But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

 There are things which must be stripped off. Apothesthai (compare G595) is the verb for stripping off one's clothes. There are things of which the Christian must divest himself as he would strip off a soiled garment. 