NAKEDNESS AND THE BIBLE
Introduction
1. Many falsely insist to modesty and nakedness are matters of
opinion.
2. God, however, has spoken on this matter.
3. Godliness looks different (1 Sam. 16:7), and
we will be describing a different
kind of attire
from what the world wears.
I. What
is nakedness?
A.
What we think of as naked may be different from the Bible definition.
B.
Nakedness is not the absence of all clothes (Jas. 2:15).
C.
Peter was naked while wearing only his undergarment (Jn.
2:17).
1.
The word “naked” is a translation of gumnos
and means “clad in the
undergarment
only.”
2.
Modern-day swim suits cover no more (and often much less) than
underclothes. We may conclude that one is naked and
therefore
immodest
when wearing such swim suits in mixed company as in a
beach or swimming
pool setting.
D.
Nakedness is first spoken of in the Garden of Eden.
1.
Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness (Gen. 3:7).
2.
They made aprons of fig leaves to cover themselves (Gen. 3:7).
3.
When they heard the Lord’s coming, they hid themselves because
of
their nakedness (Gen. 3:8, 10).
4.
Note: Adam and Eve were wearing
aprons, but they were still naked.
5.
God made them “coats of skin” (Gen. 3:21).
a. This action indicates that they were
not properly clothed.
b. The aprons , chagora
in the Hebrew, were loin cloths or hip
coverings.
c. However the coats, kethoneth
in the Hebrew, were long garments
covering
their shoulders to their knees.
E.
Read Exodus 28:42.
II. Why is our dress important?
A.
Anytime we do what we want to do (or wear what we want to wear) we
are identified
as fair-weather Christians.
B.
The litmus test is doing what God says to even when we would rather do
something
else.
C.
I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that the way we dress is a
true test
of our Christian commitment!
Conclusion
1. Hard-hitting sermons are not easy to preach,
and I don’t enjoy them.
2. They are, however, a part of the counsel of
God, and necessary for us to hear.
June
22, 2003 (a.m.)