Our good works do not, in any way, 'tip the scale' in God's eyes. According to scripture, He considers our righteousness as ... 'filthy rags'. Even the deeds that come from obedience to the Spirit's prompting fall short. No matter what we do or how we do it, no matter the motive or intent behind the effort ... it is tainted by our latent fallen nature.
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. Isaiah 64:6
The biblical term for 'filthy rag', is deliberately meant to be offensive. It is by definition a soiled cloth used to cover a putrid sore or a scrap of material defiled by the menstruous blood of a woman. The reference crushes any semblance of pride associated with one's own perceived 'goodness'.
Spurgeon - There is filth in the very tears that we shed in penitence; there is sin in our very holiness; there is unbelief in our faith; there is hatred in our very love; there is the slime of the serpent upon the fairest flower of our garden.
If 'our best' (when seen in the light of God's holiness) is deemed utterly corrupt, one can't help but be in awe of Christ's life of obedience. He was tempted in every way imaginable, yet without sin.
Our redemption hung in the balance.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:8-9
Thankfully, salvation is not based on an acceptance of your filthy rags. It is instead ... 'Christ in you, the hope of Glory'.
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