Without a Wedding Garment
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the law of God. By His death He established it. He gave His life as a
sacrifice, not to destroy God’s law, not to create a lower standard, but
that justice might be maintained, that the law might be shown to be
immutable, that it might stand fast forever.
Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God’s
commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we cannot obey
them. But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect
obedience He proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey
every one of God’s precepts.
“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”
John 1:12
. This
power is not in the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul
receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.
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God requires perfection of His children. His law is a transcript of
His own character, and it is the standard of all character. This infinite
standard is presented to all that there may be no mistake in regard to
the kind of people whom God will have to compose His kingdom.
The life of Christ on earth was a perfect expression of God’s law, and
when those who claim to be children of God become Christlike in
character, they will be obedient to God’s commandments. Then the
Lord can trust them to be of the number who shall compose the family
of heaven. Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ’s righteousness,
they have a place at the King’s feast. They have a right to join the
blood-washed throng.
The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment rep-
resents the condition of many in our world today. They profess to be
Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel;
yet they feel no need of a transformation of character. They have never
felt true repentance for sin. They do not realize their need of Christ
or exercise faith in Him. They have not overcome their hereditary or
cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yet they think that they are good
enough in themselves, and they rest upon their own merits instead of
trusting in Christ. Hearers of the word, they come to the banquet, but
they have not put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.
Many who call themselves Christians are mere human moralists.
They have refused the gift which alone could enable them to honor
Christ by representing Him to the world. The work of the Holy Spirit is
to them a strange work. They are not doers of the word. The heavenly