The Beauty of Being Wrapped in Righteousness
- Debbie Milton
- Dec 11, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 15, 2025
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.
Isaiah 61:10
In the article—Christmas: Does the Wrapping Really Matter?—by Jeff Faul, he asks: As Christmas nears, is all your gift wrapping done? And does the wrapping really matter? He emphasizes that “when it came to the greatest gift of all time, it turns out the wrapping was of the utmost importance.”
The word “wrapping” or “wrapped” are in popular Bible verses recited during Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:7: "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
Wrapped was the sign given to the shepherds by the angel in how to find baby Jesus.
The angel proclaimed in Luke 2:11-12: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Years later after His crucifixion, Jesus was wrapped in linen cloths and placed in a borrowed tomb until he rose from the dead to live and reign forever.
“Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.” Matthew 27:59-60.
THE CALL
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate how Jesus came as a baby and accomplished his earthly ministry. Through his death on the Cross, though costly, the beautiful garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness is freely given.
Isaiah 61:10: “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
THE CONSEQUENCE
In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, the king prepares a great marriage feast for his son. The king noticed a man at the feast was not wearing the wedding robe provided indicating that he was not clothed in righteousness.
Matthew 22:12-13: “‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how does it happen that you are here without a wedding robe?’ And the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
This parable illustrates the wedding banquet that we will one day experience with Jesus when he returns. The Bible tells us in Revelation 19 that the wedding garment is “fine linen,” which is defined as “the righteous acts of the saints”.
Christ has provided his righteousness for everyone to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but each person must respond accordingly. The man in the parable found out that lacking a life transformed by genuine faith and true righteousness resulted in him facing devastating consequences.
THE COMMITMENT
To be righteous is to be right with God. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Righteousness is like having it credited in advance by God once we are saved. It does not mean we automatically do what is right. And because of free will, we can choose whether to actively pursue a lifestyle of righteousness or not.
Proverbs 15:9 says, “The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.”
When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live for righteousness in every area of our lives both in private and in public.
The word righteousness appears hundreds of times in the Bible which is indicative of its importance to God. Here are a few Bible verses about righteousness to help us realize the commitment God desires:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:33.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14.
“That I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Philippians 3:9.
“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11.
“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Romans 6:13.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16.
THE CROWN
All who have worn the robe of righteousness in this life will receive the crown of righteousness in eternal life.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 declares: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
What if you knew Jesus would return in your lifetime? Better yet, what if he returned today? How would your pursuit of righteousness be different?
To love his appearing means to live in light of his coming—that we no longer live for ourselves—that we desire Jesus above worldly things—that we make every effort to be holy—living in readiness for his return.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for the revival of righteousness to be unwrapped in our hearts and in every home this Christmas. Help us to have genuine faith in you, not having our own righteousness. Verse after verse in the Bible we are instructed to pursue righteousness. Holy Spirit, please guide and empower us to turn from all unrighteousness. Your Word tells us that the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective and for that we are grateful.