What can a dirty rag teach you about salvation?
More than you think. So let's talk about it on this
week's edition of Liberty at Home.
Hello there, and welcome to Liberty at Home, the five minute
devotional program brought to you by Liberty Baptist Church.
I'm your host Pastor Adam Rivero, and I've been the pastor
of Liberty since we started Easton over 12 years ago.
Today, as always, we're broadcasting from the studios of
ECAT in Easton, MA, where our neighbor to the West, Mansfield,
is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year.
Hey Mansfield, we've got 50 years on you.
With all that being said, let's get into today's text, which
will be in the Book of Isaiah chapter #64 beginning of verse
6, it says. 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, 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 has consumed us because of our iniquities.
But now, O Lord, thou art our Father, we are the clay, and
Thou art Potter, and we all are the work of thy hand.
We've got a pile of them folded up neatly in our laundry room,
and most likely you do too. What am I talking about?
Rags. They're tattered and old, and
they're only used for the dirtiest of jobs.
You never, and I must emphasize this, never ever use them for
something requiring a cloth that is guaranteed to be clean.
This is because even when we think that cleaning rags are
clean, can we really be so sure they are?
I mean, think about it. They SOP up everything from
animal messes to motor oil. Even though they are washed and
maybe even bleached after every use, you're never really
comfortable that they're completely sanitary.
Would you dry your dishes with these rags?
Would you clean a baby with a cleaning rag?
Exactly. You know, oftentimes when I talk
to people about issues dealing with eternity, they tell me they
hope their good works will gain them entrance into heaven.
Although many people believe this to be true, the teachings
of the Scriptures is, believe it or not, exactly the opposite of
this philosophy. The Bible tells us that our good
works cannot clean our sinful souls because they are much like
filthy rags. Our works are.
Consider today's text in Isaiah 64 which says 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. The Bible states that our works
cannot save us because human effort from an unclean heart
cannot erase our own sins. It would be like trying to clean
yourself with an oil soaked rag. Instead of getting clean, it
just makes more of a mess. This is why the Bible makes it
clear in both the Old and New Testaments that salvation is not
something we can work for, but rather it's a gift from God.
Consider Isaiah 118. Come now and let us reason
together. Say it the Lord.
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
Though they be red like Crimson, they shall be as wool.
The only thing that can cleanse us from our sins is the precious
blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot ever be earned,
which is why Titus chapter 3 verse 5 says not by works of
righteousness, which we have done, but according to His
mercy. He saved us by the washing of
regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Now by the way, this washing is not the washing of baptismal
water, but the washing of Christ's blood, as we see in
Revelation chapter one verse 5. If you've considered that good
works can save a soul, listen. I'd encourage you to read verses
like Romans 327 and 28, Romans 623, or Ephesians 289.
These are just a small sampling of the multitude of verses
teaching that salvation is a free gift of God to those who
accept Him. Good works like church
attendance, charitable pursuits, or the so-called sacraments like
baptism are never once mentioned in scriptures as a way to
achieve heaven. You can't clean a body with a
rag, and the Bible tells us you can't clean a heart with one
either. This is why Romans chapter 5
verses 1 and 2 remind us that being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also
we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Cleaning with a rag won't make you physically clean, and
neither has good works ever cleansed one soul to grant them
entrance into heaven. Well, thank you as always for
watching Liberty at home. Whether you watch today on your
TV or online, hope you join us sometime soon for services.
Liberty Baptist Church meets every Sunday and Wednesday at
800 Washington Street, right here in Easton.
Check us out on social media, on your favorite podcast app, or at
my libertybaptist.org. Well, we're out of time for this
episode, so I'll sign off by reminding you that where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
I'm Pastor Adam Rivero, and we're looking forward to seeing
you next week right here on Liberty at Home.