DOES GOD JUST WANT US TO BE GOOD PEOPLE?

C.S. Lewis wrote that faith in God and our obedience to him are like the blades on a pair of scissors. Just as both are essential in order to cut paper, both must also be present in order for someone to call themselves a believer in Christ. The Bible can seem confusing at times when it comes to this topic of faith and actions with verses like James 2:20 saying "faith without works is dead" while Ephesians 2:8-9 says it's "by grace you have been saved, not by works so that none one can boast."

If a Christian is saved by grace and not by works and if God's forgiveness spans past, present, and future, how much does the way we live really matter? Isn't being a good person most of the time, going to church when possible and asking forgiveness when we mess up all that God can ask?

While it's certainly true that God's forgiveness is wonderful and has no limits, that "he separates our sin from us as far as the east is from the west" (Psalms 103:12) and "forgives even the guilt of our sin" (Psalms 32:5), His Son, Jesus also said things like, "If you love me, you will keep my commands" (John 14:15).

So exactly how many commands are we talking about here - 50%, 85%, 90? Jesus answers this in Matthew 5:38 we he says, "Be perfect because your heavenly father is perfect." Perfect? How can we be perfect, that's 100% and that's impossible!

While Jesus doesn't REQUIRE us to be perfect, he does EXPECT us to be. There's a difference. If God required that you and I be prefect in order to gain salvation Jesus wouldn't have come, and if it was possible for a saved believer to live a perfect life once saved, God wouldn't have given us the Holy Spirit.

Here's an example that illustrates the difference between a requirement and an expectation: A parent can require that their child make all B's in school and will punish them if they don't but they can also expect their child to make B's because they know how smart their kid is and that anything less would be underachieving. The difference in the two is that a requirement must be fulfilled in order to avoid failure where as an expectation is based on one's potential and leads only to disappointment if not met. God desperately wants for you and I to follow him wholeheartedly and with everything we've got because he created us in his image and therefore knows we have an infinite potential for good. Boy do we sell ourselves short sometimes. He is disappointed when we don't live up to the good we are capable of but is not waiting at home to punish us for our mistakes. As long as you and I don't take God's forgiveness for granted and stay comfortable in our sins, we should not fear the wrath or punishment of God. And just like a good parent is willing to help their child with homework in order to meet their goal, God has agreed to help us follow his ways by sending the Holy Spirit.

Giving God everything that we are and our best effort is tough because it requires sacrifice on our part. It's fairly easy to live for God only on Sundays or when we're with certain groups of people because we can still do what we want the rest of the time. This kind of half way living and following God when it's convenient is not the reason that Jesus died. God gave up everything on the cross for us, why should we do any in return?

If you want to see a great video on not playing it safe in life, go to the video tab and watch Francis Chan -balance beam or click here.

One important point. The expectation to "be our best for God" should never come as a burden. It might take discipline on out part in order to follow him but this should not be something that weighs us down or discourages us. 1 John 5:3 elaborates on the connection between loving God and obeying him by saying, "his commandments are not burdensome." If a parent loves their child, they will do everything in their power to demonstrate that love. That demonstration will come through action and will never be limited to convenience or not feeling in the mood. Our love for God should be no different.

In Matthew chapter 7:19-23 Jesus says several very interesting things. First, He says that not everyone who know about God will go to heaven, only those that truly know him will. That's scary to think about, how can one know the difference? Jesus tells us the difference between the two lies in the works and actions of how a person lives. "You can tell a tree by its fruit," he said. If you and I really know God and are truly humbled by his greatness, following his instructions and keeping his commands will come naturally. If we don't really know him, it will feel like an obligation. What kind of tree are you? Does the fruit in your life give evidence to you knowing God or are you just someone who knows about Him, who does nice things and is a good person? Good people don't go to heaven, only God followers do. I hope you'll examine the difference.