Zechariah 3:4-7: New Garments
Just as with the story of Joshua below, God wants us to get rid of our filthy garments of sin. Now that we live in a new covenant, we know the only way for us to be clean is through Jesus Christ, only then can we obtain clean clothes of righteousness washed in His blood.
(Zechariah 3:4-7) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, "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."
And I said, "Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. "
And the angel of the Lord stood by. And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by."
Once we have allowed God to clean us up, we need to work at staying clean by making a daily decision to keep sin at bay. We cannot conquer sin on our own, but the Holy Spirit will help give us the will power to stay away from the things God hates.
(1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jesus is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle. Therefore, we must continually work at keeping clean before a holy God!
(Ephesians 5:26-27) That He might sanctify and cleanse with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
When we choose to accept Jesus' free gift of salvation, and become a new person in Jesus, we are to try to say new and not go back to the old ways of sin.
(2 Corinthians 5:15-17) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Read your Bible and only trust what is says, and not what other people may be trying to convince you what it says. Then you will know what Jesus expects from you, and you will know how to keep yourself clean.
(Isaiah 64:5-6) Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
And remember the good news! Jesus is always gracious and faithful to forgive is when we make mistakes! We can start over with repentance, and Jesus will clean us up all over again.
(1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
However, do not ever want to take God's grace for granted and abuse it! We try to stay clean because we love Him and because He so dearly loves us. We do not sin and say, "Oh well, God will forgive me." No, we try very hard not to sin in the first place and honor God's amazing love with a clean lifestyle. We crucify the flesh and live not for ourselves by for Jesus!
(Romans 6:1-2, 5-6, & 13-15) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.