For many, the idea of good works has been stained by a single phrase from Isaiah: “all of our righteous deeds are like filthy rags.” This is often used to teach that nothing we do matters to God, because we cannot earn salvation through anything but by what Jesus did. This verse is often paired with Ephesians 2:8–9 to emphasize salvation by grace alone. While the point isn’t entirely wrong, the way it’s applied is skewed. It’s typically preached to believers rather than to unbelievers, and it misses the broader biblical framework of salvation.
So what does this scripture mean? Is God really indifferent to good works by those He has called? Simply put, no. The verse in Isaiah reflects a corporate confession of sin during a time of national rebellion, spoken on behalf of Judah, representing the guilt of the entire covenant people of Israel. It is not about the works that He has now created us for. In fact, not only does He see our labor in the Lord Jesus, He promises to reward it. The LORD honors obedience with a pure heart.
In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells a parable of a king who holds a wedding feast for his son. Invitations were sent, but many refused. Eventually, the king extended the call to others (Gentiles), and the wedding hall was filled. But one sobering detail follows: a man is found without wedding garments. The king then demands an explanation, but when the man is speechless (a picture of shame as in Rev 3:18), he is bound hand and foot and thrown into outer darkness.
This parable is not about accepting the invitation to the kingdom. It warns that responding accordingly involves more than showing up; it requires preparation. So what are the wedding garments that this man lacked?
It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints... Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:8-9
The garment represents a life of obedience and faithfulness, full of deeds in love. The man without it had no evidence of true allegiance to the King. To understand the full weight of this parable, we must see it within the larger biblical framework. One marked by two ages, two-fold nature of salvation, and the role of good acts and faith in the life of a believer.
The Two Ages: Present Evil Age and the Age to Come
To explain how God views your deeds, we need to first understand the two-age framework, a concept that is woven throughout the Bible. First-century Jews, including Jesus and His disciples, saw the world divided into two separate ages: this present age and the age to come. This age is filled with unrighteousness, suffering, injustice, and death. The one to come is when God’s promises will be fulfilled, the Messiah will reign, the dead will be raised, and righteousness will dwell on the earth (Isaiah 25:6-9; Daniel 12:2-3).
Jesus and the apostles affirmed this view:
- "Those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead..." (Luke 20:35)
- “who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Luke 18:30)
- “Who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age…” (Galatians 4:4)
- "...not only in this age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:21)
Two-Fold Salvation: Saved Now, Inheriting Later
The New Testament speaks of salvation as both a present reality and a future hope. These aren’t contradictions; they are stages in the same story. Without the two-age framework, this can become confusing.
- Initial Salvation: We are saved from sin through faith in Jesus. This is by grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). It is a gift that could not be earned. Jesus did on the cross what we could not.
- Future Salvation: We are awaiting the culmination of our salvation, which includes the resurrection from the dead, eternal life, and entrance into the kingdom of God (Romans 13:11; 1 Peter 1:9). This is often conditional upon receiving the first salvation from sin followed with perseverance, obedience, and faithfulness (Romans 2:6-7; Galatians 6:7-9).
Paul captures both aspects in one sentence: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you..." (Philippians 2:12-13).
God saves us, and then calls us to walk in a way worthy of that salvation. Redemption, then, must be understood in this timeline. We are saved in this present age from sin by grace through faith, but we are waiting to inherit salvation in the age to come. (Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5). Only by understanding this narrative can we fully grasp how God sees our works in light of the return of Jesus.
Good Works: Wedding Attire, Not Filthy Rags
Many misread Isaiah 64:6 "all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags" to say that any good work we do is worthless before God. This just isn't true for believers. What kind of God calls us to righteous deeds, then turns around and disregards them? Not the God of Israel.
In Christ, we are new creations, and the New Testament paints a very different picture:
- "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
- "Your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
- "God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name." (Hebrews 6:10)
- “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)
These are not filthy; they are precious to God. Remember, the righteous deeds of the saints are the very garments we must wear at the wedding supper of the Lamb. Without them, we cannot partake.
Rewards at the End of the Age
Jesus spoke of the coming day of judgment as the time when rewards would be given.
- "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Revelation 22:12)
- "The Son of Man... will then repay every man according to his deeds." (Matthew 16:27)
Paul affirms the same message:
God will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.
Romans 2:6-7
What is the great reward? Eternal life in the age to come. As Jesus says:
...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters... for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:40
Works that Last into the Kingdom to Come
Good works without Christ cannot save, but we are certainly saved for good works so that we may inherit the things to come at the ushering of God's kingdom. A first-century Jewish follower of Jesus would understand that we are rescued from this evil age, redeemed by the blood of Messiah, and called to walk in obedience and good works as we await the glory to be revealed when Jesus returns.
When King Jesus comes, He will not judge whether we simply accepted the invitation, but if we accepted and came dressed for the occasion. The garments we wear are not our own, but they are given to us by God, acted upon through acts of faith, love, and obedience. And these works are not forgotten. They are remembered. They are repaid. And they will be worn at the marriage supper of the Lamb for all to see. Let us labor, then, not to earn grace, but to honor it, knowing that the One who called us is faithful, and He will not forget what we've done in His name. (Hebrews 6:10)
So, in light of the coming judgment, let us run this race with honest intentions, good works in His name, and walk in love and humility until the day of eternity.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord
1 Corinthians 15:58
Maranatha!
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