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Are skirts necessary for salvation?

Submitted: 11/10/2008
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Question: I was discussing with a friend the other day about wearing skirts and such and they stated that a woman who had the Holy Ghost and had been baptized but was not wearing skirts, that she would not be saved. Is this true that holiness does not come with a better realtionship/understanding of Jesus and that it's really a salvation requirement? Thanks

Answer: If not wearing a skirt or dress makes a woman unsaved, then we could conclude that she is saved because she does wear such apparel. But this would be salvation by works, and we know that salvation is by grace and not by works (Titus 3:5). Therefore, we would not say that a woman is not saved simply because she does not wear women's clothing. Sometimes women do not know this is what God expects of them. Also, as you say, God gives us time to grow into holiness as we pursue it and perfect it (Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1).

Having said this, we want to emphasize that as people learn and grow in the Lord, God shows them His expectations and why certain behaviors are important to Him. We are also told that we should not just be a hearer of the Word but also a doer. This means that when a woman learns that God wants her to dress modestly in women's clothing, she should embrace that teaching and do it. Then, if she stops wearing appropriate clothing, the clothing is not the issue, rebellion is. As James 4:17 says, 'To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.' Therefore, we would say that how a woman dresses is not the basis of her salvation, but it may be evidence of rebellion. And no one can flagrantly rebel against God and be saved.

For further understanding of this subject, we enocurage you to read the article titled 'The Sin of Bathsheba' on Shelf 11 of the Apostolic Free Library.