Isaiah 1

¹⁵ When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;

¹⁶ wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,

¹⁷ learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

¹⁸ “Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;

²⁰ but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

It is easy to read this and judge the people of Israel. But I think this warning is also for all of us. We have no problem at all in awarding ourselves with the promises given to Israel, but when it comes to the warnings we think it was just for them.

We should not forget that “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12), and it applies to us the same way that it applied to the people of Israel.

Let’s take a moment and meditate about this scripture.  If we are taking the right path, let’s just make sure we continue on it. If not, let’s reason together with God, change our path to obedience, and move forward to the promised land.

No one is good

If we perform a poll and ask people if they consider themselves a “good” person, most will probably answer yes. It is likely that this answer is based on their own standards, but are they using the correct standards?

In court procedures most defendants plead not guilty. They might think that their behavior was acceptable, but if that behavior is against a written code, they will be found guilty of breaking the law.

According to the standards established by God all people have sinned, and we are all guilty.

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes. – Romans 3:10-18

You might say “This does not fit my description”, but one way or another we are, or we were, somehow described by these words. But if you still insist to be a “good” person look at what Jesus said:

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good-except God alone“. – Mark 10:18

and

whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. – John 3:18

Court procedures are not defined by what is the defendant’s understanding of the law, but by what is defined on the written codes. The same thing happens with God’s law.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23

I know what you are thinking: “What are my options if no matter what I do I will never be considered a ‘good’ person?” Don’t worry. God took care of that.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:21-23

According to God’s law we have been found guilty. But, as some justice system has adopted the concept of “presidential pardon” for forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it, God has established “celestial pardon” for all those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

There is no lengthy process or waiting time required, only sincere repentance and faith.

[we]are [all] justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.- Romans 3:24