Ordinances of Biblical Dress

Recently at Church Pastor preached a message on standards, specifically standards of dress. We both thought it was really good and different from the standard dress message you hear. I thought I would post my notes from that Wednesday night.

Ordinances of Biblical Dress



"Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things,

and keeo the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."

I Cor.11:2

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions

which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle."

II Thess. 2:15

Traditions: teachings or commands that are handed down.

Principles of Dress:

1. A Sense of Shame
I Tim. 2:9 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness..."
Shamefacedness- a bashfulness, reverence, easily embarassed.
Adorn - To put in proper order, to decorate or trim
Modest - orderly, decorous, of good behavior
Apparel - costume, to put down
Gen. 2:25;3:6-11,21 Adam and Eve were unashamedly naked at first, then embarassed after the fall. Why? Their bodies were completely holy, no sin. There was nothing immoral, or unpure. But after the fall, the holiness left and they obtained bodies of sin. Thus nakedness became a problem because of unclean thoughts and actions. So they tried to fix it by making aprons.
Apron- a loin cloth
An apron didn't cover enough, God made them coats from a slain animal. Blood had to be shed for their sin.
Isaiah. 47:2-3 - nakedness was shameful Lev. chpts 18-20 - speaks of being modest within family
Ex. 28:42-43 - breeches were made to cover the priests nakedness under their robes.



2. A Distinction/Straightness
Deut. 22:5 "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are are abomination unto the Lord thy God."
Yes, people in Bible times all wore robes. But the robes for men and women were different and distinct. And they were commanded not to wear each others clothes. A woman was not to put on her husbands breeches, or his robe. And he wasn't to put on her robe, which would have been longer and automatically identified as a woman's robe. So yes, they both wore robes but there was a distinction between the two.

3.For Chastity
Proverbs 7:10 "And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot..."
There's nothing wrong with being attractive, wellgroomed and dressed, but it is wrong to dress seductively. Your dress ought to be holy, pure, and not give anyone opportunity for impure thoughts.

4. Keeping From Strangeness/Worldliness
Zeph. 1:8 "And it shall come to poass in the day of the Lord's sacrifice, that I will punich the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel."
Lev. 19:28 - This goes for piercings and tattoos too.
Strange - like the world does

5. For Glory and Beauty
Ex.28:1-2 (Vs2)- "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy borhter for glory and for beauty."
The clothing for the high priest set him apart to show glory to God.

Ps. 29:2b "...worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Holy dress should be part of our lifestyle and it is a part of our worship to the Lord.



6. Dispell Confusion
I Cor. 14:33, 40 -God is not a God of confusion, but a God of decency and order. Our clothes shouldn't look like we were confused when we put them on. Our God is one of order, design, and laws.