Isaiah 59:6 Their webs will not be made into clothing, and they can't cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
Scriptures:
- Job 8:14-15
- Genesis 3:7
- Proverbs 11:18
- Isaiah 5:7
- Isaiah 30:1
- Isaiah 57:12
- Isaiah 64:6
- Jeremiah 6:7
- Micah 2:1-2
- Revelation 3:18
- Romans 1:29-31
- Galatians 5:19-21
- Galatians 6:7-9
Commentary:
The Jewish people were going through with their religious practices. They were sacrificing and fervent in performing the feasts and various religious functions expected by the Lord, but they did these works and then turned around to practice wickedness, with no fear of God in their hearts. That is not what God expected from them, nor is it what He expects from us in the church age. God looks for the heart, not the acts. According to 1 Samuel 16:7, God looks at the heart and not appearances. Appearances could, contextually, be the religious practices we perform to make us look righteous. Even though scripture says we are not
Romans 3:9-12
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, the Jewish Messiah, to provide eternal atonement for the sins of the world. Anyone willing to accept His Son as their Lord and Savior, knowing that we are not able to atone for our own sins through works or religion. Atonement means to do something right to make up for sin. Jesus did this alone. He died on the cross as a perfect human, but also as God. He rose from the dead three days later because He did accomplish His mission to atone for our sins. Now we get to rise from the dead too as God's adopted children in Christ Jesus.
This scripture boldly shows to me, and hopefully to you, that Jesus is our firm foundation. The work He did at the cross as our Savior and Lord takes care of our salvation. There is another scripture that comes to mind,
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
The Jews at this time were trying to cover themselves with something that won't stand in the face of a holy God. That would be a house built on sand. Are you building your righteousness and goodness based on your good deeds? It is like making clothing from spider's webs or building a house on sinking sand. Your deeds bear witness to what is inside of you, and make you naked in your sins before a holy and righteous God. Jesus is the only holy One who can and is willing to take our place and wash us clean, if we put our trust in Him. He is ready, willing, and waiting for you and all the world to make that decision to choose the solid foundation of salvation.
Jesus not only washes us with His blood to make us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), but He also stands in our place before Father God to testify that we are His and have chosen Him as our Redeemer. We have liberty in Jesus Christ. We do not have to do anything to earn it; just believe that you know you are a sinner, accept Jesus as your Redeemer, as your Lord and Savior, and put your trust in Him. Believe that He rose from the dead because He did the works at the cross, not us. He did it in advance for us all, the whole world. If you have been putting your energy and time into works of the flesh, or even works to seem righteous. Stop and think: who is your firm foundation? Your works or Jesus. Meditate and pray to make your heart right about this if you need to. God is a gracious God, and a repentant heart is never turned away from our wonderful, gracious, and merciful God. Isaiah 66:2 speaks on this, as does Isaiah 57:14-21.
If your works are based on your love and devotion to God alone, then your heart is right before Him. Just make sure you remember that there is a fine line between works for salvation and works to serve and please our Heavenly Father. The heart matters in all respects. Your rewards in heaven are indeed put to the test of fire to see if your heart was right before Him when doing those righteous deeds. It is time for a heart check, family. For all of us.
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