me with the ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.Generally,
Christians stop here. But the next verse tells us what that robe actually does to believers:
11) For as the earth BRINGETH FORTH her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it TO SPRING FORTH; {{SO}} the Lord God will {{CAUSE}} righteousness and praise TO SPRING FORTH BEFORE ALL THE NATIONS.
The water rained upon the garden and covering the ground is the robe. The flowers, trees and fruits are the result of that robe. And who causes them to show forth the righteousness? Who causes them to BE righteous? Why, God himself!
Rightly so, then, did Paul say that the old man must be CRUCIFIED, that we should henceforth no longer “serve sin” (Rom. 6:6). Christ must be PUT ON (Rom. 13:14), that his perfect obedience may be manifested THROUGH US (2 Corinthians 4:10). A servant of the Lord once put it in no clearer terms:
“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, AND THIS CHARACTER HE OFFERS TO IMPART TO US. “All our righteousness are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)… (but) by His perfect obedience HE HAS MADE IT {{POSSIBLE}} for every human being to OBEY God’s commandments. When we SUBMIT ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the WILL IS MERGED IN HIS WILL, the mind becomes ONE with His mind, the thoughts are brought into CAPTIVITY to Him; WE LIVE HIS LIFE. {{THIS}} is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but HIS OWN robe of righteousness, which is PERFECT OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW OF JEHOVAH.” -Faith and Works, page 113, paragraph 4.
Now go in the strengthening power of Christ, ye who have been forgiven and clothed with his robe of righteousness, and “sin no more” (John 8:11, 34, 1 John 3:6, 
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