How does Job 15:14 highlight human sinfulness and need for God's grace? Job 15:14 in Focus “What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?” (Job 15:14) A Snapshot of the Passage • Spoken by Eliphaz, Job’s friend, as he argues that no human can claim innocence before God • Though Eliphaz misjudges Job’s situation, his statement about universal human impurity is biblically sound and echoed throughout Scripture Human Sinfulness Uncovered • Every person is “born of woman,” sharing the same fallen nature inherited from Adam (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12) • Purity or righteousness cannot originate within us; we fall short by nature and by choice (Romans 3:10-12, 23) • Even righteous deeds, apart from divine cleansing, are “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) Universal Need Highlighted • Job 15:14 presses the question: “If no one is inherently pure, how can anyone stand before a holy God?” • The verse strips away any hope in personal merit, pushing us to seek help outside ourselves God’s Grace Answering the Need • God initiates rescue: “But God, being rich in mercy…made us alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-5) • Salvation is “not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5) • The only remedy for impurity is the atoning work of Christ, “who knew no sin but became sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Living in Light of Grace • Confession: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:8-9) • Humility: Recognize that any righteousness we possess is a gift, not an achievement (Philippians 3:9) • Gratitude: Respond to grace with worship, obedience, and a desire to extend grace to others (Colossians 3:12-14) Takeaway Job 15:14 exposes humanity’s deep-rooted sinfulness, leaving no room for self-righteousness and driving us to the only sufficient source of purity—God’s grace manifested in Jesus Christ. |
    |