"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away."  Isaiah 64:6

"For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness" (I Thessalonians 4:7).  Some theologians assume that Scriptures that seem so completely opposed as these two are an indication that one of the Scriptures must be eliminated and the other one believed.  However, this is a false conflict.  The first speaks of the righteousness and holiness of man.  The second speaks of the righteousness and holiness of God in man.

It's only by the power of the Holy Spirit that any person can do truly good works--because God does the work. 

Read about real righteousness is by grace through faith. 

God doesn't want to reform us. God wants to Transform us with the transformation that is only available in Jesus Christ.  God isn't looking for positive attitudes. God's goal is total metamorphosis.  We can't improve or reform the self. We must die to self and live to Christ.

In fact, He has already given us everything we need to walk in holiness right now.  Don't put off to some future day what God has already given you today.  Don't tell God He can't do it when His Word, the Bible says that He has done it.  Ask, rather, "How can I take hold of this thing that you are trying to give me, Lord?"

Many try vainly to live by a law, a set of rules or principles, which is simply a line drawn in the sand. From this futility, Jesus set us free by His grace. Grace moves by the leading of the Holy Spirit, guiding and giving power for righteousness. In the leading of the Spirit, there is no gray area. In each instance, we either obey the Holy Spirit or we do not. We either yield to His power or we do not.

God doesn't want self-improvement. God wants transfiguration.

Good works are simply this: the glory of the living God flowing out through someone who has yielded himself or herself to God.  

Note, that the operative word on our part is "yielded."

You need to understand that sin is failing to attain to the glory of God.  Would anyone like to claim to have attained to the glory of God?

God is the One Who is working.

• Actually, it is God working in that person who does the work through that person. 
• This is a gift of God, lest anyone should boast.  It's another free gift that God gives with salvation. 
• Every work of the unsaved person is as an unclean thing. 
• Every work of a saved person that doesn't flow from the throne of God is an unclean thing. 
• Fellowship with the creator results in the flow of the anointing of God, the Holy Spirit, which, in turn, yields the fruit of the Spirit. 
• That is, the Spirit's Own fruit in the believer--in you if you can receive it.

You can be one of those who is saved.

Click to understand how you can be born again?

As we reach the end of the age, more people than ever are hating God. They set up a web of rules in their minds to filter out God.  They will only accept those things that conform to Naturalism, materialism, and uniformitarianism.  Naturalism claims that God does nothing.  Materialism claims that there is no God or spiritual realm.  Uniformitarianism claims that there was not creation and that there was no violent worldwide flood, as the Bible and numerous other historical accounts record.  Whatever they observe that does not conform to this complex filter is censored.  The way that it is censored can take several forms.  The ungodly may boldly proclaim that, though the data appears to support God's version and refute the version of the ungodly, yet it still must be interpreted to mean just the opposite of what it does mean.  A backup method that ungodly people use is to prophecy that in the future, science will be able to explain what they see as an anomaly.  If that fails, they will hide the data, set it aside, or lie to keep the public from knowing the truth.  The data clearly demolishes the story of the ungodly and clearly supports the reality of the Creator God, His Bible, and His abiding Presence in His people.  When confronted with the obvious, a closed-minded ungodly person says, "I can't understand it."  They are willingly ignorant because they refuse to hold God in their knowledge.  The reality is that these people, for whatever reason, don't what to know the Creator.  They don't want to truly know Jesus, their Creator.

Topic: Works

The words of which God speaks are real.  They are Truth.  It is His Truth that sets you free from Satan\'s lies.  He who does righteousness is righteous. (1John 3:7) Real righteousness is by grace through faith. God\'s process for righteousness is by grace, and grace is through faith. (Eph 2:8-10) (some caveats about hearing God\'s Voice) FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Real Faith, by Charles S. Price FREE on-line BOOK...

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Real righteousness is by grace through faith. FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Real Faith, by Charles S. Price FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Meaning Of Faith, by Charles S. Price ...

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification.   Justification goes beyond forgiveness to righteousness.  It is an imparted righteousness, but it is a righteousness that does the works of God.   Real righteousness is by grace through faith.  ...

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.   Sin shall not have dominion over you.  Every person who has not been born again is absolutely controlled by the dominion of sin.  The unsaved can do self-righteousness, but it is not a true righteousness.  All true righteousness flows from the throne of God.  Real righteousness is by grace through faith. ...

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.   Real righteousness is by grace through faith.  ...

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,...

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: You see that they have purified their souls (soul, mind, heart, life are all the same Greek word.)  This purification is holiness.  There is a measure of holiness in those who follow Jesus.  It is accomplished by obeying...

We may have never realized just how very strait (constricted) (Luke 13:24) and narrow (Matthew 7:14) that way of righteousness is. It is very narrow and constricted. If God didn\'t tell us to think it, say it or do it, then it is sin. It is missing the mark. If God did tell us to do it and we get our flesh involved at all, to the extent that we...

The Scripture Testifies to Holiness as the Heritage of the Church 1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now...

Question: I\'m 28 years old and I\'m from the United Kingdom. I said the sinners\' prayer in 2005 with some other Christians and I\'ve been going to church ever since. I got baptized in 2006. I was drinking very excessively before I started coming to church and I continued to live in this sin of drunkenness even when I was hearing the gospel at church and after I got baptized. When...

Many years ago while preaching about the harlot who washed the feet of Jesus, the late evangelist JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE (1847-1907) of Zion City, Illinois, related the following: "This poor woman, a harlot, who came in from the streets is called 'Hamartolos'; in the original word, that is to say, a prostitute, a poor, wretched, outcast woman, a harlot. Oh, is there any being upon earth so much to be pitied,...

Topic: Holiness, Sanctification, and Stability

\"It is because of him [the Father] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.\"   1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV   Holiness is progressive.  It is a change in what we are. It is a basic change in our very nature. You were designed for righteousness, holiness, and total redemption.  There is an upward spiral of righteousness, holiness, and redemption...

1 Peter 1:6 & 7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing [Apokalupsis: removal of a covering or veil] of Jesus Christ FREE on-line BOOK (a...

Isaiah 48:10-11 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory to another. Many are called, but few are chosen.  Look at the place where the chosen are chosen: the furnace of affliction.  God does...

The Way Is Very Narrow And The Gate Is Very Strait  Key Scripture:   whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b   Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4   Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal,...

If God requires total holiness, how can a Christian live total holiness? Is it even possible? Yes, It is possible to live in total holiness, but watch out for this. Do not modify holiness to be something that you can do. Do not think that holiness is something that you can do. Holiness is something that God causes you to become. You just receive it or reject it. There is a...

The Scripture Testifies to Holiness as the Heritage of the Church 1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now...

Ephesians 4:24-30 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him...

Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation (conversation refers to the whole manner of life) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your...

Question: I\'m 28 years old and I\'m from the United Kingdom. I said the sinners\' prayer in 2005 with some other Christians and I\'ve been going to church ever since. I got baptized in 2006. I was drinking very excessively before I started coming to church and I continued to live in this sin of drunkenness even when I was hearing the gospel at church and after I got baptized. When...

Many years ago while preaching about the harlot who washed the feet of Jesus, the late evangelist JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE (1847-1907) of Zion City, Illinois, related the following: "This poor woman, a harlot, who came in from the streets is called 'Hamartolos'; in the original word, that is to say, a prostitute, a poor, wretched, outcast woman, a harlot. Oh, is there any being upon earth so much to be pitied,...

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: You see that they have purified their souls (soul, mind, heart, life are all the same Greek word.)  This purification is holiness.  There is a measure of holiness in those who follow Jesus.  It is accomplished by obeying...

Topic: Righteousness by Grace through Faith

You can know the will of God by being led by the Spirit. Then, the next question is this: \"How can I know it is the Spirit and not myself?\" Here are ten things you need to know about being led: 1. You must seek God on purpose Hebrews 11:6 God is and He is a rewarder--we will find Him if we seek Him. Matt 7:8 All who seek find Luke 11:9-13 God will give...

\"It is because of him [the Father] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.\" 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV The battle for righteousness is a battle to correct the proper operation of the human spirit, mind/soul, and body. Of course, this includes correcting our relationship to God. Real righteousness is by grace through faith. Romans 14:23 tells us simply that...

The words of which God speaks are real.  They are Truth.  It is His Truth that sets you free from Satan\'s lies.  He who does righteousness is righteous. (1John 3:7) Real righteousness is by grace through faith. God\'s process for righteousness is by grace, and grace is through faith. (Eph 2:8-10) (some caveats about hearing God\'s Voice) FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Real Faith, by Charles S. Price FREE on-line BOOK...

We may have never realized just how very strait (constricted) (Luke 13:24) and narrow (Matthew 7:14) that way of righteousness is. It is very narrow and constricted. If God didn\'t tell us to think it, say it or do it, then it is sin. It is missing the mark. If God did tell us to do it and we get our flesh involved at all, to the extent that we...

You look into the royal law of liberty, and you see reality. (James 2:8) You see the Kingdom of God. (James 1:23) When you see yourself in this royal law of liberty, what do you see?  You need to see reality.  In reality, you are a new creature, created in righteousness. (1Cor 5:17) Do you think that the Christ in you can sin? Of course not. (1 John 3:9) Jesus is that...

The Process Righteousness consists of God leading us and us following. The problem is that we have no capacity within ourselves to follow God. So God has a way to give us the free gift of righteousness. God\'s method is \"by grace through faith,\" and this is the process. God speaks. God has already prepared our heart to receive and hear. (some caveats about hearing God\'s Voice) When we hear, God\'s faith comes. God\'s faith gives...

If a bird lands on your head, that\'s not really your fault... but you don\'t have to let it build a nest. When you are tempted, you may slip across into sin. (Eph 4:26) Temper, lust, covetousness, or disrespect may involuntarily spring forth. (1John 1:10) Think about it. When you have a thought of envy, do you analyze the situation and make a conscious decision to be envious as a first...

We may wonder why, if we have been crucified with Christ, the flesh has any influence on us at all. It seems that crucifixion is a slow death. As soon as you are born again (by believing and trusting in Jesus) you ARE a new creature. However, you still HAVE a fleshly nature. Your REAL self is the Christ nature, that ministry that you have BECOME. This ministry, Christ in you,...

Down to earth righteousness is real and it has to do with the will of the person through whom the righteousness is done..  It is righteousness the flows from the Holy Spirit.  It is the flow of God\'s Own Love through the follower of Christ.  It is the fruit of the Spirit.  God speaks, leads.  The Christ follower hears and directs his or her will to follow.  God\'s Own Faith...

Sin: Acknowledging lies rather than Truth, so you step or slip off the narrow and restricted Way that leads to the genuine and absolute fullness of Life. Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life.    Key Scripture: whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4 Owe no one anything, but to love one another:...

 All that is good comes from God     Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding,       Forgiveness,       Repentance,       love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance,       Faith       Righteousness   Don\'t try to make your own.     Yield your members to God\'s righteousness. Don\'t try to make your own righteousness.       Stand in His presence and receive...

Righteousness is by grace through faith. Why do Christians struggle so to be righteous when righteousness is the free gift of God. Salvation is by grace through faith. Salvation is more than being born again and escaping from the punishment for sin. Salvation is forgiveness and it is also being set free from slavery to sin and the sinful nature. Here\'s how it works: God speaks His vision of hope to us....

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.   Sin shall not have dominion over you.  Every person who has not been born again is absolutely controlled by the dominion of sin.  The unsaved can do self-righteousness, but it is not a true righteousness.  All true righteousness flows from the throne of God.  Real righteousness is by grace through faith. ...

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.   Real righteousness is by grace through faith.  ...

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,...

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: You see that they have purified their souls (soul, mind, heart, life are all the same Greek word.)  This purification is holiness.  There is a measure of holiness in those who follow Jesus.  It is accomplished by obeying...

Topic: Sin

This particular response happens more often in those who have been born again than it does in those who have not been born again. The seed, the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, lands on the trampled path of the heart in a Christian. How did that path get trampled and hardened? Isn\'t a Christian\'s heart supposed to be soft toward God? The heart becomes hardened by repeatedly missing...

The Way Is Very Narrow And The Gate Is Very Strait  Key Scripture:   whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b   Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4   Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal,...

 Key Scripture: whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4 Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet--and...

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Keep in mind that love fulfills all the commandments.  The entire law can be summed up in the one word, love, but it so important that we are not deceived.  There are many lies about love.  We need to know what love truly is. The sure way to create a self-righteous hypocrite is to...

Sin: Acknowledging lies rather than Truth, so you step or slip off the narrow and restricted Way that leads to the genuine and absolute fullness of Life. Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life.    Key Scripture: whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4 Owe no one anything, but to love one another:...

God provided a way of salvation, and He is looking for those who will accept it. He is looking for those who will not reject Him. Those who reject God's salvation are rejecting a wonderful gift. They are exhibiting the ultimate in rebellion against God. There is no way to sugar-coat this situation. Those who reject Jesus are rejecting God and are condemned already. John 12:48 John 3:18 ...

Definition of Leaven: Leaven is a type of prideful sin. Definition of Leaven - Define Leaven from Old Testament Scripture Ex 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (we...

The word, \"sin,\" is often translated from a word that means straying from the way/path. Sin is missing the Strait (that is, constrained) and Narrow way/path. This would be the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Jesus is the Way, and Jesus is the Life, so Jesis is both the way to reach the goal, but Jesus is also the goal. The word, \"sin,\" is often translated from two...

 All that is good comes from God     Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding,       Forgiveness,       Repentance,       love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance,       Faith       Righteousness   Don\'t try to make your own.     Yield your members to God\'s righteousness. Don\'t try to make your own righteousness.       Stand in His presence and receive...

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: You see that they have purified their souls (soul, mind, heart, life are all the same Greek word.)  This purification is holiness.  There is a measure of holiness in those who follow Jesus.  It is accomplished by obeying...