Cleanliness and Goodness

Jeremiah 2:22 - For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord GOD.

As I read this verse I thought about cleanliness and goodness. These things do not occur because we think so about ourselves. They are gotten only through salvation and a relationship with Christ.

God doesn’t look at the outside of a person but at their heart. (1Samuel 16:7) That should scare most people! We can fool man (and even ourselves) with our outward appearance and demeanor but God knows the motives of our heart, whether we are honest, truly kind, or putting on airs to make ourselves look good to others. He also knows whether we are right or wrong in our thinking. Do we know what truth is? With all the ideas in the world, some day everyone will know the truth. For some it will be good; for others not.

I’ve said this many times...because it is so true in God’s eyes...we can do no works of our own to receive the grace of God. We must receive His Son Jesus. It’s not about a religion but a relationship. It’s not about the rituals but the sacrifice...of our old lives and thoughts for new ones. I read this somewhere and must have jotted it down: Christianity is not religion. The Latin word from which the English word "religion" is derived means "to bind up." (Those are the rituals.) Jesus did not come to bind us up in rules and regulations or rituals of devotion, but to set us free to be man as God intended. (This comes with a relationship with Jesus.) - James A. Fowler

As was mentioned by a speaker at our annual church women’s retreat a couple weeks ago, sometimes we might think we are searching for God but it is actually He who is searching for us by His Spirit. Sometimes our hearts are opened to receive Him. Sometimes not. It is our choice to make. (I remember turning Him down a few times over the course of a few years. I turned down invitations to go to church. Ugh, what did I need church for?) Do we want to know the truth or do we want to live believing the lies? Remember Pilate questioning what truth was? 

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” ... (John 18:37-38) Truth stood right before Pilate and he missed it. The truth of who He was. Yes, a King; yes, could even have been Pilate's Savior. 

Jesus is also the way and the life. Our way, to life. The way of righteousness. The truth of God's Word...Jesus THE Word. I could go on with more...

So, rituals are the works that do not save. A truth. No amount of bringing sacrifices in the Old Testament could save Israel. They still had to come repeatedly to present their sacrifices to atone for their sins. Today no amount of good works, apart from hoping He will accept us, will save us! We must come with nothing to offer but ourselves, broken, filled with humility, needing His help, seeking His forgiveness and repenting of our sins. Then we can be saved. 

We've had several baptisms take place in church recently (and no doubt another one in the near future!). These are not infant baptisms. These are adults or children of the age of reason choosing to live for Christ. Some are just that, children. They have come as little children. The adults have all admitted lifestyles that were taking them down the wrong roads, heading into destruction. They realized a need for Christ to save them, not some 10-step program or psychiatric care or hospitalization. They wanted the healing that only Jesus can bring. They didn't want to just wash the outside, but the inside as well. Physical and spiritual. So they laid their burdens down at the cross.

Jesus seeks us. He doesn't want anyone to perish in their sin. But I know not all will heed His call. I know some so truly believe that they are good without God. This is a lie; probably the biggest lie the devil spreads. "Did God really say...?" (Genesis 3:1)  I pray hearts would soften and take in the words of God.

Matthew 23:27 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

Am I Pure From My Sin?

Proverbs 20:9 - Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

Other scriptures tell us our deeds are as filthy rags, that no one is good, not one. For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. (Ecclesiastes 7:20) 

It's why Jesus chose to go to the cross. God so loved us and He wishes none to perish. But we have our own choice. Go to the cross as Jesus did and die to sins and ourselves...or not. One leads to life, one to death. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Jesus made the way. He is the Way. This is the truth, and He is that Truth. He alone brings life. He is the Life. There is no other way to eternal life but through Him, through believing in His death, and knowing that death alone paid the debt. Not by our good works. Again...For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.

Some churches encourage works, drum it into a person so they feel obligated to give. Money or offering up sacrifices of time will not work. Jesus comes first, not the church, not the pastor or priest. We should do good, for God first, out of love for Him and others...not to grant us access to heaven. Jesus comes first. He's always first. Not self. ...not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) ...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

This is all scriptural and because the Bible is the truth, how can we deny it? 2Timothy 3:16, 2Peter 1:20, John 17:17. When we deny these words, we deny God. The Bible tells is this too! Mark 8:38. 

Peter denied Jesus three times in a very short period, but he grieved so deeply that he had and repented. I denied God for most of my life by immaturity, believing in God, and that Jesus was His Son who died for us and thinking that was all I needed. And not attending church. Huh, I’d even been baptized as a child. I thought I was good to go. I considered myself a good person compared to others. This could be all of us until a day comes when the right words are read or heard that touch a person's heart or conscience...and like Peter, repentance takes place. Praise God!

These words might bite: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:8-9) No one wants to believe they are sinners. But the truth is, we are and we must humble ourselves before an Almighty God, either now while we have a chance, or some day soon when He returns. Now leads to life; later leads to death. Choose Jesus now or the enemy, heaven or hell, life or death. Only He can cleanse of unrighteousness. 

By the way, why all the scriptures, you might ask. Because they point to the truth. They are direct from God, every one of them. The Bible was written so that we might know God and come into relationship with Him. If you are not ready now, will you be soon? 

2Timothy 1:9 - …who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…

In That Day...It Shall Come to Pass

Isaiah 10:12 - Therefore it shall come to pass, when the LORD has performed all His work...

So many prophecies, so many truths, so many promises. Just in a couple chapters of Isaiah (10-11) we are told just what will happen in that day. What day? When God reveals His glory to the world. When all His work is finally performed. When He is about to reign in righteousness for all to see. When vengeance is His. When the righteous will be avenged. When arrogance will be punished. When remnant believers will be returned to the LORD to live finally in peace and reign with Him on earth. When burdens will be removed. When all the earth will praise the LORD and call upon His name. 

Those who remain faithful to God will undergo troubles in this world for their testimonies and belief in Him. They will be persecuted for their beliefs. Those who believe what the Word says and take it to heart. Look at the long line of martyrs for the Word of God. Those killed for calling themselves Christians in non-Christian countries, and maybe even here some day. Look at those who have been scoffed, thrown into prison, killed. Hmmm, didn't Jesus go through that? Didn't He say that would happen? Remember the word that I said to you ... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. ... (‭‭John‬ ‭15:20‬)

Those who remain faithful to the end will receive the prize, scripture tells us. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (‭‭2Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8‬)  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians‬ ‭3:14‬)

Believe me, there is only one way to life in this world. It is through Jesus Christ. No one else. No good works without Him first. One way, truth and life. A church, denomination, pastor or priest, family member (including Jesus' mother), or anyone given special status by earthly men. One way, as Jesus Himself has said. And it's never too late to learn of and accept the truth. 

Just before these verses in Isaiah, there is the greatest of all truths: that For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 5:25, 9:12,17,21, 10:4, to name a few)  This means there's still time. Still time to know the Lord, admit our weaknesses. Still time to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Still time to set aside arrogance and pride in believing we can go it alone without Jesus. Still time to realize believing our own goodness, which we do not have, will secure our salvation without relying on God's grace. 

Still time! Because as God says, has prophesied, has promised: In that day...it shall come to pass. It will come to pass! Today is a good day to present yourself humbly before the Lord, ask for forgiveness for all unrighteousness. He says come, by faith, not seeing, and If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John‬ ‭1:9‬)

John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”