DIAGNOSIS OF HUMANITY

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away!" (Isa. 64:6 NKJV).

The Bible is the only book that gives a correct diagnosis of humanity. A correct diagnosis is necessary if a correct remedy is to be prescribed. Our verse gives a correct diagnosis of humanity with the only remedy being Jesus Christ. There are four parts to this diagnosis - forbidden, filthy, fading, and frail.

Forbidden - “Unclean.” In the Hebrew the word is used in a legal sense as illustrated by the laws of leprosy. If a leper was pronounced “unclean,” he was shut out of society. He was forbidden from many places to prevent him from defiling others. So it is with sinful man. He is forbidden entrance into heaven because his sin has made him unclean. “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles” (Rev. 21:27).

Filthy - “Filthy rags.” This phrase describes what is extremely dirty. If our righteousness is filthy, what must our sins look like in His sight! And so, not only is man apart from Christ unclean, but his righteousness is filthy. This says our very best is worthless as far as salvation is concerned. We cannot be saved by our works, for they are “filthy rags.”

Fading - “We all fade as a leaf.” This speaks of the effect of sin man. The beauty and youth of mankind fades quickly when sin dominates the life. Fading speaks of unfaithfulness; a garment that fades is one that will not hold its color. Sin makes us unfaithful. The remedy, Jesus Christ, never fails. “He remains faithful” (2 Tim. 2:13).

Frail - “Our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Sin makes us frail in that we have no strength against sin. Sin overpowers us, conquers us, dictates to us, enslaves us, and takes “us away” from God, worship, the true joys and the best things of life. But Christ can give us strength (Phil. 4:13) when we turn to Him for salvation.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Conversion to Christ makes useful saints out of useless sinners!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Dispute

In Luke 22:24 we read, “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest” (NKJV).

Dispute is the Greek word philoneikia (φιλονεικία = fil-on-i-kee'-ah). It is made up of two words: “phileō” which means to love, and “neikos” which strife. The word means contention, strife, dispute. Literally, philoneikia means a love of contention; an eagerness to contend.

In classical Greek, philoneikia was used in a bad sense to mean contentious, love of rivalry. However, the word was also used in a good sense of competition, ambition, or the desire to emulate the excellence of another, especially in the games. Philoneikia does not appear in the Septuagint. In the New Testament, philoneikia carries the primary meaning of dispute or strife. Here in Luke 22:24, the word is used in a negative sense of the strife that arose among the disciples.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – The Messiah’s appearance would be that of an ordinary man (Isa. 53:2)

New Testament Fulfillment – Phil. 2:6-8

Did You Know…

The Scriptures bear witness of Jesus (John 5:39).

Bible Quiz

What does the name “Melchizedek” mean?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: In 1 Chronicles, the Scriptures say: “David was afraid of God that day…” What had made David afraid? The Lord had just killed Uzza for touching the ark (1 Chron. 13:10)

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Carpenter”

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him!” (Mark 6:3 NKJV).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is one of us.

2. Insights – 1. The Lord Jesus, the Creator of wood, became a worker of wood, and died for us on a cross of wood (Gal. 3:13).

3. Related Titles – Carpenter’s Son (Matt. 13:55).

Did You Know – Christian History

Isaac Watts was born July 17, 1674 in Southampton, England. He was an English Christian minister (Congregational), hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. He is recognized as the “Father of English Hymnody.” Many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages.

Watts’s father was a Dissenter from the Anglican Church and on at least one occasion was thrown in jail for not following the Church of England. Watt followed his father’s strongly biblical faith. He was a very intelligent child who loved books and learned to read early. He began learning Latin at age 4 and went on to learn Greek at 9, French at 11, and Hebrew at 13. From an early age Isaac had a propensity to rhyming, and often even his conversation was in rhyme.

After completing his formal schooling, Watts spent five years as a tutor. During those years he began to devote himself more diligently than before to the study of the Scriptures.

For a few years Watts served as an assistant and then pastor to an Independent congregation in London. Though nearly an invalid for the last 30 years of his life, Watts proved a prolific writer, publishing 29 theological treatises, three volumes of sermons, several textbooks on logic, and a variety of essays on psychology and other scholarly pursuits.

However, Watts is best known for his hymns, written during his Mark Lane ministry. His first collection of hymns and sacred lyrics was Horae Lyricae (1706), quickly followed by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707), which included “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “There Is a Land of Pure Delight,” and others that have become known throughout Protestant Christendom. The most famous of all his hymns, “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” (from Psalm 90), “Jesus Shall Reign” (from Psalm 72), and “Joy to the World” (from Psalm 98) were published in The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament… (1719). He also wrote religious songs especially for children; these were collected in Divine Songs for the Use of Children (1715).

After his death on November 25, 1748, a monument to Watts was erected in Westminster Abbey. His greatest monument, however, are the hymns to his God still used by Christ’s church.

A Little Humor

Sam shows up at a revival meeting, seeking help. “I need you to pray for my hearing,” he tells the preacher. The preacher puts his fingers on Sam’s ears and prays and prays. When he’s done, he asks, “How’s your hearing now?” “I don’t know,” says Sam. “I don’t go to court till next Tuesday.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Law condemns the best man; grace saves the worst man!”