The “Filthy Rags” “None That Doeth Good” “Everyone is a Sinner” LIE!
God does not view our righteous acts as filthy rags, but as costly apparel purchased with the blood of Christ. “Filthy Rags” was speaking to how Christ will judge the saints “according to their works” (Matt. 16:27).
Mat 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
How can HE do that if He already esteems all works repugnant?
“But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isa. 64:6).
Isaiah the prophet summed up the wretched state into which the covenant people of God had sunk(they backslid)!!!.
Though they had the boon of receiving the Law from Mount Sinai, though they had come out of Egypt through the Red Sea, they had turned from their Lawgiver.
Pro 28:9 “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
The children of Zion were worshipping false gods (Isa. 42:17).
Isa 42:17 “They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.”
They were reveling in the dregs of idolatry. So much so, the prophet calls Jerusalem a harlot (Isa. 1:21)
Isa 1:21 “How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.”
and likens it to Sodom (Isa. 3:9). “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.”
And yet, the people had an illusion of righteousness. Some of them professed to be “holier than thou,” even while burning incense on strange altars(sinning) (Isa. 65:3-5).
Isa 65:3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
Isa 65:4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Isa 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
But God did not esteem their righteousness to be anything but pollution. He even hated the Sabbaths and feasts that He had Himself ordained (Isaiah 1:13-14) “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.”
The house of Jacob’s apostasy had rendered its best acts of religion unclean. Like the wind, sins were sweeping people away (Isa. 64:6) “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
How appropriate that the prophet would break into such hyperbole as to call this supposed goodness “filthy rags.” What better way to call the nation to repentance? In the context of proud Judah’s barrenness, the rebuke comes with the force of a thunderbolt.
This is most certainly the way the text should be read. We have all heard that “a text without a context is a pretext.” This applies here. The “filthy rags” must be understood historically and with application to the audience: apostate Jerusalem.
The clear teaching of the Bible is that acts of virtue and goodness are very pleasing to God. He does not view them as filthy, unless they are done with false intentions (Matt. 6:2) “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
In fact, God was pleased with Cornelius’ alms, even before that man was converted to Christ (Acts 10:4).
Act 10:4 “And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.”
This alone should negate the popular application of Isaiah 64:6. The “FILTHY RAG” argument is now debunked by scripture!
Amazingly, the preceding verse in the book of Isaiah teaches the exact opposite of the common interpretation of “filthy rags.” Listen to the prophet: “Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. “(Isa. 64:5). Genuine works of righteousness, says Isaiah, are valuable; God meets us when we walk in them. Are we told the opposite thing oneverse later? That hardly seems reasonable.
Jesus taught that God will reward even small works, such as giving a child a cup of water Mat 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”
Our Lord commands us to let our good deeds “shine before men,” that they might glorify the Father. Mat 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Paul writes that we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
The apostle erases all doubt as to how God views works of righteousness. Paul urges the saints to “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Col. 1:10). Notice that pleasing God is connected to righteous works. They are clearly not filthy rags in the sight of God; they are a delight to Him.
But the Scripture affirms repeatedly that our Father smiles upon our acts of goodness and Jesus clearly states IF we love him…. John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
No one will be saved without them, you must live holy. Jesus states in John 5:29 that the resurrection unto life is for those who have “done good.” Paul writes that God redeemed us to make us “His own special people, zealous for good works” (Tit. 2:14). And so, the entire scheme of redemption has as a focus good works – and a glorious resurrection to those who have walked in them for Christ’s sake.
No, we do not put God in our debt by doing good deeds. We cannot merit salvation by balancing our works with our sins. Salvation and forgiveness lie in our covenant status with God through Christ as we obey . But the imitation of our Lord – which includes works (Acts 10:38) – is an obligation of the covenant. It is also a high privilege and a joy.
Act 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
Clearly, God does not view our righteous acts as filthy rags, but as costly apparel purchased with the blood of Christ.
Please take heed….Please pay close attention….. Often many will give you the following verse>>>>
Ecc 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
Many seem to never consider who was on earth the time Ecclesiastes 7:20 was written, nor do they consider other factors or verses of why this verse CAN’T BE referring to ALL MEN and or EVEN THE MAN IN CHRIST or the whosoever is born of God. A careful examination of other scriptures clearly indicate this verse can’t mean what they say it does, that is that this verse applies to all men including God’s people, THE MAN IN CHRIST or the whosoever is born of God.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
It’s amazing so many believe there is not a JUST MAN anywhere, NOT even Gods people, not even IN CHRIST, NOT even the whosoever is BORN OF GOD. The bible clearly speaks of just men!
Here is what the bible says of Noah… Genesis 6:9 “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. “ Here is what the bible says about John>>>That Herod feared John knowing that>>HE WAS A JUST MAN…>>>> Mark 6:20 “For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.”
3Jn 1:11 “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
Again pay close attention to the words in 3 John 1:11 that says HE THAT DOETH GOOD IS OF GOD………
1. Either HE THAT DOETH GOOD IS OF GOD…. or 2. There is no HE THAT DOETH GOOD….
You want to get some fear of God right about now if you are going to pick 2 as you call God a liar!
Here is another example of someone that DOETH GOOD, yet some will tell you even the merciful man here DOETH NO GOOD. Proverbs 11:17 “Th merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh”
To say it’s impossible to do good and to say not even Gods people DO GOOD is simply…. NOT GOOD… What does that say about YOU when many places throughout the word it clearly says DO GOOD???
Psalms 37: “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed….”
To some they believe even though they are with Christ that they can do no good but JESUS said DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
1 John 5:18 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”
Finally, God does not even hear sinners (those with filthy rags, those who sin)!
Isa 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Joh 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Rev 22:11 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
You are a blasphemous liar if you believe true saints of God (Christians) have “filthy rags” and are unjust! Repent and believe the WHOLE counsel of God.
HOW DO YOU KNOW JESUS? OBEY HIM WITH WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS~!
1Jn 2:3 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
If you believe you are saved in sin, a “filthy rag christian”, repent, and go to The Way to The Cross study here https://goo.gl/Qetm4H. Then read What is Biblical Perfection https://goo.gl/vepJ4P.
More studies below:
What is biblical perfection https://goo.gl/vepJ4P
The lie of Imputed Righteousness https://goo.gl/2CAkyB
God does not hear sinners https://goo.gl/wNFLZv
Jesus is NOT a friend of sinners https://goo.gl/tdbd8A
The “Romans 7 Wretch” and “saved in sin” lie https://goo.gl/rC5Ha2