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[Rom 8:5-8] For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace: because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be: and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[Mat 23:25-28] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Dead Works/Works of the Flesh: circumcision, animal sacrifices, hygiene
[Gal 5:19-21] Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[1Cor 7:19] For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
Good Works: [Gal 5:22, 23] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
[Rom 13:10] Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
[Luke 11:41] But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.
According to Jesus himself, good works, like giving to the poor (alms), are necessary for salvation. This verse and Luke 12:33 tell you Jesus APPROVES of INDULGENCES.
1. Hezekiah's prayer:
[2Chr 30:18-20] For a multitude of the people, many of them from E'phraim, Manas'seh, Is'sachar, and Zeb'ulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezeki'ah had prayed for them, saying, "The good LORD pardon every one who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness." And the LORD heard Hezeki'ah, and healed the people.
2. This prayer is all inclusive. It does not say: ONLY Israel.
3. For PARDON of all the sanctuary's rules of cleanness from the Torah (the Law of Moses):
4. Because Israel abused the Law of Moses, God became repulsed by their false piety:
[Isa 1:11-14] "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of he-goats. "When you come to appear before me, who requires of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.
5. In Jesus ministry, He summarized His teachings with this verse:
[Hos 6:6] For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.
It should be clear by now, the ritual requirements of religion, any religion, are worthless without the presence of genuine kindness. Religious ritual is right if and only if it produces mercy, kindness, and love.
6. Peter boils this down by saying:
[Acts 10:34, 35] And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Paul:
[Rom 2:6-10] For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
[Col 3:25.18] For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
