how can good works be "dirty rags" to god?

Question

christians sometimes say that nonbelievers can not go to heaven even if they are a good person. sometimes they will point out in the new testament where it say that good works are like dirty rags to god. How is that? You are born on this earth with animal insticts and most people that are "good" will correct themselves so that they do no harm (or as little as possible) and try to help there fellow man. no christian can condemn (or say "it's not me, its god's law) a man who earnestly loves his fellow man.

dirty rags my asss !

you shallow, unthinking idiots better hope there is not a god, because it will be you who will be in hell for eternity for being unable to comprehend true love for all. there are too many reasons to be skeptical of the historical, empirical authenticity of christianity for "technically believing in it" to be a major factor of whether or not you go to heaven.

Answer 1

Try not to let these people get to you. They are brainwashed & can't help themselves. I've studied several religions & am now an agnostic. I do no harm & try to help those I can. That's the best I can do.

Answer 2

Sounds like a logical argument. But what about Righteousness and Condemnation? God has condemned mankind as a whole regardless of how good a person acts. The only way I can make it to Heaven is if He chooses to consider me righteous and cover my condemnation with a substitution - Someone Else to be condemned for me.

Answer 3

Actually the verse to which you refer is in the OT, not the NT. And it literally means "dirty menstrous rags". We are not born with animal instincts because we are not animals. Animals DO NOT have the ability to reason. Animals DO NOT commit premeditated murder. Animals DO NOT have emotions or free will. Animals do have and live by instincts, man lives by reason and knowledge and experience. Mankind is and will be held accountable for every careless thought, word and deed; animals won't. Our good works are as dirty rags in God's sight because "all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". What good works do you think or imagine that you could perform to impress a completely sinless, holy, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God? None! Nil! Zero! Zilch! We are only saved by faith through grace, and NOT OF WORKS, it is a gift of God -lest anyone should boast. You can think whatever you want but the Bible declares these things to be so, not Christians, and the Bible is the Word of God. It is impossible for us to ever do enough "good works" to save ourselves from God's judgement.Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Jesus Christ shed His blood for just that reason. He came to save us because He knew it was impossible for us to save ourselves. God says it, I believe it, and that settles it.

Answer 4

It depends on the state of the heart. if they're doing the good deeds out of self interest then yes they are dirty rags. But if it coming out of a genuine love for God (regardless of whether or not they have been exposed to the bible, there are several people in the bible who did not, or are suspected of not having the bible) then they are valuable to God.

i hope this helps

Answer 5

First the NT does not say our rightousness is as filthy rags, that is in the OT. The reason it teaches that is that since the fall humans are by nature sinful (another error in your reasoning that we are born with animal instincts). That simply means that everything that we do is done in our own best interests and therefore done out of selfishness. Even good deeds are done becasue we chose to do them for whatever reason. It is not untl our nature is changed by God that we can do things out of pure motives.

Answer 6

I am afraid we don't have to wish, there is not just a God but He is GOD!!!! God is above us. We are not and will never be on His level. The very best that we can do does not still measure up to His GOODNESS. That is what the 'dirty rags' statement means. Say what you will but make no mistake about it, one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. May GOd Bless

Answer 7

Isaiah 64:6 is the only verse I can find where it says: "And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;"
God has made it plain from the beginning that he's not going to stand for any humans trying to get into the god business. He, and he alone, is God.
Since he is God, he alone will do what is required to provide the way for the salvation of man. Titus 3:5 says: "He saved us,not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."
When human beings do good works in the hope of appeasing an "angry God" who they think is dying to send them to hell they are actually trying to take on the role of God. They are trying to do the job that God has clearly said that He Himself, and only He, will do. Only God can provide a way for man to spend eternity with Him. That was the whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth, dying, and rising again from the grave. If man could save himself through good works than Christ's death was a waste of time and energy.
Ephesians 2:8-10 says: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
God wants to do good works alright, but they are good works that He has prepared for us to do AFTER He has done the work of making us righteous.
Jesus,who is God, is the only one who can make anyone righteous.
You may be a good person alright, as far as the world knows what a good person is. But you can never live up to God's standard on your own because His standard is absolute, uncompromised, perfection.

Answer 8

Ouch... That is a little bit harsh.

That is what the Bible says and I have thought it through, it pains me and causes me serious agony that people won't willing choose Jesus.

Ps. I don't condemn any one, this is my serious belief and my faculties are in perfect working order.

Your technically believing in it - statement was set by God, because God is very Holy and Pure, sin is disobedience to God, and when you don't "technically believe in Him and His massive sacrifice" you are rejecting Him - also seen as disobedience. It is not God's will either that you perish...

The only person who wants to see you in hell is satan, and for that fact he hides and distorts God's truth anything to keep you from coming to God.

If you are that upset by the comments of those who I know are telling you because deep down they care, if you really want to know...

ASK GOD, tell Him, I am not sure that your there, I am really angry about your rules, show me yourself in a way that I can understand... God will honour your step.

Answer 9

You need a little adjustment in your thinking.
Heaven requires a price that began in the garden of Eden. That sacrificed animal dying in the place of Adam
and Eve's physical death slayed by God Himself with His own hand represents what He had in mind for His Son Jesus. Grace only comes thru the cross of Jesus Christ that is our logic. Your animal instincts are yours only. But don't make a monkey out of the rest of the human race, especially when we were created in God's image.

http://www.carm.org/seekers.htm

Answer 10

Good works are "as" dirty rags to God, because mankind's BEST good works pale in comparison to God's. It's used as a comparative example.

Answer 11

Good works are dirty rags because they are used for cleaning up the dirt.