Ephesians 2:8-9
“…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
These passages above are just a few of many scriptures that explain how the Christian life is not about legalism, judgment or just doing good works. It is about spiritual regeneration by faith imparted by God that then produces love…for God, others, and ourselves.
This does not mean that living rightly and obeying God and His laws are meaningless, but I think it puts “works” of faith in their proper perspective. We are not saved by what we do, think, or where we go. Going to church does not make us a Christian any more than going to a bar makes us an alcoholic. It is our motivations and condition of our hearts that determine the meaning of where we go and what we do or why. The New Covenant/Testament of the faith clearly is about revealing the “spirit” of the law in preference over the “letter” of the law. We are not to be Pharasees.
Yet, in “religion” we find a lot of messaging related to faith that puts emphasis on what we should do or where we should go as Christians. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”. Many options we have in life are determined by spiritual perception. The Bible is clear on basic things related to defining the “don’ts” of sin, but when it comes to what we SHOULD do it is primarily determined spiritually according to our faith. If you can’t honestly do something “in the name of Jesus” or “giving thanks to God the Father”, it probably is not worth doing. The difficulty with this is that “religion” wants us to be just like each other, agreeing 100% on everything. To me, this is a panacea and not likely to happen in this world that is a constant battle between flesh and spirit with limited understanding. When we don’t agree with each other in the faith, love is that commandment that precedes and covers all differences. When we disagree, we are to pray for one another “in love”…not in judgment, gossip, or a critical spirit. Those are NOT love.
One thing all Christians should agree on is that our salvation is only based on God’s grace and mercy as revealed by the Holy Spirit. Living righteously or being “good people” does not save us. We cannot be good enough to deserve salvation. Thus I would say also that we cannot be “good enough” to judge others related to their salvation. Sure, we can attain spiritual ability to discern who is struggling with sin or our not being overcome by the things of this world, but it is my clear understanding we are never to judge who is or isn’t “saved”. Judgment has been clearly reserved as God’s role only.
The most important question we must ask ourselves is why do we trust and obey God? Is it out of a sense of guilt? Why would we hold on to guilt if God has completely blotted out our sins from His memory once we have repented and been forgiven? Do we believe in and pursue God just to save ourselves from hell? This to me is not the most loving reason to pursue faith in Christ. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments”. He was saying obey me out of love, not because of your guilt or need. It is dangerous to pursue obedience from a position of fear or to get something in return…such as a reprieve from hellfire and damnation or even financial “blessings”. We follow Christ because he has called us and he FIRST loved us. “Perfect love casts out all fear” (1John 4:18)…so if we love God we have nothing to fear and no guilt to live under.
Our motivations are everything in life. Do we stay faithful to our spouses because of duty and expectation of behavior, or do we truly love our spouses to the extent of exclusiveness? Do we love our children and families only when they please us, or ALL the time unconditionally?
Do we love God because of fear or what He has done for us…or do we truly develop a sincere love for all His goodness to us? Do we have an intimate ongoing relationship and conversation with Him, or are we just going through the religious rigamarole of doing things to gain his approval or blessings in return?
When it comes to God and each other, let our love be pure and holy. Let our motivations be in the right place. May we worship and love Him in spirit and in truth.
They will know you are Christians by your love…not your righteousness or example. Our example will never be good enough to lead someone to Christ. Only Christ and HIS example can save anyone. Who do we think we are? If we want to pursue perfection, let it be in the amount of love we truly have running in and through our lives…not in the things we do or don’t do.
Sin against God or others snuffs out love. Thankfully, perfect love snuffs out sin. If every decision we make in life centers around the loving decision…we will likely never make the wrong one.
So, let’s be lovers, not legalists. Love will be our righteousness, not the law. Love fulfills the law but being righteous out of fear or duty doesn’t necessarily equal love.
Pride of righteousness is sin while love is never boastful or proud. Creed and obedience out of guilt will never save anyone. Only Grace and love will.
Fill your life and spirit today seeking HIS love. It starts with forgiving and being forgiven. It starts with actions of love, not legalism about what you do, eat, drink, or go.