How do we Put on The Lord Jesus Christ? ~ blog

After exhorting us to realize that the return of Jesus is imminent and therefore, we need to lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the Armor of Light, he commands us to lay aside the deeds of darkness.  Imagine you are sitting there engaged in viewing porn the moment Jesus shows up. Yikes … that would truly be embarrassing.

Then, he specifically lists things that are the deeds of darkness.  Specifically, he writes;

“Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in

• carousing

• drunkenness

• sexual promiscuity

• sensuality

• strife and

• jealousy

 Carousing was a word associated with a group of people acting in a loud and obnoxious way usually due to drunkenness.  It would have been a …

“…riotous procession of half drunken revelers and frolicsome fellows who after supper paraded through the streets at night with torches and music.”

Sexual Promiscuity was the word used specifically for sex outside of marriage. It is abhorrent what our world has made of this precious gift God gave to be enjoyed in marriage between and husband and wife.  A great gift that God designed to bond a husband and wife has been made into a sexual event with no meaning or value other than to have an orgasm.

Sensuality …

“…came to convey the idea of shameless excess and the absence of restraint, especially with sexual excess. It was used almost exclusively of especially lewd sexual immorality, of uninhibited and unabashed lasciviousness. It refers to the kind of sexual debauchery and abandonment that characterizes much of modern society and that is often flaunted almost like a badge of distinction!” 

Can anyone say Gay Rights Parade?

He also mentions strife and jealousy are also things that we need to “lay aside or put down.”

In place of these things which do not add anything good to our lives and only end up consuming our time, money, strength and life, we are then told to …

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

The word used here for “but” is a very strong word which would indicate a way of saying “on the complete opposite end of the spectrum of life.”  Here is something we need to be doing daily and that is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, how exactly do we do that?

The word “put on” refers to someone getting into their clothes or getting dressed.  It is an action that we must initiate.  It does not happen automatically.  There is an effort needed on our part for this to happen.  I believe this happens in two ways based on two other commands in the Bible.

First, is our need to offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices as we are told in Romans 12:1-2.  It is the realization that if we are going to live our lives as followers of Christ, we give ourselves completely to Him at the beginning of the day.  That the # 1 act on our Things to Do Today list is surrendering our bodies and our lives to our Savior and Lord.  Because in actuality your body is not your own body.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

This is the first step to putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Surrendering your will, your body and your mind to Him each and every day.

Second, is to ask the Spirit of God to fill us as we are commanded in Ephesians 5:18. We give our body to Him and we need the Spirit to give us power to walk in the Spirit so that we do not give in to the desires of our flesh. This is not a once a day action but is to be an ongoing action.  Literally, the verse should be translated …

“… be filled and continue to be being filled with the Spirit.”

Once we have done these two daily steps, we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ, asked the Spirit to fill us and are ready to begin the day experiencing what Jesus would have for us each day.

My friends … these are not suggestions. There are imperative commands and are the only way we can begin to experience the transforming power of the Spirit in our daily lives.