As FILTHY rags

 

Isaiah 64:6

King James Version

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.

Do you consider yourself to be righteous?

Why does prophet Isaiah then call our righteousness, as "filthy rags"?

A born again can well understand.

We don't take offense.

For these reasons:

Proverbs 16:2

King James Version

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; 

but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Isaiah 64:7

King James Version

7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, 

that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: 

for thou hast hid thy face from us, 

and hast consumed us, 

because of our iniquities.

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts:

 for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

John 8:44-45

King James Version

44 Ye are of your father the devil, 

and the lusts of your father ye will do. 

He was a murderer from the beginning, 

and abode not in the truth, 

because there is no truth in him. 

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: 

for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, 

ye believe me not.

Romans 3:11-23

King James Version

11 There is none that understandeth, 

there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, 

they are together become unprofitable; 

there is none that doeth good, 

no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; 

with their tongues they have used deceit;

the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, 

it saith to them who are under the law: 

that every mouth may be stopped, 

and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law 

there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: 

for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God 

without the law is manifested, 

being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God 

which is by faith of Jesus Christ 

unto all and upon all them that believe: 

for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, 

and come short of the glory of God;

1 John 5:19

King James Version

19 And we know that we are of God, 

and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

"Filthy rags" (flesh and blood) cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50

King James Version

50 Now this I say, brethren, 

that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; 

neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

We need to be born again.

John 3:3-7

King James Version

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 

How can a man be born when he is old? 

can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, 

and be born?

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

We need to be "new creatures" in CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 5:17

King James Version

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, 

he is a new creature: 

old things are passed away; 

behold, 

all things are become new.

We need to have "new bodies", free of corruption, for the RAPTURE.

1 Corinthians 15:52-54

King James Version

52 In a moment, 

in the twinkling of an eye, 

at the last trump: 

for the trumpet shall sound, 

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, 

and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 

and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, 

and this mortal shall have put on immortality, 

then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 

Death is swallowed up in victory.

Only JESUS can save us from sin, Satan, and ourselves. 

John 3:16-17

King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world 

to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him 

might be saved.

Acts 4:12

King James Version

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: 

for there is none other name under heaven 

given among men, 

whereby we must be saved.

Related material:

AWARENESS of sin

HOLINESS

JESUS

Image: Png Find

What happens when we Love and Obey God?

 

JESUS commands:

Luke 10:27

King James Version

27 And he answering said, 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 

with all thy heart, 

and with all thy soul, 

and with all thy strength, 

and with all thy mind; 

and thy neighbour as thyself.

What happens when we love, and obey God?

The best point of reference would be Jesus.

Here's what the Lord promises:

-- We will know if the doctrine  be of God.

John 7:17

King James Version

17 If any man will do his will, 

he shall know of the doctrine, 

whether it be of God, 

or whether I speak of myself.

-- We shall be loved of the Father.

-- We shall be loved by Jesus.

-- Jesus will manifest Himself to us.

John 14:21

King James Version

21 He that hath my commandments, 

and keepeth them, 

he it is that loveth me: 

and he that loveth me 

shall be loved of my Father, 

and I will love him, 

and will manifest myself to him.

-- God will love us.

-- The Father and the Son will come unto us.

-- The Father and the Son will abode with us.

John 14:23

King James Version

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

If a man love me, 

he will keep my words: 

and my Father will love him, 

and we will come unto him, 

and make our abode with him.

-- We become friends of Jesus.

John 15:14

King James Version

14 Ye are my friends, 

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

-- Whatever we ask of the Father in Jesus' name, God will give us.

John 15:16

King James Version

16 Ye have not chosen me, 

but I have chosen you, 

and ordained you, 

that ye should go and bring forth fruit, 

and that your fruit should remain: 

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father 

in my name, 

he may give it you.

-- We will be blessed.

Luke 11:28

King James Version

28 But he said, 

Yea rather, 

blessed are they 

that hear the word of God, 

and keep it.

-- We shall enter into the kingdom of heavaen.

Matthew 7:21

King James Version

21 Not every one that saith unto me, 

Lord, Lord, 

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 

but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Why Does GOD Always Seem to Show Up at the LAST Minute?

 

Proverbs 16:18

King James Version

18 Pride goeth before destruction, 

and an haughty spirit before a fall.

It seems so, doesn't it?

That GOD shows up at the last minute.

Just when all hope seems gone.

Just when you're on to your last cent.

Just when you're feeling so broken.

Just when you're about to give up. 

Just when others have given up on you.

Why do you think GOD helps?

Why do you think He shows up?

Did you pray for Him to do so?

Did you lift up your hands in surrender?

Did you finally acknowledge these:

-- That you needed GOD's help after all?

-- That you can't do it alone?

-- That you realize all your human efforts have failed you?

-- That all your friends have deserted you?

-- That even your family doesn't want to help you anymore?

-- That people are indifferent to your plight?

-- That you're now ready to be helped, saved, and corrected?

Wow, that would be the day.

Well, know this:

The moment you surrender to GOD 

is the day He can step in 

and help you.

That is the LORD's opportunity to show you something.

And YOUR golden opportunity to LEARN something.

The Bible shows that GOD does TWO things:

1. When people need help, GOD does this.

Ezekiel 20:42 

King James Version

42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, 

when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, 

into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand 

to give it to your fathers.

2. When people are rebellious, GOD does this.

Ezekiel 33:29 

King James Version

29 Then shall they know that I am the Lord, 

when I have laid the land most desolate 

because of all their abominations 

which they have committed.

The common denominator?

"And ye shall know 

that I am the Lord."

On, and on, GOD reminds us of that.

And on, and on, people forget.

When the going's good, we're gone from GOD's side.

When the going gets tough, we can't wait to be by His side.

The rest of the time, people don't acknowledge GOD's POWER over our lives.

Many are not even by His side at all.

Many don't want to follow.

Many don't want to listen.

GOD is steady.

For ourselves, we teeter constantly in destruction.

All because of that ingratitude, and forgetfulness.

When God allows a situation, He's making a statement.

When God helps, He's making a statement.

When God punishes, He's making a statement.

So we shall KNOW that He is the LORD.

Still, the lessons don't stick.

And few become grateful.

Much less repentant.

Does it really have to be this way?

That we suffer first, before God helps us?

That we are finally humbled from our proud, unfaithful ways?

After all, how many people listen to the Lord?

How many people pay attention to the teachings of JESUS?

What else would it take for us to completely surrender to God?

What else would it take for us to be shame-faced, and repentant, at our foolishness?

It's human nature to be ungrateful, and forgetful.

When all is well, we forget God.

When all goes south, we seek God.

It's only when we've lost all hope, do we remember God.

It's only when we're in near-panic, do we seek God's help.

We must not test the Lord.

Matthew 4:7 

King James Version

7 Jesus said unto him, 

It is written again, 

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

GOD always shows up at the LAST minute, because we ONLY seek Him at the last minute.

That's really the truth of the matter.

The rest of the time, we think we know better.

The rest of the time, people forget Him.

Many don't even know Him.

Only when we've raised our white flags in complete humility, and surrender, does GOD effortlessly steps in.

Once you've become born again, you realize the GRIEF we cause God, the FOLLY we bring upon our own lives, and the FUTILITY of this rebellion against the ONLY POWER there is.

Malachi 3:6 

King James Version

6 For I am the Lord, 

I change not; 

therefore ye sons of Jacob 

are not consumed.

And that's when we all become shame-faced.

Time to turn back to GOD now.

That's why JESUS was sent.

That's why SPIRIT teaches us.

That we may remember.

Related material:

On MAN's plans

GOD's WAYS

What man FORGETS

The hard teachings

Image: Clipart Library

Updated 23 October 2023

ABSENCE of arrogance

 

Micah 6:8 

King James Version

8 He hath shewed thee, 

O man, what is good; 

and what doth the Lord require of thee, 

but to do justly, and to love mercy, 

and to walk humbly with thy God?

Have people hurt you?

How do you feel about them now?

Have you gone past that hurt?

Do you have thoughts of revenge?

Obviously, if you are God's own, thoughts of the latter won't even occur to you.

Perhaps, you have erred, too.

But if you are not God's own, you will keep that hurt in your heart, letting it seep in every bone of your body, in the very marrow of your heart, waiting for an opportune time to seek revenge.

In the meantime, you are becoming the devil's own.

Well, this blog is about God's unvarnished truth.

Jesus taught us to love.

John 15:12 

King James Version

12 This is my commandment, 

That ye love one another, 

as I have loved you.

And it's only God who has a right to judge, and to avenge, for only He sees the total picture:

Romans 12:19 

King James Version

19 Dearly beloved, 

avenge not yourselves, 

but rather give place unto wrath: 

for it is written, 

Vengeance is mine; 

I will repay, 

saith the Lord.

The Son of God was mocked, reviled, and killed for our sins.

And yet, He had no vengeful bone in His body.

Jesus showed us how to love, how to sacrifice, how to obey God, how to be humble, even how to be humbled.

Every day we breathe, is an opportunity to be perfect in the eyes of the Lord.

We cannot grieve about what people have done to us.

Instead, we must grieve if we have hurt them, knowingly, or unknowingly.

And if we have grieved others, we must pray to Jesus, thanking Him for showing us our errors, asking Him to create an opportunity where we can right our wrongs with our brothers and sisters.

Only God would know how to create an opportunity for healing, and forgiveness.

Only He would know how to correct matters between us.

Only God sees the big picture.

Nothing is hidden from His eyes.

He searches our hearts constantly.

We can all pretend the grievances are nothing, or make others feel it is everything.

Thus, diseases, chaos, and wars.

But the Lord also admonished us:

Matthew 7:5 

King James Version

5 Thou hypocrite, 

first cast out the beam 

out of thine own eye; 

and then shalt thou see clearly 

to cast out the mote 

out of thy brother's eye.

Following the Lord, believing in Him, being a true child of God, means we are humble, teachable, and without any degree of arrogance in our hearts.

And most of all, we must open our hearts to God for correction.

The Holy Spirit loves such kinds of people.

Much will be given, according to our faithfulness to God's commandments.

And let's remember what the Lord Jesus did.

He did all for the Father.

It was never about self.

More verses:

Bible Verses About Humility

Updated 8 November 2023