Revelation 19:8
8 And [kai] to her [autos] was granted [didomi] that [hina] she should be arrayed [periballo] in fine linen, [bussinos] clean [katharos] and [kai] white: [lampros] for [gar] the fine linen [bussinos] is [esti] the righteousness [dikaioma] of saints. [hagios]KJV-Interlinear
8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. NASB
Before the wedding ceremony, the bride must be cleansed of all contaminations and filth (washed), and then dressed in the perfection of white and thus presented the groom, as a virgin (pure through and through).
That is the imagery and concept of the wedding. Two parties, both perfect, being brought together into a union that is both permanent and eternal.
When we as believers, first believed in Christ, Gods righteousness was imputed into us. We all came to salvation as lost and filthy sheep, as it were. But Gods righteousness cleansed us from all sin from the date of our birth up to the point of our initial faith in Christ, Rom 3:21-24; 4:5; 5:19; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:8-9.
But of course as you know, with very little time, we all commit our first sin after being saved, and we continue to commit sins throughout our life. No one is perfect. Thus the reason for confession, which is our acknowledgement of our sin, and permits God to bring us back into fellowship for a short time, until we commit our next sin and so forth.
When we arrive in heaven we will be souls filled with various quantities of wood, hay, and stubble, and at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be cleaned with a purifying fire, washing away all of the human good, and remaining sin that happens to be clinging to us at that point.
Then comes the evaluation, and rewards and decorations that Christ will bestow on each believer, and then we will be fully qualified to attend and participate in the Marriage ceremony, having been cleansed of all filth and dressed in pure white linen as described in this verse.
These things are granted to us, by God. Granted means just that, It is not by our effort that we earn or deserve this position, but by Gods grace and His work, which we receive this gift of perfection. Mans righteousness, as Isaiah stated, are as filthy rags (menstrual rags), and are by no means anything to boast about, for obvious reasons.
Gods righteousness comes from God, and from no other source, 1 Jn. 3:2, and as so then, we will be just like Him (in perfection), Rom. 8:19-21. This will be the fulfillment of Rom. 8:19-21.
Fine linen is the most expensive cloth available, and from heaven there will be none finer.
The fine clothing describes and attests to our possession of Gods righteousness which is inside of us, together with the blessings and rewards which garnish our outward appearance, thus making us complete through and through, in perfection, by Gods standards, not ours. And thus legitimately ready for the permanent union with God.
God does all of the work. We are the beneficiaries of His work.
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