Filthy self-righteousness

“But we all are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags; and we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” ‭Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬

Being honest and doing good things is of course good, both for yourself and others. But before God, it is not enough to do good things because we are sinners. We cannot impress God with our works and we can never get it right with God in our own strength. Here, therefore, all religions, except for the faith in the Son of God, Jesus, are put to shame. I’ll explain why.

The Bible speaks of God’s righteousness and in comparison to God’s righteousness, everything else pales. God is holy and in God’s presence and in heaven sin cannot exist.

“For our God is a consuming fire.” ‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:29‬

I don’t know what you think about God, but as I said, He is holy and He hates sin. Sin is rebellion against God and it was sin that caused Satan to be cast out of heaven and Adam and Eve to be banished from the garden.

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born again,  he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” John 3:3

Man needs a new heart, a transformation in his very innermost being. Otherwise, it’s like putting on clean clothes without first washing. The dirt will then penetrate from the inside and make the clean clothes filthy. Completely independent of the fact that you might even be trying to live well. Because all people are sinners and we need to be washed clean and given a new identity. This is where the message of Jesus comes in.

Only God’s standard holds. And God has prepared a solution for all people that all people have a right to hear about so they can respond.

“Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new. All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s stead: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‭-‬21‬

When you believe, that is, to put your heart’s trust in Jesus as your Savior, then something happens inside you. You become a new creation. The Spirit of God takes up His abode in your innermost being and you become a child of God by grace. You gain new interests and will be drawn to what has to do with God.

God can have fellowship with us flawed people and let us go to heaven because of Jesus. Sin was punished when Jesus took our punishment upon Himself when He died on the cross. This was a legal act so that God could forgive us humans. God’s righteousness demands that sin be punished.

Jesus had never sinned, but He was made sin on the cross and the wrath of God fell upon His Son. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus disarmed the devil and has the keys of hell and of death.

Every person who turns from their own ways and puts their faith in Jesus is made the righteousness of God in Jesus. Through faith, you are united with Jesus and God then sees you as righteous. All this is a work of God and the power of the gospel that we receive by grace when we believe.

If you previously tried to please God through your own righteousness, today you can instead receive God’s righteousness. Or if you previously did not care about God at all, then you need to understand that if you do not respond to this offer, you yourself will be held accountable for your sins.

‭“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

The wages of sin is eternal separation from God in hell for those who refuse to accept God’s gift. Eternal life in heaven where there is no evil and sin is available through Jesus. You can express your faith in Jesus today, by telling Jesus that you confess Him as your Lord.

Connect with other Christians and read and practice the Bible.

God bless you.