GOSPEL NUGGET # 44

Isa 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags...

Man, in his fallen state, apart from the grace of God, is unclean and therefore can only produce righteousness that are totally worthless in God's eyes---filthy rags. For "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!" (Job 14:4).

I may hold up to you a glass of clear water (so clear that it is almost invisible), it may have the world's nod of approval as the world's clearest water, but if you know that it has an HIV virus in it, the "world's clearest water" is to you the most despicable.

All our best works are tainted by sin. Sin is like the HIV virus that contaminates everything that we do. Everything is infected by it, that to God the best that we can do are only filthy rags.

It is only when a sinner becomes a new creation in Christ, by faith in Him and what He did on the cross, can he produce righteousness that are acceptable to God.