Jesus wraps His righteousness around us when we find our life in Him. What is seen and accepted by the Father is the work Jesus finished on the cross. If I focus on my own personal holiness, I lose sight of Him altogether.
My proud, deceitful heart is always looking for something beyond God’s “once and for all” provision for my salvation and eternal life. I want my children to give me credit for being a good mom, my husband to give me credit for being a good wife, my parents to give me credit for being a good daughter. I want to “wear the clothes” of my impressive behavior.
Through His Son, the Father only sees me wearing the robes of Jesus’ righteousness. Clothed in Him, I am justified, raised to life, saved from wrath, and reconciled. Enduring faith in Jesus covers me with righteousness. Like Abraham, who “did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith” (Romans 4:20), I can cease my striving and leave behind a whole wardrobe of my own attempts to earn eternal life.