Embrace faith, not works

I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. (Philippians 3:9-10)

There is no other way to be 'made right' than through Christ Jesus. There is no other set of rules or 'belief system' we need to follow in order to 'gain righteousness'. With that said, why do we still try to 'be made right'? I observe those who have given their hearts to Jesus trying to 'earn' their way into heaven or some such thing, all through 'righteous actions', family traditions, and deeply rooted traditions of 'the church'. For some reason, Satan has been able to convince many that they need 'more' than Christ in order to be 'made right'. They strive without purpose because all God has purposed has been accomplished in Christ Jesus, therefore all their striving and 'deeply rooted traditions' are nothing more than religion. God asks us to enter into relationship with him and then stop 'striving'. It is time to put down that which we thought would earn anything in God's kingdom and begin to lean into the faith he gives. When all we count on is the faith he provides to be made right with him, we begin to engage in actions that he purposes for us. Those actions aren't done to 'earn', but because there is a genuine interest in seeing others set free from their bondage to sin and made right with Christ. 

The Great Commission wasn't given to the apostles in order for them to 'earn' anything in God's kingdom. In fact, it was to help spread the good news about the way into God's kingdom - a way bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. The believers were to share the good news and in turn, God would show these sinners the way into his kingdom through the finished work of Christ. “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Nothing in the commission says we are to show them how to do 'works' in order to be welcomed into God's kingdom. Authority was given to share the good news and 'make followers' - by showing them they can live in 'liberty' in service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. the 'commission' involved teaching 'obedience' to the Word of God - obedience to God's will.

If we don't realize it, we are living, breathing 'testimonials' of all God has done for us, in us, and ultimately through us. Faith given becomes faith replicated. Obedience taught becomes obedience learned. Do we learn it naturally, or by following some set of rules? No, we learn it by example - the example of Christ, who although divine in all ways took on the form of a man and lived without sin in a very sinful world. We'd do well to study his example, sharing in the grace he gives, and learning at the feet of our heavenly Father. Then we need to share what it is he has taught and what we have learned. Really all the learning we do is because God grants us the ability (through faith) to embrace it. Just sayin!