Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price – 1st Peter 3:3-4.

There are two different types of clothing a Christian can wear. There is the outward or physical apparel, and there is the inward or spiritual adornment. Both types of clothing are an important part of our Christian life. The outward physical apparel a Christian wears can influence the way people react or respond to what he or she says.

The words “putting on” and “being clothed with can be applied to both physical and spiritual garments. Many times Christians judge other Christians by their dress attire and we shouldn’t. There are many dressed a certain way to make themselves look like they are saved, but inwardly they have not clothed themselves in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we should not have on garments that will be offensive to the principals of God, or revealing. Clothes does not make us saved, but when the heart has been clothed with the Spirit of God then we will know what garments to put on and what garments not to put on.

Put on means to adorn, when we put on something, we are actually doing something. What is the Christian to put on? What spiritual clothes are we supposed to wear? Before anything else, we must put on the Lord Jesus Christ (But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof – Romans 13:14). To put on the Lord Jesus Christ is to live and act like Him at all times. Everything we say and should reflect the character of Jesus. The way Jesus acted toward others is the way we must act. This Scripture also instructs the believer to not make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Some professing Christians want to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and they also want to live according to the flesh. They want to do things that the flesh enjoys doing. You can’t put on the Lord Jesus Christ and continue to the things the flesh used to do before you were born again. If you do, you have made provision for the flesh and you are fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. The way you can keep yourself from making provision for the flesh is to stay in the Word, feeding upon it and being a doer of the Word. In order to live an act like the Lord, you must learn from the Word of God how to live in the Spirit.

When you walk and live in the Spirit, you will not be walking and living according to the flesh desires, what is the works of the flesh, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, and revelling. When we live and walk in the Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit will be on display; love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance which is also called holiness.

When we make no provision for the flesh, the Bible tells us we are putting off the old sinful nature and putting on the the new man which is a new creation in Christ Jesus. No one can keep the flesh under if they don’t have on the new man. The problem is too many professing Christians have never put on the new man. They just responded to an invitation for salvation, but only agreed mentally; nothing happened inside their hearts. When one accept salvation with their heart and not mentally or emotionally, the old nature is gone, and the new nature of Christ has become their garment.

In order for one to come subject to the Spirit of God, the Spirit of God must be living within them. The individual takes the time to read and study the Word of God so that their heart, mind and will becomes conformed to the Word of God. The body becomes subject to the things of God and not the old nature. But if a Christian, don’t take the time to get to know God or His Word they will live as carnal Christians, meaning they still live according to their old nature.

When we truly have become Christians, we have to put on the armor of God to fight against the attacks of Satan and our flesh. The flesh does not get saved when you’re become born again, only your spirit has been regenerated. It’s the individuals responsibility to make the flesh become subject to the Spirit. When we put on the armor of God, we have our loins girded about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness. Our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Having on the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and praying always with all prayer and supplication.

Wear the whole armor of God, keep it on daily, be watchful and prayerful. We should also have bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering, these are the characteristics of our Father and if we have became His children, His DNA should be in us, we should have His characteristics. As Christians, we want to cloth ourselves in His righteousness, His love towards others; conforming ourselves to His instructions then are we putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.