Although we were technically continuing our ‘Identity‘ theme, this week we took a bit of a detour to reflect on a verse we passed over last week.
Adam & Eve had sinned, realised they were naked, and were suddenly ashamed. They sewed together some fig leaves and made themselves some clothes. When God was walking in the garden they hid from Him because of their shame. God called to them and they had a conversation [see last week].
Then God did something unexpected:
Then the Lord God made clothes out of animal skins for the man and his wife. – Genesis 3:21 – CEV
The clothes which Adam & Eve had fashioned from fig leaves were not sufficient – they still felt shame. So God had compassion on them and made them clothes from animal skins. They still had to face the consequence of their sin (they’d been banished from the garden) – but God was compassionate towards them.
God covered them – with animal skins. He didn’t simply have some ‘spare’ skins hanging around waiting to be used. The animals in question had to be sacrificed, their blood was spilt, in order to make the covering. But the covering made by God was sufficient to deal with their shame – whereas Adam & Eve’s fig leaf effort was lacking.
This verse points us toward Jesus… In order for our sin to be covered, Jesus’ own blood had to be shed. He was sacrificed in our place.
Both the Old Testament & New Testament talk about this ‘being covered’.
And all who have been united with Christ have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. – Galatians 3:27 – ERV
When we put on Christ as if putting on new clothes, we start to look pretty good to God again. He sees us as righteous because of Jesus’ righteousness.
I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels. – Isaiah 61:10 – NLT
The church is the bride of Christ. This passage speaks of us being prepared in our best clothes and jewels, being made ready to be united with Christ Jesus.
Even though Adam & Eve sinned, God had compassion on them and made a covering for them. He did the same thing for us in Jesus – He was sacrificed to cover our sin.
Watch this video/listen to this song and reflect, particularly in the last verse where it speaks about standing before Jesus in heaven, dressed in His righteousness, and recognised by God as faultless because our sin has been covered.
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