Recall from my last post that I wrote that New Testament grace demands that we go beyond the demands of Old Testament Law. Those lofty New Testament standards were passed down by Jesus for two reasons.
First, Jesus wanted to demonstrate that a life of righteousness goes far beyond just outward actions, but that God looks on the heart. It’s not enough to just refrain from murder, for example, because God is also considering the bitterness and hatred that a person harbors even in the absence of the actual act of murder.
Secondly, Jesus wanted to show us that God’s standards are so lofty that there is no possible way we can keep the demands of the Old or New Covenants, and that’s why we need a Savior as a scapegoat for our sins.
Thus, genuine faith demands that we place our trust in the finished work of Jesus and stop trying to earn a place in heaven by keeping a spiritual check list, because our own righteousness is so far short of God’s that it’s a stench in His nostrils. By the same token, however, a genuine faith is also demonstrated by a lifestyle of repentance – a continual turning away from our old sinful nature and embracing God’s demands (yes, I said demands, not suggestions) for our lives. The book of James clearly and forcefully declares that a “faith” that does not result in an obvious life change that shows an unmistakable distinction between the followers of Christ and the world is not faith at all, and the implication is that those who think they are saved but who do not live according to the standards given to us by Christ are not saved at all.
This fact is also declared by Jesus when He said that there would be many on the Day of Judgment who will approach His throne expecting salvation, but will instead receive damnation!
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven . Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did not we prophesy in your Name, and in your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’” -Matthew 7:21-23
So then, there is a “spirituality” that is void of power to save, because Jesus declared that many who think that they are currently saved are in fact not.
What a horrible reality! Can you imagine feeling secure in your salvation only to hear on the Day of Judgment that Jesus never knew you, and then have to face the reality of going to hell?! Yet Jesus said that this would indeed be the case with “many.” However, He also said that there is a way to avoid that end.
Read those verses above again. Who is it that enters the kingdom of heaven? It is “he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” What is the Father’s will?
The Father’s will is first and foremost that we trust in His Son, Jesus, for our salvation and not our own righteousness, because our own attempts at righteousness apart from Christ is not righteousness at all (see Romans 3:21-24).
Secondly, faith that is true faith manifests itself in life change (James 2:14-26). So a true convert will have their affections set on the things of God, throw off the old worldly nature, and put on the nature of Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24). That new nature will inspire the “fruit of the Spirit,” which includes a love and compassion even for the unlovely; a sense of joy and restfulness of peace that transcends one’s circumstances; ever increasing patience with people and one’s trials; kindness; a purity and goodness in lifestyle that can only come from Christ; mercy toward those who do not deserve it; a gentleness that mimics the Good Shepherd; and a mastery of self-control that allows one to put the brakes on his/her carnal desires (see Galatians 5:16-26). And God’s will also includes a desire to see others come to Christ and grow in Christ-likeness to the point that we involve ourselves in the commands of Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
So you see, the grace of God does not give us license to sin, as some think. Rather, it literally gives us the power to change and stop living like those who are unredeemed. If there is little difference between you and a person who claims no devotion to Christ, then there is reason to be concerned for your eternal destiny.
I’ll let scripture speak for itself. Pay close attention to what these verses are saying.
First, Jesus wanted to demonstrate that a life of righteousness goes far beyond just outward actions, but that God looks on the heart. It’s not enough to just refrain from murder, for example, because God is also considering the bitterness and hatred that a person harbors even in the absence of the actual act of murder.
Secondly, Jesus wanted to show us that God’s standards are so lofty that there is no possible way we can keep the demands of the Old or New Covenants, and that’s why we need a Savior as a scapegoat for our sins.
Thus, genuine faith demands that we place our trust in the finished work of Jesus and stop trying to earn a place in heaven by keeping a spiritual check list, because our own righteousness is so far short of God’s that it’s a stench in His nostrils. By the same token, however, a genuine faith is also demonstrated by a lifestyle of repentance – a continual turning away from our old sinful nature and embracing God’s demands (yes, I said demands, not suggestions) for our lives. The book of James clearly and forcefully declares that a “faith” that does not result in an obvious life change that shows an unmistakable distinction between the followers of Christ and the world is not faith at all, and the implication is that those who think they are saved but who do not live according to the standards given to us by Christ are not saved at all.
This fact is also declared by Jesus when He said that there would be many on the Day of Judgment who will approach His throne expecting salvation, but will instead receive damnation!
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven . Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did not we prophesy in your Name, and in your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’” -Matthew 7:21-23
So then, there is a “spirituality” that is void of power to save, because Jesus declared that many who think that they are currently saved are in fact not.
What a horrible reality! Can you imagine feeling secure in your salvation only to hear on the Day of Judgment that Jesus never knew you, and then have to face the reality of going to hell?! Yet Jesus said that this would indeed be the case with “many.” However, He also said that there is a way to avoid that end.
Read those verses above again. Who is it that enters the kingdom of heaven? It is “he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” What is the Father’s will?
The Father’s will is first and foremost that we trust in His Son, Jesus, for our salvation and not our own righteousness, because our own attempts at righteousness apart from Christ is not righteousness at all (see Romans 3:21-24).
Secondly, faith that is true faith manifests itself in life change (James 2:14-26). So a true convert will have their affections set on the things of God, throw off the old worldly nature, and put on the nature of Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24). That new nature will inspire the “fruit of the Spirit,” which includes a love and compassion even for the unlovely; a sense of joy and restfulness of peace that transcends one’s circumstances; ever increasing patience with people and one’s trials; kindness; a purity and goodness in lifestyle that can only come from Christ; mercy toward those who do not deserve it; a gentleness that mimics the Good Shepherd; and a mastery of self-control that allows one to put the brakes on his/her carnal desires (see Galatians 5:16-26). And God’s will also includes a desire to see others come to Christ and grow in Christ-likeness to the point that we involve ourselves in the commands of Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
So you see, the grace of God does not give us license to sin, as some think. Rather, it literally gives us the power to change and stop living like those who are unredeemed. If there is little difference between you and a person who claims no devotion to Christ, then there is reason to be concerned for your eternal destiny.
I’ll let scripture speak for itself. Pay close attention to what these verses are saying.
“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” -Romans 6:15-16
“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by Spirit of God are sons of God.” -Romans 8:12-14
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” -James 2:26
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” -Galatians 5:19-21
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.” -Ephesians 5:3-7
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” -Titus 2:11,12
Indeed, grace teaches us to say no to worldliness, and yes to the thing of the Spirit of God. And that’s how we know we are living in the family of God and that we have truly experienced His grace.
No comments:
Post a Comment