Cloak of Holiness
Remember the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes?
A vain Emperor who cares for nothing hires two swindlers that promise him the finest, best suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or “hopelessly stupid”. The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor marches in procession before his subjects, who play along with the pretense, until a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but continues the procession. (Wikipedia)
A similar deception spreads throughout Christianity, by a slight twisting of truth.
In a misunderstanding between a promise and a fulfillment of a promise, the concept of an invisible cloak of holiness exists among Christianity. At the time of confession of a belief in Christ, it’s assumed you receive an invisible cloak that is Christ’s righteousness that makes you holy. With this cloak, God sees you as holy, thus you are no longer in danger of judgment, and can now enter heaven.
This invisible cloak is viewed as sufficient, necessary, and all that is necessary. It’s assumed you can’t become truly righteous while on this earth, thus the need for the cloak. Because you already have the garments of righteousness, though invisible, there is no need to seek true righteousness, and it’s impossible anyway.
With this cloak, people claim holiness where there is none; as demonstrated by their lives imprisoned in sin, thus afflictions, pain, sorrow and hardships. This false belief prevents them from seeking real righteousness as this pretend cloak nullifies the need. These souls have been lead to the kingdom doors, but can’t enter as they embrace the lie. Matt 23:13 Psalm 55:19 As the Emperor, they’ve been fooled.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
To enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to be holy and made righteous. Not in a pretend way, but a true transformation that we experience in every facet of our lives.
Christ is returning as a flaming fire to establish His kingdom. 2 Thess 1:7-8 All that isn’t of God will be burned/destroyed. This is what the fire does; it burns away all the dross/impurities. You either become the fire or are burned by it. 1 Corin 3:13-17 If we’ve been prepared by the Holy Spirit, spirit of wisdom, we will embrace the purification of the fire. Through it we will gloriously transform into all we desire to be. However, if we haven’t been prepared, thus no oil, then we’ll not heed the refining fire. Matthew 25: 9-11 We won’t even know to, because we think we already have holiness by our invisible cloak. Instead of rest from embracing the fire, we’ll experience difficult circumstances, which serve the purpose to awaken our soul to our depravity so we’ll turn to truth.
Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
The garments of righteousness are real. Christ sows them on us as we learn His truth and obey it. This ability to walk in righteousness is now ours. It’s the POWER of Christ’s spirit rising in our souls. 2 Peter 1:19 There is nothing fake about it.
Be careful not to cling to fake garments like the Emperor. If you don’t believe you need to be made tangibly righteous, you won’t have the faith to grow. Let Christ dine within you feeding you the truth of life, that gives you His mind thus true holiness and righteousness. 1 Thess 4:7-8, 1 Thess 5:23, Revelation 19:8
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Living Light 
August 27, 2012 at 1:13 pm
So true thanks Rachel
August 27, 2012 at 1:52 pm
The only way to enter the kingdom of God is through the door.
Luke 5:36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.”
You can’t be half in the garment, and half out.
Just some different thoughts. Not discounting your stance on holiness, which is beautiful.
August 27, 2012 at 2:31 pm
This is the perfect scripture talking about becoming a new vessel, holy, to hold a new spirit.
August 27, 2012 at 2:54 pm
We don’t hold Him, He holds us. He is the Comforter, and the Cloak. Therefore, we never have to cloak our failures. In every house, their are some vessels of, dirt,
some of clay, some of silver, and some of gold. Yet all cherished, and all within the house. If the Son has set you free, the garment is free. There are no more payments for it.
August 27, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Hi ..
I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
The power of Christ’s spirit filling us is our ability to walk in righteousness. The righteousness is the testimony of His spirit within. It’s the fruit of His spirit. Christ in us transforms us, how can it not? And obedience is not payment .. it is delight when you know the love of God and all His paths are life.
John 14:24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me
August 27, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Romans 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
August 27, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Hi Rachel, the three dudes that would not follow the ways of the world and were thrown into the furnace. However, it was those doing the throwing; on the outside!
August 28, 2012 at 6:05 am
Thank you , Rachel, for showing us about righteousness and holiness. I loved the analogy of the Emperor’s new clothes with this! God bless you as He clothes you today, in all of His He desires you to wear.
August 29, 2012 at 9:33 am
Hi Debbie, to be filled with His pure light … nothing more incredible. It does lead you to sell all for that precious pearl, for it is everything.
August 28, 2012 at 9:09 am
That goes along with what I heard a pastor say: “If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.” Faith that doesn’t lead to works of righteousness is a dead faith and not genuine at all. The same pastor also said that some of us are so good at blending in with the world that even Jesus will have a hard time recognizing us in the end. Interesting words. Thanks for another great post!
August 28, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Hi … interesting now how it is hard to tell, but as the end closes upon us telling between the wheat and tares will grow more apparent. Those wheat, growing in Christ’s spirit of wisdom and love, will bear fruit of growing rest, peace, love and wisdom .. those not will grow in unrest, lack of wisdom and hardship. That time is upon us for I see the two paths starting to produce their fruit.