{"id":47338,"date":"2022-10-01T02:50:30","date_gmt":"2022-10-01T07:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/baptism-and-filthy-rags-bible-study\/"},"modified":"2022-10-01T02:50:30","modified_gmt":"2022-10-01T07:50:30","slug":"baptism-and-filthy-rags-bible-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/baptism-and-filthy-rags-bible-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Baptism And Filthy Rags – Bible study"},"content":{"rendered":"

A querist asks, “I’ve heard denominational preachers argue that baptism is not essential to man’s salvation and then quote from Isaiah 64:6 KJV, saying that baptism is like a ‘filthy rag.’ Can you please explain in context what this verse is really teaching?”<\/p>\n

In context, we must include Isaiah 64:5 NKJV along with Isaiah 64:6 NKJV, which states:<\/p>\n

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You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways.<\/strong>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Adam Clarke cites the Syriac version of this verse which gives the more correct sense:<\/p>\n

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“Thou meetest with joy those who work righteousness.<\/strong>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In other words, God rejoices when He sees men obeying His will (Matthew 7:21 NKJV; cf. Luke 15:4-7 NKJV; Luke 15:11-25 NKJV; John 6:28-29 NKJV; Acts 10:34-35 NKJV).<\/p>\n

Conversely, when we sin, our garments become polluted to the point where we are no longer serving and obeying God’s will. The passage in Isaiah 64:6 NKJV, is encouraging righteousness on mans part not making light of it. Note that the phrase “our righteousnesses” in Isaiah 64:6 NKJV is fully explained in Philippians 3:9 NKJV as that “which is of the law” [law of Moses] and does not disparage righteousness at all (cf. Ezekiel 3:20-21 NKJV).<\/p>\n

Salvation is by a faith system of trust in Jesus Christ not<\/strong> by a system of Law in which there is no ultimate forgiveness for sin (Philippians 3:9 NKJV; Romans 10:3-4 NKJV; Hebrews 10:1-4 NKJV). Rather, Paul commends obedience and good deeds those who do “works of righteousness” (Romans 1:5 NKJV; Romans 2:6-7 NKJV; Romans 2:10 NKJV; Romans 16:26 NKJV; cf. Acts 10:35 NKJV; James 2:14-24 NKJV).<\/p>\n

In Romans, the apostle Paul quickly corrects the man who thinks he can be saved by the works of the law of Moses, for “all have sinned (Romans 3:23 NKJV). Therefore, all must have forgiveness, and this forgiveness is only possible “in Christ”. (Romans 3:24-31 NKJV; cf. Ephesians 1:3-7 NKJV).<\/p>\n

In the New Testament, there are no disparaging statements about mans obedience to God, (i.e., a “filthy rags” concept). On the contrary, John writes:<\/p>\n

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If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him<\/strong> (1 John 2:29 NKJV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And:<\/p>\n

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“He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous<\/strong>” (1 John 3:7 NKJV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The above two verses certainly do not promote the idea of “filthy rags.”<\/p>\n

Thus, stubborn unrighteousness or disobedience against God<\/strong> is the “filthy rag” of Isaiah 64:6 NKJV; cf. Gal. 5:4 KJV) not<\/strong> baptism or any other works of righteousness that God has “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).<\/p>\n

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