Baptism And "Filthy Rags"

An individual once asked me, “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 along with Isaiah 64:6, 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; cf. Luke 15:4-7; Luke 15:11-25; John 6:28-29; Acts 10:34-35). 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, is encouraging righteousness on man’s part — not making light of it. Note that the phrase “our righteousnesses” in Isaiah 64:6 is fully explained in Philippians 3:9 as that “which is of the law” [law of Moses] and does not disparage righteousness at all (cf. Ezekiel 3:20-21).

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; Romans 10:3-4; Hebrews 10:1-4). Rather, Paul commends obedience and good deeds — those who do “works of righteousness” (Acts 10:35; James 2:14-24). 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). Therefore, all must have forgiveness, and this forgiveness is only possible “in Christ” (Romans 3:24-31; /Romans 6:1-18; Galations 3:23-27; Ephesians 1:3-7).

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) and “He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

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; 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).

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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