Baptism And Filthy Rags
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on BaptismA querist asks, “I’ve heard denominational preachers argue that baptism is not essential to man’s salvation and then quote from Isaiah 64:6 KJV, saying that baptism is like a ‘filthy rag.’ Can you please explain in context what this verse is really teaching?”
In context, we must include Isaiah 64:5 NKJV along with Isaiah 64:6 NKJV, which states:
“You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways.“
Adam Clarke cites the Syriac version of this verse which gives the more correct sense:
“Thou meetest with joy those who work righteousness.“
In other words, God rejoices when He sees men obeying His will (Matthew 7:21 NKJV; cf. Luke 15:4-7 NKJV; Luke 15:11-25 NKJV; John 6:28-29 NKJV; Acts 10:34-35 NKJV).
Conversely, when we sin, our garments become polluted to the point where we are no longer serving and obeying God’s will. The passage in Isaiah 64:6 NKJV, is encouraging righteousness on man’s part — not making light of it. Note that the phrase “our righteousnesses” in Isaiah 64:6 NKJV is fully explained in Philippians 3:9 NKJV as that “which is of the law” [law of Moses] and does not disparage righteousness at all (cf. Ezekiel 3:20-21 NKJV).
Salvation is by a faith system of trust in Jesus Christ — not by a system of Law in which there is no ultimate forgiveness for sin (Philippians 3:9 NKJV; Romans 10:3-4 NKJV; Hebrews 10:1-4 NKJV). Rather, Paul commends obedience and good deeds — those who do “works of righteousness” (Romans 1:5 NKJV; Romans 2:6-7 NKJV; Romans 2:10 NKJV; Romans 16:26 NKJV; cf. Acts 10:35 NKJV; James 2:14-24 NKJV).
In Romans, the apostle Paul quickly corrects the man who thinks he can be saved by the works of the law of Moses, for “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23 NKJV). Therefore, all must have forgiveness, and this forgiveness is only possible “in Christ”. (Romans 3:24-31 NKJV; cf. Ephesians 1:3-7 NKJV).
In the New Testament, there are no disparaging statements about man’s obedience to God, (i.e., a “filthy rags” concept). On the contrary, John writes:
“If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29 NKJV).
And:
“He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7 NKJV).
The above two verses certainly do not promote the idea of “filthy rags.”
Thus, stubborn unrighteousness or disobedience against God is the “filthy rag” of Isaiah 64:6 NKJV; cf. Gal. 5:4 KJV) — not baptism — or any other works of righteousness that God has “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).
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