Jesus - WHy "Good" is not Good Enough" Isaiah 5 and Romans 3 - October 10,2010

Bible Study – Jesus – Why “Good” is not Good Enough – October 10, 2010

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “The Case for Jesus.”
Our scripture is Isaiah 5:20-23; 6:1-5; Romans 3: 21-26.
Many people believe if they are good enough, GOD will somehow let them into heaven. People must realize that GOD is the standard for perfection. Isaiah 64:6a tells us that the very best in any human is like filthy rags compared to GOD’S standard: 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;


Why take a chance? Second Corinthians 5:21 tells us that when we have CHRIST - 21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (Christians) might become the righteousness of God in Him.


When we ask CHRIST to forgive us for our sins and to come into our lives, HE does. Not only do we have eternal life but we also are made righteous. We are justified by the shed blood of CHRIST. Justified carries the idea of “just-as-if-I-never-sinned.” GOD declares a believer in CHRIST justified. Why, because CHRIST lived a sinless life. HE was the perfect sacrifice required by GOD to satisfy the penalty for sin. How do we know that GOD accepted HIM as the perfect sacrifice for sin? It is because GOD confirmed it by the resurrection of CHRIST. This is the reason the HOLY SPIRIT can indwell born-again Christians. It is because the instant a person accepts CHRIST as his/her SAVIOR; he/she is made righteous by the shed blood of CHRIST. A believer in CHRIST is cleansed or made pure by CHRIST’S passion in order for the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell that person. GOD’S Spirit unites with the human spirit thus the believing person experiences the miracle of rebirth. Christians retain their flesh bodies in order to remain on earth and serve GOD.


I have heard non-Christians say, “I am better than most Christians I know.” We all fall short of GOD’S standard for human behavior. That is why we need CHRIST and why when Christians receive CHRIST into their lives, GOD gives them HIS Grace. Christians will still sin because they are housed in this body of flesh that is why GOD gives them grace. Grace outweighs all sin – past, present and future. As long as Christians are housed in this body of flesh, they will battle the lure and frailties of the flesh. GOD still gives Christians with their right to choose. Christians who choose to yield their wills to GOD begin a lifelong process of sanctification or a willingness to be made more into the image of CHRIST. Let’s examine our selected scriptures.


Let’s read Isaiah 5:20-23:


20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion and clever in their own sight.[10]22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, who are fearless at mixing beer, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.


The prophet Isaiah wrote the Book of Isaiah. It was written about 800 years before the birth of CHRIST. He used the word “woe.” Woe has several meanings. It can refer to a serious warning by GOD. If you do so and so something bad will happen either to you or to those you have influenced or both. It is a condemnation by GOD. It can infer shame and repentance. It can refer to a lament.


The woes in Isaiah 5 cover a variety of sins; verse 8 social - 8 Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field until there is no more room and you alone are left in the land. Verse 11 any abuse - 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of beer, who linger into the evening, inflamed by wine. Verse 18 lies - 18 Woe to those who drag wickedness with cords of deceit and [pull]* sin along with cart ropes,


Then we get into our scripture beginning with verse 20, we see that woe to those who justify their evil deeds by calling them good. This concept is repeated two (2) more times to stress the seriousness of misrepresenting truth – (1) representing darkness for light and light for darkness (2) representing bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.


Woe to those who think they have all the answers and are self-sufficient.


Woe to those who pride themselves in being able to drink lots of alcohol. And when they get into trouble they brag about being able to get out of it because they bribe those who have authority over the laws they broke. This leaves the innocent with no recourse for the actions of the guilty.


Isaiah was revealing the nature of mankind in a depraved state. It sets the stage of why mankind needs salvation that is greater than keeping the law. Man can manipulate the letter of the law while missing the spirit of the law. JESUS focused on the spirit of the law and why HE came to earth, lived a sinless life, gave HIS life to conquer sin and fulfill the Spirit of the law. By the same token JESUS was no namby-pamby. HE took on the Jewish religious establishment. HE called them a pit of vipers. HE never sucked up to them but HE gave them truth that most ignored.


Let’s read Isaiah 6:1-5:


Isaiah’s Call and Mission
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe[1] filled the temple. 2 Seraphim[2] were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of • Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. 4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said: Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, [and]* because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.


Isaiah tells us that “In the year King Uzziah (uh ZIGH uh) died,” which gives us a date of about 740 B. C. when this event happened. Isaiah had a vision of GOD on HIS throne. Consider that Isaiah was a prophet of GOD. HE likely had lived obeying the law. He saw Seraphim, which is plural for Seraph. Seraphim are heavenly beings and have been referred to as fiery or burning ones. Isaiah realized that HE was in the presence of GOD. When Isaiah faced the purity and Holiness of GOD, he felt unclean and ruined. If a prophet of GOD felt unclean, all humans will feel unclean to the point of wanting to die to avoid being exposed to the Purity and Holiness of GOD. When Christians build an intimate, loving relationship with GOD through CHRIST, the closer they come to HIM the more they realize their sinful nature. A Christian’s comfort is in the fact that the shed blood of CHRIST makes him/her righteous before GOD. When Christians stand before their Holy GOD they may say, “We are unclean.” HE will say, “I only see your purity because your faith in MY ONLY SON and HIS shed blood in your behalf cleanses you of all sin. MY son or daughter, enter into MY presence.” It does not get any better than that on earth or in heaven. Christians have direct access to GOD through CHRIST 24/7.

Let’s read Romans 3:21-26:


God’s Righteousness through Faith
21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets[18] 22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ,[19] to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[20] glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as a propitiation[21] through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous[22] the one (Christians) who has faith in Jesus.


The Apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome. In essence, he was saying to his readers, “You have followed the law and the prophets as a way to righteousness and to GOD. GOD has revealed a way to righteousness and to HIM through HIS ONLY SON, JESUS WHO fulfilled the Law and to whom the Prophets attested to in GOD breathed prophesy. Righteousness is imputed (extend quality to someone else) to all who believe in HIM. This is something the Law could never do. Obeying the Law is something a person does in his/her strength and ability. Righteousness is a gift given by GOD through the obedience of CHRIST to all who believe in HIM and accept HIM as their SAVIOR.


All humans have sinned regardless of the fact they are Jew or Gentile or no matter how religious they have been. All sinners who accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR are justified by His grace through redemption. How is this cleansing of sin and the imputing of righteousness possible? We must keep in mind that GOD is GOD. HE is sovereign. HE sets the requirements. GOD, as stated in verse 25, presented CHRIST as propitiation or as the perfect sacrifice. CHRIST was the perfect sacrifice or atonement to turn the wrath of GOD from the sinner who believes in CHRIST.


Second Corinthians 5:21 states it best:
21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (Christians) might become the righteousness of God in Him.


Notice the word “become.” Salvation is just the beginning of a Christian’s Spiritual journey. Just as a new born baby has to have care, nourishment, exercise, etc. so does a new Christian. It is a journey to Spiritual growth and maturity. Some grow faster and mature quick than others. It takes a commitment and a dedication to GOD through CHRIST. It takes an intimate, loving relationship. CHRIST, in essence, becomes your best friend. You discuss the most intimate details of your relationship with HIM. HE already knows every minute detail about you, so talk to HIM about what ever bothers you and particularly why you may be angry with HIM. Each Christian chooses whether or not to build and maintain a relationship with CHRIST. But I can tell you, it is an awesome relationship. But be honest with GOD. HE can handle all your railings against HIM. Remember HE loved you so much that HE allowed HIS ONLY SON to come to earth and give HIS life for you. The process is called sanctification or the process of being made into the image of CHRIST.


Paul used several words to drive home what happens to a Christian when they receive salvation.


In verse 23, Paul stated “That there is no distinction.” Distinction between what? Between those who followed the law, such as the Jews or the Gentiles and those who followed nothing or some pagan gods. All people are sinners. Following and obeying the law does not set you free from the law. This is a pitiful state for mankind. So what is mankind’s hope? CHRIST! CHRIST fulfilled the law for you.


In verses 25 and 26 Paul stated that GOD accepted what CHRIST did for mankind as the perfect sacrifice for the original sin of Adam and Eve, as well as, all sin. GOD placed HIS stamp of approval on JESUS’ giving HIS life through the shedding of HIS blood and HIS approval that CHRIST was the perfect sacrifice. Although not mentioned here, I quickly add, that GOD raised HIM from the dead as the first fruits of those who are to believe and receive eternal life, as well as, a new glorified body.


Paul used the following words:
Justified – All true Christians are considered pure or just-as-if-they-had-never-sinned by GOD because of HIS grace toward them.


Redemption – You redeem a slave or prisoner by paying a price. Original sin and our sins made us slaves to sin. We had to be redeemed from the clutches of sin and death which sin brings by the shed blood of CHRIST. GOD required a perfect sacrifice.

Propitiation – Perfect Sacrifice worthy of atoning for sin. CHRIST measured up according to GOD’S requirements. I used to argue with GOD before giving my life to CHRIST. “Why can’t I give my own life for my sins?” HIS reply, “Because you do not qualify. I demand a perfect sacrifice and you are not perfect but whereas you do not qualify MY SON JESUS does. All you have to do is accept what HE has already done for you.” It made sense to me.


Righteous – Places all Christians in right standing with GOD because of what CHRIST did for all who believe in what HE did for them on the cross.


Grace – GOD’S unmerited favor – Something no one can earn or deserves. It is a free gift from GOD because CHRIST gave HIS life as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Because HE conquered sin, HE also conquered death, which is the consequence of sin.


Mankind is helpless to redeem itself from the penalty of sin and death. That is why every person who has ever lived or will ever live needs salvation through the shed blood of CHRIST. The very best any man or woman has to offer is not good enough. The very best any human has to offer GOD is like filthy rags as quoted at the beginning of our sturdy.


I can hear some say, “Well how about those who have never heard of JESUS or babies or unborn children or? GOD will judge both the great and the small. Notice the word “judge.” All who know the truth and reject it will be held accountable to GOD. Look at what JESUS had to say for all who believe in HIM as recorded in John 5:24:


24 “I (JESUS) assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.


Do you want a sure thing? Then accept CHRIST as your SAVIOR, NOW!!!


Look at John 3:16-18:
16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His • One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.[10] 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the • One and Only Son of God.


The choice is yours. Don’t worry about those who have not received the truth but worry about those who have received the truth. Is that you? Then today is decision day. Please accept CHRIST as your SAVIOR and make HIM the LORD of your life.