Thurlow Switzer: Garments of Skin

What does it mean to be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ? In the Garden of Eden, the original man and woman discovered to their dismay that disobedience to God’s directives will result in unpleasant consequences.

1 Temptation: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Gen 3:6). The temptation to sin seemed attractive at the onset. The tree of evil was even pleasant to the eyes.

2 Consequence: “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Gen 3:7). Adam, as is often our own tendencies, sought to cover up his awareness of their nakedness and guilt by sewing together a man-made covering of fig leaves.

3 Accountability: “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Gen 3:8-10). Three things: (a) Sin causes a person to hide from the presence of God. (b) Sin causes one to feel fear at being exposed. (c) Sin occurs when we disobey God’s directives.

4 Exposed: “And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" (Gen 3:11). God knows the truth and sees cause and effect.

5 Covering: “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Gen 3:21 both NIV, NASU). The New King James Version renders this verse: “God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” God is so gracious. He maintains “justice” but loves “mercy” and “humbly” (Micah 6:8) meets Adam and Eve at the point of their sin and divinely provides clothing for them in their nakedness. But they had lost a precious relationship, that of walking with God in the cool of the evening. They had lost intimacy.

6 Judgment: “Therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken” (3:23). Adam was taken from the ground, now he must till the ground. Spiritual death had occurred. God “placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen 3:23-24). Adam lost direct access to the tree of life. The Cherubim sword assures that the only way back to the tree of life is through the cross and through “holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

7 Clothed: Jesus said: “Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49 NIV). Peter said: “Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Pet 5:5 NKJV). Paul said: You are “clothed …with Christ” (Gal 3:27 NIV). John said: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments” (Rev 3:5 NKJV). “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Rom 13:14 NIV). “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12-13 NIV).

We are blessed to have such a great salvation. Yes, we are “clothed with garments of skin” – the blood atonement Christ, but also, “clothed with white garments” – the pursuit of holiness of character and life.