” Isaiah 64:6 says, “Our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.”

[GISMYS_7]

But remember this. None of us is righteous by nature. Romans 3:23 succinctly describes our condition. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Isaiah 64:6 says, “Our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.” But according to 2 Corinthians 5:21, He grants to us His own perfect righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature.” Our righteousness comes entirely from Him, and He makes it available to anyone who asks Him.
With that righteousness comes refreshment, peace, and unspeakable joy. But there is also torment. To see things from God’s perspective turns everyone into a loved one. And we hurt to see them on their paths of pain. Luke 19:41 says that as Jesus approached Jerusalem, He “saw the city and wept over it.” The context shows that His righteous soul was tormented by the pain He knew was headed their way because they rejected Him.
You might feel torment when you watch the news and see the increasing brutality of our world. It’s easy to be vexed by the self-destructiveness encouraged by popular entertainment. The ongoing celebration of evil probably makes you feel sick. You’re in good company. The Lord Himself shares your grief.
Vexation comes with caring. But don’t let it overwhelm you. Live in the peace and joy of the Lord. Remember Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” You will not overcome evil by allowing it to depress you. Romans 12:21 says, “Overcome evil with good.” And it is good to walk in “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).===HL.

 

[Randy Kluth]

Yes, brother--it's like Lot, whose soul was "vexed" living in a community of violent perverts. Post Christian European Civilization is getting very much like Sodom and Gomorrah. And the souls of righteous Christians are surely vexed!

Much that Paul wrote seemed to anticipate our post Christian society today. He lived precisely at the time when Israel as a nation had completely apostacized. And he condemned religion that had lost its soul.

That's why he said that their "righteousness" was as "filthy rags." It's not because people can't do good with the help of Christ. It's not that righteousness itself is a filthy rag.

Rather, it's a statement that righteous deeds, stripped of their spirituality, are a coverup for inward evil. They are works designed to get something, and are not truly altruistic. They are a fallen righteousness, no longer representative of the righteousness God had asked for under the Law, and not what Christ asks of men today.

People who are not even Christian can do genuine good things today. But God wants more. He wants us to choose Christ's *nature,* so that not only do we do genuine good works--we become genuinely good people, and witness to the goodness that Christ is. We must be "born again."

I join you in your grief over our post Christian society. Thanks for the good words of truth.