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Any man who can read the passage in Isaiah that contains the words "filthy rags" and then conclude that God compares obedience to "filthy rags" certainly must have an imagination that he can stretch more than rubber. Let us read the King James Version of Isaiah 64: 6 and 7. I think the American Standard rendition of the passage is much better, but I am reading now the King James Version: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness's are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities". Now we ought to be able to see clearly that the people of whom the prophet spoke were not doing what God commanded them to do. Their iniquities, like the wind, had taken them away from the things God had commanded. They were not calling on his name as they had been ordered to do; they were not stirring up themselves to take hold of Jehovah as he had commanded. The things to which they had turned were of their own mind and making, and not the mind of God. Certainly such iniquities were as filthy rags unto Jehovah.

In Hebrews 5:8 and 9 we have these words: "Though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto them that obey him the author of eternal salvation". If obedience to the Lord is "filthy rags" then this passage may be read like this: "Though he was a Son, yet learned filthy rags by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that present filthy rags the author of eternal salvation".

If obedience to the gospel of our Lord Jesus is "filthy rags", then every one who does not have some "filthy rags" will suffer. punishment at the coming of Christ, according to II Thess. 1:7-9.

Since the Bible teaches that we are saved by God's righteousness, and not by man's righteousness, it is very important that we all, as candidates for eternity, ask ourselves often: Do I have the authority of God's word for my religious performances, or do they belong to the category of the doctrines and precepts of men? If God has not authorized your religious practices in his word, then they are of an authority no higher than that of man; they are vain; they are man's righteousness; they are as "filthy rags".

In the sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:21-23) Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

These verses set forth the difference between God's righteousness and man's righteousness. All who do the will of the Father shall enter the kingdom of heaven. They did the Father's commandments, and therefore are saved by God's righteousness. They did not try to establish their own righteousness by following the precepts and doctrines of men. But the people to whom the Lord will say "Depart from me, I never knew you" thought that they had done many mighty works; they thought they had prophesied and cast out demons; they thought they had done it all in the name of the Lord; they did not learn that they were wrong until they appeared in the judgment, and heard the Lord say that they were workers of iniquity.

Whatever they had done, or the way they had done it, was not the Father's will. It was not according to his commandment, and therefore, was as filthy rags in his sight.

Are the religious organizations you are building, and the worship and service that you are offering, authorized in the revealed will of God? If not, then you too are a worker of iniquity. Are you submitting yourself unto God's righteousness, God's commandments? Or are you trying to establish your own system of good works, your own righteousness?

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