Paul cites Psalms 14 and 53 saying: 'We have proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh God. They are all gone out of the way , they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.. Their throat is an open sepulcher, with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known; There is no fear of God before their eyes.' Romans 3: 9-18

Paul describes a condition apart from Christ. Under the old system sin was only temporarily defeated. James 2:10 states; 'For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.' In this sense, if we operate under the law, we are all lawbreakers. Right away we see the need for a new way. A way that focuses on the righteousness of God.

According to the Gospel of John, after the crucifixion, the soldiers did not divide his tunic, but cast lots to determine who would keep it because it was woven in one piece without seam. A distinction is made in the New Testament Greek between the garment which is himatia, and the seamless robe, which is chiton.

The soldiers, took his garment and divided it into four parts, one for each soldier, but of the coat, or chitona without seam woven whole from the top down; they said among themselves, 'let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots.' John 19:23–24

Christ's life was without seam. He imputes his righteousness upon us in the way of a new birth. We can wear our own robe of righteousness, which leads away from Christ or wear the seamless robe of the righteousness of Christ!

Isaiah was clothed with the garments of salvation and describes his joy saying, '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 61: 10