Are You Dressed In White?

What does it mean to be dressed in white?

I’m sure you have heard of one of the most famous parties in history, “The Black and White Ball”, put on by Truman Capote. This party was held 50 years ago at The Plaza Hotel and was referred to as “The Party of the Century.” The guests included a long list of famous socialites including Frank Sinatra, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Harry Belafonte, and Gloria Vanderbilt. People have been copying this party idea ever since. The original party was a masquerade ball where guests wore formal wear and a mask that covered their eyes. There has always been a draw to the two opposite colors. We see their blatant opposition and yet they go together.

Throughout the New Testament Jesus talks about how we are to be dressed in white. To be “dressed in white” means to be set apart for God and made pure. The world is full of people dressed in black and those dressed in white. Those who are dressed in black blatantly walk around with their masquerade mask as they refuse to accept Jesus. They try to hide their sin and live a false life, but they cannot hide from God. As Christians, we are called to be dressed in white. We are two opposing colors living in the world together.

In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, Jesus addresses seven churches in Asia Minor. He calls out the churches for their blatant sins against Him. As I list these sins out, think about our world today—forsaken their first love, idol worship, sexual immorality, dead in the Spirit, false teaching, lukewarm, and focusing on wealth instead of what is truly meaningful. Jesus finds these sins in His churches many years ago. Do you see these same sins in our churches today?

Before we point our fingers outward at the many churches today that are being swallowed up by these sins, we need to point our fingers inward. It is the people who make up these churches. These churches were rotting from the inside out and it is the same today. So, again, we must ask ourselves, “Are we dressed in white?”

Jesus tells the sinners at each of these churches that if they don’t repent, He will remove them, fight with the sword of His mouth, will come like a thief and they will not know when, and He will spit them out of His mouth. Though Jesus addresses the sins of the entire church, He also calls out those in the church who are dressed in white. He addresses them by calling them victorious. Those who are victorious, meaning that hold true to Jesus’ teachings and persevere through the sin around them, Jesus says will be given the right to eat from the tree of life, will not be hurt at all by the second death, be given some of the hidden manna and a new name written on a white stone, given authority over all the nations, be dressed in white and will walk with Jesus, will have a pillar in the temple of God, and will be given the right to sit with Jesus on His throne, just as He was victorious and sat down with His Father on His throne. There are major differences and implications for persevering to the end or giving up and going with worldly ways. Although each letter to these churches addressed different messages, each message contained warnings and principles for everyone, the sinner and the victor.

To be victorious and dressed in white is to believe that Jesus is our only righteousness. Romans 10:3-4 says, “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” By accepting Christ’s sacrifice for our sin, we can be made right with God and receive His gift of salvation. Only then can we be forgiven by grace through faith in Christ and say, “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)

We may not have received an invitation to the most historic “Black and White” party of the century, but we do receive an open invitation to salvation through God’s mercy and love. We cannot earn or work our way into these white robes we are called to put on, He washes away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-7). If we want to receive the gifts given to those who stand victorious, we must dress in the wedding garment of Christ’s righteousness.

Digging Deeper:

Read Revelation 2-3.

How do you see our churches blatantly going against God’s Word?

What can you do to assure that you are dressed in white?