Salvation in the Old Testament - by Faith or by Works?
by Rich Deem

Introduction

The idea that God's love and salvation can be earned through good deeds is a common belief in the United States and much of the world. However, this idea is completely antithetical to Christianity. Nowhere is this idea more prevalent than in Judaism. The idea arose from a system that is dedicated to the teaching and practice of the law. However, the law, given by God, has been expanded by the rules of men as they attempted to interpret every instance of human behavior. As a result, the Jewish law is now all-encompassing, and even more difficult to obey than when it was originally given.

Being right with God

So how do you become righteous enough to be acceptable in the eyes of God? Much of the world has decided that one can become acceptable to God if the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds. The problem is that this concept is never stated in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word, yeshuah (Strong's number H3444), or one of its derivatives, usually translated "salvation," nearly always refers to a work of God. In fact, in 104 out of 106 instances1 "salvation" refers specifically to a work of God that has nothing to do with any human effort. A verse from the Psalms specifically ties salvation to belief:

Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. (Psalm 78:22)

Another verse indicates quite clearly that humans are unable to intercede on their own behalf because of our lack of righteousness:

And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him; And His righteousness upheld Him. (Isaiah 59:16)

Examples of faith

Examples of people being justified by faith abound in the Old Testament. Abel, by faith brought the best of his flock as an offering,2 while his brother Cain brought an offering that was not good.3 Enoch, by faith, walked with God, and so was taken by God to heaven.4 By faith, Noah built an ark hundreds of miles from the ocean.5 Abraham, by faith, left the land of his birth6 and went to the land of Canaan as God directed him.7 Genesis tells us that God counted Abraham's faith as righteousness.8 Later, Abraham offered Issac, His only rightful heir, as a sacrifice to God.9 Although God stopped Abraham from completing the sacrifice,10 he would have done so by faith in what God had told him to do.

Examples of faith and disbelief abound in the Exodus story. First, Moses' mother had faith in leaving the helpless baby Moses to be discovered by the very people who intended to kill him.11 Later, the people believed God in the midst of the Egyptians and put blood of a lamb on their doorposts as a sign of faith for the Lord to spare the first born of their household.12 By faith, Moses lifted his hands as the Lord directed to part the Red Sea so that the Sons of Israel could escape the Egyptians.13

By faith, the Sons of Israel looked upon a bronze serpent to protect them from snakebites in the wilderness.14 By faith, Rahab, the harlot, believed the spies of Israel and helped them, trusting in their God. Because of this, she was saved from destruction when the city of Jericho was conquered by the sons of Israel.15 By faith, the Sons of Israel marched around the city of Jericho for seven days and the walls fell down.16 By faith, Gideon let God reduce his army from 32,000 to 10,00017 to 300 men to conquer Midian.18

Besides the many example of faith in the Old Testament, there are many Old Testament verses that promote and encourage belief in God and His promises.19 Other verses criticize lack of faith and disbelief.20 Habakkuk says that "the righteous will live by his faith"21 Although many Orthodox Jews believe that they will be justified by obedience to the law, God specifically says that He chose the Jews because of His promises and not because of the righteousness of those people.22 There are many other verses that indicate that all people have sinned and rebelled against God.23 Salvation must, therefore, be based upon something other than faithfulness to the law.

Conclusion Top of page

The law of God is good and does not represent just suggestions for righteous living. However, no person (other than Jesus Christ) has ever kept the entire law. Because of these failures on our part, God has provided a means by which we can be declared faultless under the law. Jesus paid the penalty for sin such that His righteousness is imputed to us through faith in Him. It's a great deal. He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness through faith. God's terms for salvation have not changed from Old Testament to New Testament. Those who died before Jesus walked the earth are justified through faith in God's provision of the then coming Messiah. Those who came after Jesus are justified by faith in the efficacy of His sacrifice for sin.

If you are concerned or uncertain about your salvation, click here and find out how you can be certain of having a right relationship with God and inheriting eternal life.

Mantuirea in Vechiul Testament - Credinta sau Fapte? (Romanian)

References Top of page

  1. "For Thy salvation I wait, O LORD. (Genesis 49:18)
    But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. (Exodus 14:13)
    "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. (Exodus 15:2)
    "But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked-- You are grown fat, thick, and sleek-- Then he forsook God who made him, And scorned the Rock of his salvation. (Deuteronomy 32:15)
    Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Thy salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1)
    My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, Thou dost save me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:3)
    "Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy help makes me great. (2 Samuel 22:36)
    "The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, (2 Samuel 22:47)
    "Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow? (2 Samuel 23:5)
    Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. (1 Chronicles 16:23)
    Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to Thy holy name, And glory in Thy praise." (1 Chronicles 16:35)
    "Now therefore arise, O LORD God, to Thy resting place, Thou and the ark of Thy might; let Thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let Thy godly ones rejoice in what is good. (2 Chronicles 6:41)
    'You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you." (2 Chronicles 20:17)
    "This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence. (Job 13:16)
    Salvation belongs to the LORD; Thy blessing be upon Thy people! Selah. (Psalm 3:8)
    That I may tell of all Thy praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Thy salvation. (Psalm 9:14)
    But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. (Psalm 13:5)
    Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad. (Psalm 14:7)
    The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)
    Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand upholds me; And Thy gentleness makes me great. (Psalm 18:35)
    The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, (Psalm 18:46)
    (For the choir director. A Psalm of David.) O LORD, in Thy strength the king will be glad, And in Thy salvation how greatly he will rejoice! (Psalm 21:1)
    His glory is great through Thy salvation, Splendor and majesty Thou dost place upon him. (Psalm 21:5)
    He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:5)
    Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:5)
    (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1)
    Do not hide Thy face from me, Do not turn Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! (Psalm 27:9)
    And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in His salvation. (Psalm 35:9)
    But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. (Psalm 37:39)
    Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! (Psalm 38:22)
    I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation. (Psalm 40:10)
    Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" (Psalm 40:16)
    "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23)
    Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
    Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness. (Psalm 51:14)
    Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores His captive people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. (Psalm 53:6)
    (For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.) My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. (Psalm 62:1)
    He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:2)
    He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:6)
    On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. (Psalm 62:7)
    By awesome deeds Thou dost answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, Thou who art the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea; (Psalm 65:5)
    That Thy way may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. (Psalm 67:2)
    Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19)
    But I am afflicted and in pain; May Thy salvation, O God, set me securely on high. (Psalm 69:29)
    Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; And let those who love Thy salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified." (Psalm 70:4)
    My mouth shall tell of Thy righteousness, And of Thy salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. (Psalm 71:15)
    Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. (Psalm 78:22)
    Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake. (Psalm 79:9)
    Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Thine indignation toward us to cease. (Psalm 85:4)
    Show us Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Thy salvation. (Psalm 85:7)
    Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. (Psalm 85:9)
    (A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director; according to) (Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.) O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before Thee. (Psalm 88:1)
    "He will cry to Me, 'Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.' (Psalm 89:26)
    "With a long life I will satisfy him, And let him behold My salvation." (Psalm 91:16)
    O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1)
    Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. (Psalm 96:2)
    The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. (Psalm 98:2)
    He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (Psalm 98:3)
    Remember me, O LORD, in Thy favor toward Thy people; Visit me with Thy salvation, (Psalm 106:4)
    I shall lift up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:13)
    The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. (Psalm 118:14)
    The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. (Psalm 118:15)
    I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast answered me; And Thou hast become my salvation. (Psalm 118:21)
    May Thy lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD, Thy salvation according to Thy word; (Psalm 119:41)
    My soul languishes for Thy salvation; I wait for Thy word. (Psalm 119:81)
    My eyes fail with longing for Thy salvation, And for Thy righteous word. (Psalm 119:123)
    I hope for Thy salvation, O LORD, And do Thy commandments. (Psalm 119:166)
    I long for Thy salvation, O LORD, And Thy law is my delight. (Psalm 119:174)
    "Her priests also I will clothe with salvation; And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy. (Psalm 132:16)
    "O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. (Psalm 140:7)
    Who dost give salvation to kings; Who dost rescue David His servant from the evil sword. (Psalm 144:10)
    Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. (Psalm 146:3)
    For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)
    "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)
    Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3)
    For you have forgotten the God of your salvation And have not remembered the rock of your refuge. Therefore you plant delightful plants And set them with vine slips of a strange god. (Isaiah 17:10)
    And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9)
    O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for Thee. Be Thou their strength every morning, Our salvation also in the time of distress. (Isaiah 33:2)
    And He shall be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure. (Isaiah 33:6)
    "Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:8)
    Israel has been saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated To all eternity. (Isaiah 45:17)
    "I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel. (Isaiah 46:13)
    He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6)
    Thus says the LORD, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; (Isaiah 49:8)
    "My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly. (Isaiah 51:5)
    "Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment, And its inhabitants will die in like manner, But My salvation shall be forever, And My righteousness shall not wane. (Isaiah 51:6)
    "For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness shall be forever, And My salvation to all generations." (Isaiah 51:8)
    How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)
    The LORD has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. (Isaiah 52:10)
    Thus says the LORD, "Preserve justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed. (Isaiah 56:1)
    And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him; And His righteousness upheld Him. (Isaiah 59:16)
    And He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. (Isaiah 59:17)
    "Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise. (Isaiah 60:18)
    I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
    Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." (Isaiah 62:11)
    "And I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me; And My wrath upheld Me. (Isaiah 63:5)
    "Surely, the hills are a deception, A tumult on the mountains. Surely, in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel. (Jeremiah 3:23)
    It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:26)
    But I will sacrifice to Thee With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD." (Jonah 2:9)
    But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)
    Did the LORD rage against the rivers, Or was Thine anger against the rivers, Or was Thy wrath against the sea, That Thou didst ride on Thy horses, On Thy chariots of salvation? (Habakkuk 3:8)
    Thou didst go forth for the salvation of Thy people, For the salvation of Thine anointed. Thou didst strike the head of the house of the evil To lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah. (Habakkuk 3:13)
    Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:18)
    Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
  2. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; (Genesis 4:4)
  3. "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7)
  4. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)
  5. Genesis 6.
  6. Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; (Genesis 12:1)
  7. So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:4)
  8. Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
  9. And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:2)
  10. And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." And he said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Genesis 22:10-12)
  11. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it, and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. (Exodus 2:3)
  12. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. (Exodus 12:23)
  13. "And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land... Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. And the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Exodus 14:16-22)
  14. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he shall live." And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:8-9)
  15. Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there... The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. (Joshua 2:1, 6:17)
  16. "Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. "And it shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."... So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and it came about, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. (Joshua 6:4-5, 20)
  17. "Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.'" So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained. (Judges 7:3)
  18. So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink." Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. (Judges 7:5-6)
  19. Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
    So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped. (Exodus 4:31)
    And when Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses. (Exodus 14:31)
    And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I shall come to you in a thick cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. (Exodus 19:9)
    I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)
    "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. (Isaiah 43:10)
    Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. (Jonah 3:5)
  20. And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? (Numbers 14:11)
    But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:12)
    "And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, 'Go up and possess the land which I have given you,' then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed Him nor listened to His voice. (Deuteronomy 9:23)
    However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God. (2 Kings 17:14)
    Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. (Psalm 78:22)
    In spite of all this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wonderful works. (Psalm 78:32)
    Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe in His word, (Psalm 106:24)
    Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? (Isaiah 53:1)
    "And they bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:3)
  21. "Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)
  22. "Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people." (Deuteronomy 9:4-6)
  23. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 53:2-3)
    And do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, For in Thy sight no man living is righteous. (Psalm 143:2)
    For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
    "Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 2:29)
    "Indeed all Israel has transgressed Thy law and turned aside, not obeying Thy voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. (Daniel 9:11)

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