Immodest Attire Does God Care About What I Wear? What is in your closet? Immodest Attire

“Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord “Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:2 Rom. 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Principles Pertaining To Our Attire and Appearance

“In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” 1 Timothy 2:9-10 1 Tim. 2:9-10 - In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; {broided: or, plaited} 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

“Modest” kosmios “well arranged, orderly” “Respectable, honorable. Expression of self-control, well mannered, disciplined.” Modest (proper - NASV; respectable - ESV). The word modest is translated from a word that means orderly or well-arranged; that which fits in and is appropriate. Refers to a mindset that does not seek to stand out or draw undue attention to oneself.

“Shamefacedness” & “Propriety” “a sense of shame” “Precedes and prevents the shameful act” “That which restrains a good man or woman from an unworthy act” Shamefacedness (propriety - NKJV; modesty - NASV, ESV). This term refers to having a sense of shame, knowing the boundaries between right and wrong. Sobriety (moderation - NKJV; discretely - NASV; self-control - ESV). A person who is sober is in control of himself. This is the willingness and ability to stop ourselves from going beyond recognized boundaries.  

“Moderation” - “Sobriety” “good judgment, moderation, self-control” “Moderation” would hold a check on and restrain anything to which “propriety” would be opposed Sobriety (moderation - NKJV; discretely - NASV; self-control - ESV). A person who is sober is in control of himself. This is the willingness and ability to stop ourselves from going beyond recognized boundaries.

All these principles work together in the area of modesty Tells us what is right Propriety Recognizes the limitations Moderation Keeps us from going beyond these limitations All these principles work together in the area of modesty

Why Should I Be Concerned About the Way That I Dress?

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked “…and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed…” Revelation 3:18 Rev. 3:18 - I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” Revelation 16:15 1 Pet. 5:5 - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked “‘Behold, I am against you,’ says the Lord of hosts; ‘I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame” Nahum 3:5

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked One does not have to be completely “nude” to be Biblically “naked” James 2:15-16 cf. Matt. 25:36, 38, 43, 44 Adam admitted that he was “naked” with his covering Genesis 3:7-11 “God…clothed them” Genesis 3:21 1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked Jas. 2:15-16 - If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Matt. 25:35-38 - For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 42-44 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Gen. 3:7-11 - 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? Gen. 3:21 - Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats (tunics) of skins, and clothed them. “Coats” - keth-o'-neth or kuttoneth {koot-to'-neth}; from an unused root meaning to cover (compare 3802); a shirt:--coat, garment, robe.

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked God’s covering was a “tunic,” “coat,” “garment” Genesis 3:21 “a long shirt-like garment” Gen. 3:21 - Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats (tunics) of skins, and clothed them.

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked Because… It is exposure of the THIGH “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach” Exodus 28:42

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked Because… It is exposure of the THIGH “Take the millstones and grind meal. Remove your veil, take off the skirt, uncover the thigh, pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame will be seen” Isaiah 47:2-3 Isaiah 47:1-3 - 1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. 2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. 3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked Because… It is exposure of the BUTTOCKS “So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt” Isaiah 20:4

1. I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked It is exposure of the BREASTS “I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare” Ezekiel 16:7 These few verses establish that exposure of the Thigh, Buttocks & Breast are shameful! And since we are approaching “bare season” we need to be reminded of these principles.

2. I Don’t Want To Advertise Something About Myself That Is Not True Our clothing sends a message about ourselves and our heart One can profess godliness or one can profess to be a harlot 1 Timothy 2:9-10 Proverbs 7:10 Clothing is going to do what it has been designed to do, regardless of who is wearing it 2. I Don’t Want To Advertise Something About Myself That Is Not True 1 Tim. 2:9-10 - In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Prov. 7:10 - And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil (crafty of wily ) of heart.

3. I Don’t Want To Cause One To Stumble “6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” Matthew 18:6-7

3. I Do Not Want To Cause One To Stumble “But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died” Romans 14:15

Conclusion: God Is Concerned About the Way I Dress God wants me to dress modestly, with propriety and moderation God wants me to dress in a way that professes godliness God has defined nakedness, and wants me to be ashamed to be naked God does not want me to make myself an object of lust, causing others to sin Conclusion: God Is Concerned About the Way I Dress

“…what doeth hinder me to be baptized?” Acts 8:36 Alien sinners must… Hear the Gospel – Romans 10:17 Believe – John 8:34 Repent – Acts 17:30 Confess Christ – Matthew 10:34 Be Baptized in water for the remission of sins - Acts 22:16 An erring child of God must… Repent and Pray – Acts 8:22 Christians must live “faithful unto death” Revelation 2:10 “…what doeth hinder me to be baptized?” Acts 8:36 Acts 16:25-33 - READ Rom. 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Jn. 8:34 - I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Acts. 17:30-31 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Matt. - 10:34 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Acts. 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.