If I were to just ask the average man what he had to do in order to be a God pleasing Christian I imagine a list would begin of all sorts of do's and don't's. The common myth seems to be that we are in charge of our own righteousness but there's a tremendous amount of fallacy in that line of thinking.
Isaiah 64:6-7 (KJV) "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. [7] And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities."
Even since Old Testament times man's attempts to accomplish righteousness hasn't gained much respect from God. What's the key, then?
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Faith. How many Pharisees lived empty, routine lives, modelled after men in the supposed name of God, entirely without faith. Once we locate a Spirit filled, God believing man we take on his lifestyle in hopes of attaining his favor with God. How does he preach? How does his wife dress? What version of the Bible does he use? Which places does he frequent? Which places does he avoid? Pretty soon we've got ourselves a pretty, little, religious life built on a lot of effort and not an ounce of faith!
Galatians 5:6 (KJV) "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."
This word "circumcision" represents the law but you can throw any conviction you have into this formula. Whether you drink beer or don't drink beer, whether you dress sleazy or modestly, whether you listen to country music or not does not avail you any thing in the eyes of God! No, only "faith which worketh by love." Did you see that? My faith in God and my love for God is going to drive me to make intentional decisions about how I live my life but the lifestyle itself is not what makes me a successful Christian! I can live a clean, separated lifestyle and be a hell bound fake or a self worshipping Pharisee but my faith in God will make me a real Christian!
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Every bit of fruit my life could ever bear, every single life I could ever hope to impact, every single soul I could potentially ever see saved...substance...evidence...proofs, these are, of where my heart lies. A religious lifestyle void of faith is the biggest threat to the cause of Christ! We will spend a life like that hurting people and laying waste to real opportunity while a separated, sold out, life of faith will make every person it comes in contact with hungry for more! Paul listed off all of his credentials in Philippians chapter three as he described how blameless he was by the law's standard, how educated he was in religion and how respectable he was in the brethren's eyes but what did it gain him? Hear his words...
Philippians 3:8-10 (KJV) "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
Do you know why most of us live depraved Christian lives filled with insecurity and secret sin? Do you know why every little storm knocks us off of our feet? Do you know why we have to busy ourselves with vain, religious, busy work in order to feel like we are even worth anything???
Ephesians 6:16a (KJV) "Above all, taking the shield of faith..."
We are supposed to be wearing armor and the key to the whole suit is the shield! Faith! What kind of Christian life are you living? Are you a powerless imitator of religious exercise or are you a humble, child of faith?
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