Filthy Rags

Isaiah 64:6

we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.

What are your trusting in? 

Philip reminded us this morning at our meeting of how the Pharisees trusted in their law keeping. They excelled in keeping up their appearance of righteousness, they were very religious and pious. The Lord Jesus told the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector (who were considered the worst of the worst). And the story unfolds of this Pharisee telling God how good he is and how bad the other man is.

Luke 18 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

He certainly thought highly of himself and also thought that God would too. But as far as God was concerned this man’s righteousness was like filthy rags before the Lord, why? Philip reminded us that we are not saved by our works, we cannot get to heaven just by being as good as we can. Every religion apart from Christianity is based on works, you have to do something to appease your god. But the one true God has been appeased, it was when His son was sacrificed on the cross for all who will repent and believe in Him. Those trusting in works will never succeed. 

Salvation does not come to you because you go to church each week, 
salvation does not come to you because you read your Bible daily, salvation does not come to you because you prayed a sinners prayer, 
salvation does not come to you because you do good things to people, 
salvation does not come to you because you say hail Mary, salvation does not come to you because your were christened as a child, 
salvation does not come to you because you do all these things.

The Pharisee could do most of these things and yet he did not have salvation, why? Because he trusted in himself and all the works he did and not on the salvation given freely by grace from God. The tax collector understood his state, he was a sinner and was in need of God’s mercy. Only when we recognise our sinful state and our need can we be saved.

Repent of your sin, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. Saved from what? Saved from the bondage of sin, saved from guilt, saved from shame, saved from religious bondage, saved from God’s wrath, saved from God’s judgment. And saved too receive new life in Christ and after natural death eternal life. No other god can give you this, no government can promise you this, and no religious rule keeping that is in the guise of Christianity can give you this. The world isn't merciful, religion isn't merciful, man isn't merciful, God is, receive His mercy today. 

Romans 3:24

Robes of Righteousness

The last two weeks at the Salvation Army home league in Ripley have been most interesting, you can read all about it here: What Will you be Wearing?

The first week we had been invited to a royal garden party and I completely forgot and turned up in my usual garb of jeans and t-shirt. The following week we had a spiritual insight into the week before, what struck me was that everyone else was ready, well prepared and dressed for the occasion that is certainly a good thing to be in the spiritual as well as the natural. Had this been the real thing and I had turned up dressed as I was to meet the Queen I never would have got through the first gate.

It reminded me of how we are to be prepared, ready and dressed in the right apparel for the Lord’s return or for when He calls us home. Pamela reminded us that we must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ and when He comes again for His church each one of us must be so clothed. If you have not repented of your sins, (we are forgiven only through Jesus the Son of God and His death on the cross), then you will certainly not be able to get into heaven and you will certainly not be able to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb.

 Revelation 19: 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints, if we are in Christ then we are saints and it matters how we live, how we act, how we speak etc. If our acts are of this world then our garments will not be clean and they will not be righteous and we shall not be ready. If you want to go to heaven if you want to live for ever with God and the Lord Jesus Christ on the new earth then you must have on the right garments, this is what Jesus says happens when you don’t. 

Matthew 22:1-14 

The Jews at this time had rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they didn’t want to recognise Him as God’s Son. Many in these days make light of God’s word and warnings, they believe you can get to heaven in your own strength providing you’re good and you haven’t done anything nasty, but the Bible tells us that all have sinned in which case all are in need of the saving grace of God. 

Jesus came for the good and the bad, any who are willing to come to repentance acknowledging their sins, repenting and believing in Him for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Make sure you are wearing the right garment when God calls you home or when Jesus comes back, cast off all the filthy garments of this world and trust in the saving grace of our God.

Isaiah 61:10