What are you Wearing?

In the first three chapters of Genesis, we have the foundation of Biblical theology. Of couse, a number of topics need further development especially the Godhead in its trinitarian composure, Christology(the person and nature of Jesus Christ) and Pneumatology, or the knowledge of the Holy Spirit especially in His soteriological role(the Holy Spirit's role in salvation and sanctification). Also, the basis of all Biblical ethics is given as the need to be obedient to the Lord and that the meaning of good and evil is learned within the context of the divine-human encounter.(See Gen. 2:9,15-17 and 3:21-23). The one indispensible requirement is that we cannot act independently of God anymore than a bird can fly without air. But a full elaboration of rightous behavior awaits further development as in Exodus 20 and Matthew 5-7.,etc. But God as Creator and Father as well as His intention to create a true masterpiece,human beings to be trained to rule and reign with him as well as to delight in His creation, is beautifully and poetically portrayed in Genesis 1$2. And then in Chapter three, which is our present focus, we read about the Fall of mankind, its cause and its disastrous efects on the human race. But we are not left without hope or confidence in the Almighty Creator who will prove to be the great Redeemer. In Genesis 3:15 we have what theologians have called the "protoevangelion" or the primitive statement of the gospel including a hint on how mankind will be saved, that is those who appropriate God's remedy for sin.

After promising that the Seed Of the woman(Jesus) would be bruised(the cross), God announces that the serpent (the instigator of mankinds fall) would be crushed by the Seed of the woman. Romans 16:20 chimes in that the church also participates in Satan's demise(Rev.12:9 tells us that the serpent is Satan). Then towards the end of Genesis 3, we have an interesting account of God making clothes out of animal skins in order to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness,thus giving us the pattern of atonement to be developed in the Book of Leviticus and supremely consummated in Jesus Christ as the Book of Hebrews tells us especially Chapters 8-10. Their own fig leaf covering was not sufficient,adequate or acceptable.(i.e.good works can't save us). GOD had to provide the covering. An animal was slain and was the means of covering their guilt and shame. God provided the sacrifice, and our first parents were redeemed. Finally, in the rest of the Bible(e.g. Job 29:14, Isa.61:10, Rev.3:18) clothes especially white garments(see Rev. 3:4,5) are metaphors for righteousness especially Christ's imputed righteousness(Cruden's concordance on Matthew 22:1ff, 1872 edition) which the redeemed "wear." So as God covered the guilt ridden nakedness of Adam and Eve with skins(garments) that He provided, so we are clothed in the righteousness provided by Christ through his death. So what are you wearing?