Question:
You stated on your radio show that the following verse deals with unbelievers. Isaiah 64:6 says, “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.” How can this verse be referring to unbelievers? Was not the writer of Isaiah a believer who included himself in the verse by using the word “our” when he wrote it? It seems to me that this verse refers to the believers’ works. Comparing the believers’ works to the works of Jesus, wouldn’t you describe our works of righteousness are as filthy rags. That is what separates us from Jesus. Since Jesus was perfect, He alone can claim to be God. Wouldn’t you agree that no matter how much we try to submit it God and to surrender to God’s will that we as believers fall far short in our works when we compare it to John 8:29 where Jesus says that, “I do always those things that please him.” Besides is not our faith in God (putting our trust in Him while we live out our daily lives) what pleases Him and that is why the Word of God says our faith is accounted for righteousness. Note: No where does the Bible says that our faith is righteous only that God accounts it as righteous. Isaiah 64:6 deals with the believers’ works which has nothing to do with God’s righteousness in which we must have in order to be saved. Salvation deals with God’s righteousness being imputed to the person who believes.
Answer:
It seems to me that Isaiah is addressing the human race and Israel in particular. Isaiah 1:2 says, “Hear, O Heavens, and give ear O Earth: for the Lord hath spoken…” I believe the ‘we’ and ‘our’ is Isaiah identifying himself with the human race and Israel the nation. When Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6, I do not believe Isaiah was teaching that Christ would only die for the believer. When Isaiah said, ‘the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of US ALL.” Isaiah included the whole human race and the whole nation of Israel.