Religious Affiliation

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by CoyoteQueen

.......... I take quite literally that our good works are as "filthy rags" (menstruel clothes, and in that time untouchable) simply because we are never, no matter what we do going to be able to "earn" the blood of Christ. His was the supreme sacrifice, as he was/is diety and nothing you or I can do as in works can earn us eternal life. It is a gift, I believe freely given and only our pride makes us not want to be beholden.........

In Isaiah 64:6 it says "6But 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." If we go back and look at the whole chapter you'll see that God is responding to Isaiah's prayer about the rebellious nation of Israel. He wasn't recognizing their worship or their works done for Him because of the way they were living their lives.

Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." So my good works are important but I have to let the light of Jesus shine. The glory for these good works isn't for me but to glorify Jesus, otherwise what I've done is nothing.

Now we do not "earn" the blood of Christ. It is a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast." Works does not save me but faith does!

I'm a human and I make mistakes but when I asked Jesus into my heart He covered me with His blood and made me His child. Now when the Heavenly Father looks at me it is through the precious blood of Jesus and it's like He's looking at me with rose-colored glasses and He sees me as perfect. Of course, I will never be perfect and I do make mistakes in my life but as long as I'm trying my best to follow what the Bible says and I have Jesus in my heart then I know that someday I will be with Him in Heaven.