Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (NKJV)
2Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (ERKJV)
John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life." (NKJV)
2Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (ERKJV)
John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life." (NKJV)
Welcome to our Ministry pages! Presenting answers to important matters of faith using God's Holy Scriptures.
May God Himself bless you on your journey through Faith...in JESUS name!
May God Himself bless you on your journey through Faith...in JESUS name!
These articles address two misconceptions that often go hand in hand:
1. "Are All Our Works As Filthy Rags Before The Lord?" (by-product of hyper-grace)
2. "But It's All About Grace Now, Isn't It?"
1) Filthy Rags: Unfortunately, the partial verse from Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteousness are as filthy rags" is often quoted by some as proof that any effort on our part to perform good works and/or practice modern day righteousness comes across as being quite disgusting or putrid in God’s sight. Now for those who reject God that is true, but for God's elect that is false.
The first part of this article deals with those that believe this verse targets both the saved and unsaved.
Not only is that viewpoint grossly in error, but requires this verse to be completely taken out of context especially if one attempts to apply it to the New Testament (NT) church. Those that know their God will recognize the mishandling of God's Word, whether intentional or by novice error. It would good to heed Paul's instruction to Timothy to "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Tim 2:15 AKJV)
If we seek to apply this partial verse from Isaiah to the NT church then we are erroneously implying that the whole new testament church is backslidden, because it was in this context that this passage originally was proclaimed to backslidden Israel by God's prophet Isaiah. A study of the book of Isaiah or better yet, a clear understanding of the old testament quickly affirm this. In fact, the House of Israel had become so corrupt and had so far removed God's law from their hearts and minds that they paid no heed to His rebuke and even took His messenger, poor Isaiah, and had him sawn in two - murdered under orders by Manasseh! (King after Hezekiah). God's chosen people had become degenerate and no different than the heathen nations God had once had separated them from. Because of their backsliding God soon turns Israel over to heathen Babylon for destruction.
So exactly what target audience did God has in mind in Isaiah 64:6? Any serious student of the bible should know or will learn that the Lord was speaking of rebellious backslidden Israel. Indeed Isaiah sets the scenario for this statement in the first chapter of his witness...in fact the first 39 chapters of Isaiah contain scathing pronouncements and judgments against Judah, Israel, and surrounding nations and thoroughly explains the context of Isaiah 64:6!
"Backsliding Israel" Isaiah 1 (KJER)
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me. 3 The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel does not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. [God calls the His own people "Sodom and Gomorrah" here because of their wickedness!]
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? says the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. [their works are as filthy rags when their heart is unrepentant]
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination to 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 hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 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."
So there it is, the recipients of Isaiah 64:6 were the chosen people of God, the House of Israel who had become backslidden, morally bankrupt and thus marked for punishment and destruction by the Lord. Judgment for forsaking the ways of Lord, embracing false gods, idols, etc. A nation whose hearts had fallen away to apostasy, but from time to time they performed religious rituals to ease their conscience.
If we tried to apply this verse to NT era it could only apply to backsliders traveling the broad path to destruction.
1Peter 4 (KJV) 17" For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" Without godly repentance their path ends at the Lake of Fire.
Jeremiah the prophet who followed on the heels of Isaiah, further berated the House of Israel & continued to warn them to repent or face judgment - right up until the day God utterly destroyed His people. Using His servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, God completely demolished backslidden Israel. He even permitted the Babylonians to burn Solomon's temple to the ground and thereby completely spoil His own chosen people. Over 5000 holy temple (service) vessels of gold and silver, were taken as spoil by Babylon thus fulfilling the prophetic warnings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others. He said through Jeremiah in chapter 2:13, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jeremiah prophesied utter doom and destruction for the House of Israel and spent many of his days in prison, continually persecuted by the false prophets that advised Israel's Kings. Today we have false Christs and false apostles speaking in Jesus name to the Church that are leading many to apostasy and the Lake of Fire just as Jesus said they would. Only the very elect of God will not be deceived. It is up to us to make our calling and election sure!
The conquering empire of Babylon also took most of the surviving Israelites into captivity for a 70 year period in Babylon...most notably Daniel and Ezekiel. God spared those who obeyed His prophets by protecting and teaching them His ways in Babylon. Daniel, and his friends demonstrated righteousness by praying and worshipping the Lord despite threats to their lives and scripture bears witness that God was well pleased and protected them from horrific deaths while they served the Lord in Babylon.
Next, conspicuous by absence is any reference to this verse in the New Testament. None of the apostles (NT authors) quote the "filthy rags" passage as pertaining to the blood washed bride of Christ. If we endeavor to apply this verse to the Holy Spirit filled bride of Christ we must take the "Holy" out of Holy Spirit, or remove "Spirit" from the term "Spirit-filled", because this verse could only apply to carnally minded people who do not have the Spirit or (apostates) whom no longer obey the Spirit of Christ, their conscience seared as with a hot iron.
The truth is that our Heavenly Father is well pleased with our righteous works when we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. When you are truly born again, living soberly, righteously, shining your light, you will inherit the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. You will hear words such as these...."Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of the Lord!"
In fact, the Word states via Ephesians 2:10 ( ESV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Paul attributes righteous acts that you perform to Christ's righteousness manifesting through us. By permitting God's Spirit to work righteousness in our lives, we proclaim to the world that we are submitted to the Spirit of Christ. The steps of a RIGHTEOUS MAN are ordered of the Lord! Everything is a freewill choice. A choice to live filthy or a choice to live righteous. Whatever state we choose to end up in will determine our future even though we might have received the initial saving grace of Christ.
Indeed, scripture in Rev. 19:8 states that the Bride is adorned in fine white linen "which are the righteous acts of the saints" (aka the NT Church).
So to proclaim that Isaiah 64:6 applies to the NT Church depicts a horribly unappealing (and sadly inaccurate) image of our God, both to believers and certainly again to the unsaved world.
Born Again or Backslidden? In John's gospel, Jesus teaches the requirement for believers to born again. Subsequently, John's epistles (letters) to the NT Church pulls no punches and teaches these truths in crystal clear language breathed by the Holy Spirit:
1John 3:2-10 (NKJV)
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. [see Hebrews 10:26]
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. [The scriptures declare that we must practice righteousness! It is not optional...we must walk the talk. His seed is His Word]
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
Most certainly, even in the old testament (OT), the righteous acts of godly men and women are specifically acknowledged as such by God. Indeed those who demonstrated faith in God by righteous actions are further referenced in the NT as examples for us to imitate. Hebrews, the great book on faith and specifically chapter 11 preaches this theme by declaring forty (40) consecutive verses of faith based works, acts of believer's righteousness which God highly commends (He is a proud Father! Here, Father is boasting about His obedient children! Abba Father!!!) and leaves no doubt that He was highly pleased with their works of righteousness. These works/righteous acts demonstrated their faith in the God of Israel to the entire world. In Matt 5:16, Jesus commands us to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. There are many like verses in the NT where our good works please & glorify our heavenly Father.
God is pleased when you use your talents to serve Him in righteousness. To term His children's righteous actions "filthy rags" is a gross misrepresentation of our loving Heavenly Father!
As Hebrews Chapter 11 affirms, those who practiced righteousness in OT times, pleased our heavenly Father. The Lord chose to save Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and the Lord destroyed the balance of perverted humanity as an everlasting warning for us to heed. Peter said likewise water baptism also does save us, as an answer (righteous act) which results in a clear conscience towards God: that we have buried the old man /nature of sin and vow never to walk in those sinful ways again. (Romans chapter 6)
However, Paul said some believers were still carnal and they need to be fed baby milk even though by now they should have been eating meat. Even new born babes make quick advancements and we are often surprised how quickly they grow up. So if a person's life does not exhibit righteous living, that person's claim to being born again is suspect. Jesus gave the example of a tree that bore no fruit and so it was to be dug around, fertilized and if still no fruit would be cut down and burned. Some folks are quenching the Holy Spirit from taking His rightful place in His temple. God warns the Church in Corinthians 1 Cor 3:16, 17 that He will destroy those of His people who defile His temple by choosing unrighteous lifestyles.
16 "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." Perhaps those who apply Isaiah 64:6 to the NT church actually are revealing something about their personal spiritual status?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Those believer's who long display stunted or zero growth are unlikely being led by the Spirit of God, either because they are severely wounded, too weak in faith, they are deceived, or because they are "those tares" - which are the thorns we have to bear with as they lurk in our Christian gatherings (yeah, get used to it!) until the time Jesus sends His angels to uproot and burn those tares. Jesus said by their fruit (or their doings/works) we shall know them. If a believer quits abiding in the vine, they will dry up spiritually and produce no more righteousness (fruit). Even Satan and his fallen angels believe in God and tremble. We are to be producers of fruit. We are blessed when we are filled with the Word of God, and are likened to trees planted by the rivers of living water that produces fruit in season, whose leaf also does not wither and whatsoever (righteous acts) we do shall prosper. (Psalms 1) Further, Paul describes the fruit of a Spirit filled Christian in Galatians chapter 5.
But without faith it is impossible to please God. Indeed, in Isaiah's time, the people had grossly forsaken their faith in the Lord God and were reaping what they sowed - with even greater impending doom prophesied upon them for their corrupted ways.
Deuteronomy 6:25 (KJER) "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us."
Basically, whenever we trust and obey, and act accordingly because of faith, God is pleased.
Whenever we trust and obey God's word, we reflect to the world an infinitely more accurate picture of God than when we insist to others that every human act ought to be regarded as “filthy”.
If we don't put on righteousness as an outward garment we will be setting aside an important part of our armor, the breastplate of righteousness...absolutely not a filthy rag, but an absolute requirement of a Holy God, who created us in Christ Jesus to perform good works which he prepared beforehand for us to do. The Helmet of Salvation which represents grace and godly repentance—must also be put on! The Spirit of Christ which dwells in us - is our righteousness, so let us serve our Lord and Savior with gladness by walking in the Spirit and nor performing the lusts of the flesh! Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven!
Click here for Part 2 " "But It's All About Grace Now, Isn't It?" (Hyper-Grace)
1. "Are All Our Works As Filthy Rags Before The Lord?" (by-product of hyper-grace)
2. "But It's All About Grace Now, Isn't It?"
1) Filthy Rags: Unfortunately, the partial verse from Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteousness are as filthy rags" is often quoted by some as proof that any effort on our part to perform good works and/or practice modern day righteousness comes across as being quite disgusting or putrid in God’s sight. Now for those who reject God that is true, but for God's elect that is false.
The first part of this article deals with those that believe this verse targets both the saved and unsaved.
Not only is that viewpoint grossly in error, but requires this verse to be completely taken out of context especially if one attempts to apply it to the New Testament (NT) church. Those that know their God will recognize the mishandling of God's Word, whether intentional or by novice error. It would good to heed Paul's instruction to Timothy to "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Tim 2:15 AKJV)
If we seek to apply this partial verse from Isaiah to the NT church then we are erroneously implying that the whole new testament church is backslidden, because it was in this context that this passage originally was proclaimed to backslidden Israel by God's prophet Isaiah. A study of the book of Isaiah or better yet, a clear understanding of the old testament quickly affirm this. In fact, the House of Israel had become so corrupt and had so far removed God's law from their hearts and minds that they paid no heed to His rebuke and even took His messenger, poor Isaiah, and had him sawn in two - murdered under orders by Manasseh! (King after Hezekiah). God's chosen people had become degenerate and no different than the heathen nations God had once had separated them from. Because of their backsliding God soon turns Israel over to heathen Babylon for destruction.
So exactly what target audience did God has in mind in Isaiah 64:6? Any serious student of the bible should know or will learn that the Lord was speaking of rebellious backslidden Israel. Indeed Isaiah sets the scenario for this statement in the first chapter of his witness...in fact the first 39 chapters of Isaiah contain scathing pronouncements and judgments against Judah, Israel, and surrounding nations and thoroughly explains the context of Isaiah 64:6!
"Backsliding Israel" Isaiah 1 (KJER)
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me. 3 The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel does not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. [God calls the His own people "Sodom and Gomorrah" here because of their wickedness!]
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? says the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. [their works are as filthy rags when their heart is unrepentant]
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination to 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 hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 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."
So there it is, the recipients of Isaiah 64:6 were the chosen people of God, the House of Israel who had become backslidden, morally bankrupt and thus marked for punishment and destruction by the Lord. Judgment for forsaking the ways of Lord, embracing false gods, idols, etc. A nation whose hearts had fallen away to apostasy, but from time to time they performed religious rituals to ease their conscience.
If we tried to apply this verse to NT era it could only apply to backsliders traveling the broad path to destruction.
1Peter 4 (KJV) 17" For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" Without godly repentance their path ends at the Lake of Fire.
Jeremiah the prophet who followed on the heels of Isaiah, further berated the House of Israel & continued to warn them to repent or face judgment - right up until the day God utterly destroyed His people. Using His servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, God completely demolished backslidden Israel. He even permitted the Babylonians to burn Solomon's temple to the ground and thereby completely spoil His own chosen people. Over 5000 holy temple (service) vessels of gold and silver, were taken as spoil by Babylon thus fulfilling the prophetic warnings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others. He said through Jeremiah in chapter 2:13, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jeremiah prophesied utter doom and destruction for the House of Israel and spent many of his days in prison, continually persecuted by the false prophets that advised Israel's Kings. Today we have false Christs and false apostles speaking in Jesus name to the Church that are leading many to apostasy and the Lake of Fire just as Jesus said they would. Only the very elect of God will not be deceived. It is up to us to make our calling and election sure!
The conquering empire of Babylon also took most of the surviving Israelites into captivity for a 70 year period in Babylon...most notably Daniel and Ezekiel. God spared those who obeyed His prophets by protecting and teaching them His ways in Babylon. Daniel, and his friends demonstrated righteousness by praying and worshipping the Lord despite threats to their lives and scripture bears witness that God was well pleased and protected them from horrific deaths while they served the Lord in Babylon.
Next, conspicuous by absence is any reference to this verse in the New Testament. None of the apostles (NT authors) quote the "filthy rags" passage as pertaining to the blood washed bride of Christ. If we endeavor to apply this verse to the Holy Spirit filled bride of Christ we must take the "Holy" out of Holy Spirit, or remove "Spirit" from the term "Spirit-filled", because this verse could only apply to carnally minded people who do not have the Spirit or (apostates) whom no longer obey the Spirit of Christ, their conscience seared as with a hot iron.
The truth is that our Heavenly Father is well pleased with our righteous works when we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. When you are truly born again, living soberly, righteously, shining your light, you will inherit the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. You will hear words such as these...."Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of the Lord!"
In fact, the Word states via Ephesians 2:10 ( ESV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Paul attributes righteous acts that you perform to Christ's righteousness manifesting through us. By permitting God's Spirit to work righteousness in our lives, we proclaim to the world that we are submitted to the Spirit of Christ. The steps of a RIGHTEOUS MAN are ordered of the Lord! Everything is a freewill choice. A choice to live filthy or a choice to live righteous. Whatever state we choose to end up in will determine our future even though we might have received the initial saving grace of Christ.
Indeed, scripture in Rev. 19:8 states that the Bride is adorned in fine white linen "which are the righteous acts of the saints" (aka the NT Church).
So to proclaim that Isaiah 64:6 applies to the NT Church depicts a horribly unappealing (and sadly inaccurate) image of our God, both to believers and certainly again to the unsaved world.
Born Again or Backslidden? In John's gospel, Jesus teaches the requirement for believers to born again. Subsequently, John's epistles (letters) to the NT Church pulls no punches and teaches these truths in crystal clear language breathed by the Holy Spirit:
1John 3:2-10 (NKJV)
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. [see Hebrews 10:26]
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. [The scriptures declare that we must practice righteousness! It is not optional...we must walk the talk. His seed is His Word]
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
Most certainly, even in the old testament (OT), the righteous acts of godly men and women are specifically acknowledged as such by God. Indeed those who demonstrated faith in God by righteous actions are further referenced in the NT as examples for us to imitate. Hebrews, the great book on faith and specifically chapter 11 preaches this theme by declaring forty (40) consecutive verses of faith based works, acts of believer's righteousness which God highly commends (He is a proud Father! Here, Father is boasting about His obedient children! Abba Father!!!) and leaves no doubt that He was highly pleased with their works of righteousness. These works/righteous acts demonstrated their faith in the God of Israel to the entire world. In Matt 5:16, Jesus commands us to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. There are many like verses in the NT where our good works please & glorify our heavenly Father.
God is pleased when you use your talents to serve Him in righteousness. To term His children's righteous actions "filthy rags" is a gross misrepresentation of our loving Heavenly Father!
As Hebrews Chapter 11 affirms, those who practiced righteousness in OT times, pleased our heavenly Father. The Lord chose to save Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and the Lord destroyed the balance of perverted humanity as an everlasting warning for us to heed. Peter said likewise water baptism also does save us, as an answer (righteous act) which results in a clear conscience towards God: that we have buried the old man /nature of sin and vow never to walk in those sinful ways again. (Romans chapter 6)
However, Paul said some believers were still carnal and they need to be fed baby milk even though by now they should have been eating meat. Even new born babes make quick advancements and we are often surprised how quickly they grow up. So if a person's life does not exhibit righteous living, that person's claim to being born again is suspect. Jesus gave the example of a tree that bore no fruit and so it was to be dug around, fertilized and if still no fruit would be cut down and burned. Some folks are quenching the Holy Spirit from taking His rightful place in His temple. God warns the Church in Corinthians 1 Cor 3:16, 17 that He will destroy those of His people who defile His temple by choosing unrighteous lifestyles.
16 "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." Perhaps those who apply Isaiah 64:6 to the NT church actually are revealing something about their personal spiritual status?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Those believer's who long display stunted or zero growth are unlikely being led by the Spirit of God, either because they are severely wounded, too weak in faith, they are deceived, or because they are "those tares" - which are the thorns we have to bear with as they lurk in our Christian gatherings (yeah, get used to it!) until the time Jesus sends His angels to uproot and burn those tares. Jesus said by their fruit (or their doings/works) we shall know them. If a believer quits abiding in the vine, they will dry up spiritually and produce no more righteousness (fruit). Even Satan and his fallen angels believe in God and tremble. We are to be producers of fruit. We are blessed when we are filled with the Word of God, and are likened to trees planted by the rivers of living water that produces fruit in season, whose leaf also does not wither and whatsoever (righteous acts) we do shall prosper. (Psalms 1) Further, Paul describes the fruit of a Spirit filled Christian in Galatians chapter 5.
But without faith it is impossible to please God. Indeed, in Isaiah's time, the people had grossly forsaken their faith in the Lord God and were reaping what they sowed - with even greater impending doom prophesied upon them for their corrupted ways.
Deuteronomy 6:25 (KJER) "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us."
Basically, whenever we trust and obey, and act accordingly because of faith, God is pleased.
Whenever we trust and obey God's word, we reflect to the world an infinitely more accurate picture of God than when we insist to others that every human act ought to be regarded as “filthy”.
If we don't put on righteousness as an outward garment we will be setting aside an important part of our armor, the breastplate of righteousness...absolutely not a filthy rag, but an absolute requirement of a Holy God, who created us in Christ Jesus to perform good works which he prepared beforehand for us to do. The Helmet of Salvation which represents grace and godly repentance—must also be put on! The Spirit of Christ which dwells in us - is our righteousness, so let us serve our Lord and Savior with gladness by walking in the Spirit and nor performing the lusts of the flesh! Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven!
Click here for Part 2 " "But It's All About Grace Now, Isn't It?" (Hyper-Grace)
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