We don't claim Christ because of our perfection otherwise we could never claim Him. We claim Him because of His word to us. We claim Him because He gives us the privilege to. He gives us the privilege to identify with His life because we were willing to die with Him and be born anew by His Spirit.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
The minute you are born again you receive Jesus Christ and are justified and sanctified. And now you are in Him and live in Him and by Him and through Him - so as you received Him just walk in Him.
If you don't think you are sanctified or any better than the Corinthian church, I have news for you. They were sanctified according to God.
1Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, TO THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Because when the Holy Spirit enters a temple (us) the presence of God sanctifies the place.
They were washed, justified and sanctified in HIS NAME by the Holy Spirit.
1Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Here is how I put on Jesus Christ:
I look to Him and away from myself. I trust in Him and not myself. I have confidence in Him and no one else. I know only He is righteous and in His righteousness I trust.
Here are some things God has provided to decorate our Temples/Houses with. Notice that He provides all that we need and it's all HIM.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and HAVING ON the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
He is your righteousness - Trust in Him - If you do you are putting on Christ.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption:
He is the Truth - Look to Him to light your way and follow Him. You are putting on Christ when you do this. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
He is our peace - dwell in His peace and walk in peace before all men. You are putting on Christ when you dwell in His peace.
Eph 2:14 For HE IS OUR PEACE, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
We live by His faith - When you live by His faith and not your own you are putting on Christ. It is Christ that is perform the good work in you and will complete it.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through THE FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but BY THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
He is our Salvation - When you look to Him for your salvation in every situation you are putting on Christ.
Exo 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
He is love - Walk in His love and you are putting on Christ
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Other verses that might help you.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT.
Eph 4:24 And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Col 3:10 And have PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:12 PUT ON THEREFORE, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:14 And above all these things PUT ON CHARITY, which is the bond of perfectness.
And an interesting study is to look up all the verses in the NT that have the phrase "PUT OFF". It is very enlightening. These are things we should not decorate our Temples with.
Pilgrim
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