It means God places Christ's righteousness upon the believer through faith, so that when He looks at them He sees Christ, not their own failure.
Les Feldick teaches that God has 'clothed' every believer with the righteousness of Christ, just as He clothed Adam and Eve with coats of skins and as Isaiah says He has 'covered me with the robe of righteousness' (Isaiah 61:10). This righteousness is not earned by keeping the law; it is imputed to the believer when they believe. God looks on the believer and sees Christ's righteousness rather than the believer's own works.
Isaiah 61:10 — Isaiah describes God clothing him with garments of salvation and covering him with a robe of righteousness, the exact imagery behind the question.
Genesis 3:21 — God made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve, which Les Feldick identifies as a picture of being clothed with righteousness.
Romans 3:22 — Paul explains that God's righteousness is upon all who believe, showing how a person is clothed with this righteousness.
In Genesis 3:21, after Adam and Eve sinned, the LORD God made coats of skins and clothed them. In Isaiah 61:10, the prophet rejoices, 'I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.' Paul then explains in Romans 3:22 that 'the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ' is 'unto all and upon all them that believe.' These verses use the picture of clothing to show God providing salvation and righteousness to sinners.
Les Feldick explains that when God killed animals and clothed Adam and Eve with the skins, the blood sacrifice covered the blood aspect, and the clothing was a picture of God clothing them with His righteousness. He connects this to Isaiah 61:10 and Romans 3, saying all three describe the same event: the imputed righteousness of God. When a person believes the gospel, God places Christ's righteousness upon them. Les emphasizes that when God looks at a believer, He does not see that person's own works or failures; He sees Christ and His righteousness. This righteousness is 'without the law,' so it is not a matter of keeping the Ten Commandments; believers are under grace, not law, and there is nothing a person can do to earn it but believe.
Les points to three connected passages: Genesis 3:21 (God clothed Adam and Eve with coats of skins), Isaiah 61:10 (God has clothed me with garments of salvation and covered me with a robe of righteousness), and Romans 3:22 (the righteousness of God is upon all who believe). Les says 'they all three mean the same thing': the imputed righteousness of God.
Les teaches that the animal skins God provided for Adam and Eve were not merely to cover their nakedness. The blood sacrifice had taken care of the blood aspect, and the clothing itself was God clothing them with righteousness. Isaiah 61:10 repeats this picture: God has clothed him with garments of salvation and covered him with a robe of righteousness.
Les says that when God looks at a believer, He does not see Les Feldick or the person by name; He sees Christ in His righteousness. 'He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. His righteousness, not ours.' God does not see our own righteousness—it is impossible for us to produce it—He sees His own imputed righteousness.
According to Les, this righteousness is received by believing with the heart. He quotes Romans 10:10 ('with the heart man believeth unto righteousness') and connects it to Romans 3:22. It is not earned by keeping the law; believers are 'not under the law, but under grace.' Les adds that there is nothing we can do for our salvation but believe it—'we just have to keep our hands off.'
Les points to Romans 3:21 and Romans 6:14 to show that the righteousness of God now comes 'without the law.' People may say, 'I'm keeping the Ten Commandments,' but Les insists God is not demanding that we keep the Ten Commandments as the basis of righteousness. Believers are under grace, not under the law, because the old nature has been defeated in Christ.
Righteousness Without the Law
Les emphasizes that the righteousness of God is now available 'without the law'—believers are not under the Mosaic law but under grace, so their standing is not based on keeping the Ten Commandments.
God Clothed Adam and Eve with Righteousness
Les shows that the coats of skins God made for Adam and Eve were more than covering nakedness—they picture God clothing the sinner with righteousness, just as Romans 3 later describes for all believers.
Imputed Righteousness Clothed Adam and Eve
Les explains that Adam and Eve's clothing was an imputed righteousness, and Isaiah 61:10 says the same thing—God clothes His people with garments of salvation.
Same Righteousness in Genesis, Isaiah, and Romans
Les connects Genesis, Isaiah, and Romans as all describing the same event: God clothing the believer with His imputed righteousness, with Isaiah rejoicing because God has clothed him with garments of salvation.
God Sees Christ's Righteousness in Believers
Les teaches that God looks at a believer and sees Christ in His righteousness—not the believer's own merit—because the believer is covered with God's righteousness.
Imputed Righteousness as the Heart of Salvation
Les describes salvation as 'imputed righteousness,' connecting Adam's skins, Isaiah's garments, and the believer's newness of life in Christ.
The Robe of Righteousness Is God's
Les reads Isaiah 61:10 to show that the robe of righteousness with which God clothes the believer is God's own righteousness, not anything human.
God Sees His Own Righteousness in Us
Les emphasizes that when God looks at a believer, He sees His own righteousness—the imputed robe He has provided—and there is nothing we can do for salvation but believe.
Genesis 3:21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
This is the first biblical picture of God clothing sinners after the fall, which Les Feldick identifies as a picture of righteousness.
Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isaiah rejoices because God has clothed him with salvation and covered him with the robe of righteousness.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Paul explains that God's righteousness is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Shows that believers are not under law-keeping but under grace, which is why righteousness is not by works.
Romans 10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Demonstrates that righteousness is the result of heart-faith, not human effort.
Les essentially says yes. He notes that a good man suggested that instead of saying 'saved,' we should say we have been 'imputed righteousness,' because that is exactly what God has done. Being clothed with God's righteousness is another way of describing the salvation God provides through faith in Christ.
No. Les says God isn't demanding that we keep the Ten Commandments; the righteousness of God is 'without the law.' Believers are not under the law but under grace, and sin no longer has dominion because the old nature is dead.
Les says God sees Christ in His righteousness. He doesn't see the believer's own works or failures—He sees the robe of righteousness that He Himself has provided.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)