Chapter 100 of 106

them outwardly before God as their objective righteousness. The fattened calf typifies

These two aspects are typified by the best robe and the fattened calf in Luke 15:2223. The best robe typifies Christ as God's righteousness given to the believers to cover them outwardly before God as their objective righteousness. The fattened calf typifies Christ as God's righteousness given to the believers as their life supply for them to live out God in Christ as their subjective righteousness.

In Luke 15 when the prodigal son came back to the father, the father told his slaves to bring out the best robe and put it on his son. This robe replaced the rags (cf. Isa. 64:6) of the returned prodigal...Thus, he became a new man, but just outwardly.

Even though the robe was put upon the prodigal son, he was still hungry. He could have said, "Father, I need something to eat. I was eating the pigs' food. I am starved to death. Father, I don't need this robe; I need something to eat." But the father could say, "Son, if you are so poor, in rags, I cannot serve you anything. I must beautify you first by dressing you up. Then you match me. Then I can serve you with a pleasant meal, the fattened calf."

The best robe is a type of Christ being righteousness to us outwardly. The fattened calf typifies the subjective Christ entering into us to be enjoyed, digested, and assimilated by us to become our tissue, to become us. By eating the fattened calf, the prodigal son's face would be transformed. He came back with a pale face. But after eating the fattened calf, his face would become shining, bright, and colorful. This is Christ given by God to us as righteousness in two aspects: as the outward righteousness to beautify us and as the inward righteousness to supply us to live Himself out of us to be God's pleasure. (CWWL, 1994–1997, vol. 1, "Crystallization-study of the Epistle to the Romans," pp. 259-260)

Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 36, pp. 199-208

Enlightenment and inspiration

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‹‹ WEEK 5 — DAY 6 ››

Morning Nourishment

Rev. 3:4-5 But you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they will walk with Me in white because they are worthy. He who overcomes will be clothed thus, in white garments...

In Psalm 45 the queen has two garments (vv. 13-14), one corresponding to the objective righteousness for our salvation and the other to the subjective righteousness for our victory. The latter is equivalent to the wedding garment in Matthew 22:11 and 12. The queen in Psalm 45 signifies the church. Her first garment is inwrought with gold, and her second is embroidered clothing. In the Bible gold signifies the nature of God. At the time of our salvation we received a golden garment that enabled us to be in the presence of God. In addition to this, we need another garment, a garment of embroidery. This embroidery signifies the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit today is working on us to transform us...Although we have the first garment, our second garment is now being prepared under the embroidering work of the Holy Spirit. This garment will qualify us to see Christ at His judgment seat. Day by day we are under the needle, the transformation work, of the Holy Spirit. This is because we need not only justification but also approval...Only those who have the second garment produced by the embroidering work of the Holy Spirit will be chosen and qualified to attend the wedding feast of the Lamb. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 43274328)

Today's Reading

The bride in Revelation 19 is clothed with fine linen, bright and clean—the righteousnesses of the saints. This is Christ growing in and living out of us. When we live out Christ by letting Him grow in us, He will be our living. The only way for Christ to grow in us and live out of us is by our eating and drinking Him all the time.

For the bride to be prepared means that she has the fine linen, bright and clean. No doubt, these righteousnesses are related to the righteousness in Ephesians 4:24, where we are told that the new man was created in righteousness...The righteousnesses of the bride here denote the subjective righteousness, Christ as the righteousness which has been constituted into our being. The more this subjective righteousness is wrought into

the church, the more she is prepared to become the bride. Those who compose the bride have been redeemed and regenerated. But they also need to have the subjective righteousness interwoven into their being in order to have the fine linen, bright and clean. Actually, it is this linen that is the beauty of the bride.

The bride in Revelation 19 refers to the redeemed and transformed tripartite mankind. This bride will wear white linen, which is the righteousnesses of the saints. If we would have a share in this bride, we need to adorn ourselves with the bright, shining, and pure righteousness. Day by day we need to prepare bright linen clothing to cover ourselves. This is our daily righteousness. We produce such a garment of righteousness by walking daily according to the Spirit of life and by having a life that is a life of the Spirit.

[Matthew 5:20] clearly indicates that we must have a righteousness that surpasses the righteousness of the Pharisees. This righteousness is not the objective Christ whom we receive as our robe for our justification. Rather, it is the subjective Christ whom we live out as our daily living. It is not the justifying robe; it is the garment that qualifies us to receive the reward.

The second garment is also referred to in Revelation 3:4, 5, and 18. In 3:4 and 5 the Lord told the church in Sardis that those who have not defiled their garments will walk with Him in white and that the overcomers will be "clothed...in white garments." This is the garment for the wedding feast. In 3:18 the Lord advised the church in Laodicea to buy from Him "white garments." Thus, in the book of Revelation the matter of the second garment is stressed. If we do not have it, we will miss the wedding feast. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 4328-4329, 4326-4327)

Further Reading: Life-study of 2 Peter, msg. 1

Enlightenment and inspiration

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‹‹ WEEK 5 — HYMN

Hymns, #1311

1 The local churches are preparing for

the Lord's return— We know the time is near for our

Bridegroom so dear. He's coming back to claim the bride

for which His heart doth yearn, That with Him we may be through

all eternity.

The Christ we love is coming soon, And He will come as our Bridegroom. We'll wait for Him, we'll watch and pray— It may be today, it may be today!

2 How we must give Him all our heart

and from all idols turn! Oh, who else could there be who

loves so tenderly? Lord Jesus, You're the only One who

makes our heart to burn— Oh, please do not delay! Come quickly,

e'en today!

3 A glorious bride He is preparing for

His wedding day; She'll be so bright and pure, fine

linen cov'ring her. O Lord, work in Thy righteousness,

this is the only way; And blessèd we will be to join that

feast with Thee.

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