Isaiah 64:4-9 How Shall We Be Saved?

Sometimes, as we walk in the joy of God's love and forgiveness, we slip into thinking that somehow we must not be so bad. Perhaps the reason God chose us is because He saw some value, some worth, some goodness in us that is beyond that which is in other men. When we adopt that view we deny God's truth and smear His name. There is no goodness in us to deserve God's loving kindness or attention. What we deserve is death. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." and "The wages of sin is death." Our wages, what we are paid for our sinfulness, is death: eternal separation from God. "All have sinned, there is none who is righteous, NO NOT ONE!"

From a human perspective we see goodness in many people and we see some as evil. We make a distinction. "So and so is not that bad" we say. "Surely such a good person, such a sincere person, such a loving person, will not suffer separation from God." But this is not the message of the prophet, nor of the Apostles, nor of Jesus Himself who pointed out that "there is no one good, but God." As long as we claim merit for ourselves we shall be forced to stand on our own merit. Isaiah (verse 6) says; "All we have become as one unclean and all our righteousness as filthy rags...."

So which is it? Is God right or are the optimists and humanists of our day? Only when we can see ourselves as God sees us can we cry out with the prophet ...

"⁵ You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?"

In his devotion on this text, Charles Spurgeon says:

"Every night we look in the glass we see a sinner, and had need confess, "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness' are as filthy rags." Oh, how precious the blood of Christ to such hearts as ours! How priceless a gift is his perfect righteousness! And how bright the hope of perfect holiness hereafter! Even now, though sin dwells in us, its power is broken. It has no dominion; it is a broken-backed snake; we are in bitter conflict with it, but it is with a vanquished foe that we have to deal. Yet a little while and we shall enter victoriously into the city where nothing defileth."

"Lord Jesus, grant that we might know ourselves well enough that we never depend upon our own righteousness or deeds. Even more, grant that we might know the sufficiency of the death of Christ, His sacrifice in our behalf. It is only by Your free gift of grace that we can be cleansed and stand in Your presence. Do in us, oh Lord that which You command to be done that we might honor and glorify Your name. Amen."

Yet a little while and we shall enter victoriously into the city where nothing defiles.

Bob Goldsby

Morning and Evening : Daily readings / Charles H. Spurgeon.-Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.-Peabody, MA : Hendrickson Publishers, c1991.

Posted Date: November 27, 1998