Do you remember exactly when you accepted Christ as your Savior? I hope you do because it is a memory worth returning to when times are tough. At any rate, wasn't it a big relief to give up control of your life to Jesus care? Wasn't it great that you didn't have to "do" anything except believe? So simple and yet so complete!
Do you still rest in your original faith or have you somehow returned to "working" your way to heaven? It's become all to common. In fact, Paul encountered it with the Galatians and wrote them a letter to address this dread spiritual disease. He doesn't mince words when he says; "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3)
He's asking them why they would use a failing method to live their life by when that's not how they started their life in Christ. I'm glad he wrote the book because Christians down through the ages have needed to be reminded - including myself, that somehow, grace seemed too easy and we feel we have to try to earn our salvation.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
How can you tell if you are infected with this dread disease of works? Well, do you find yourself keeping a note pad of your spiritual life? How many good deeds you do? How much you pray? How much money you give? Do you find yourself equating that with how much favor you have with God?
If so, return to that original moment when you realized that the blood of Jesus was sufficient to secure you with God. It was good enough then and it is still good enough. Remember the Galatians 3:3 and Romans 4:4-5 truths each day and don't try and earn what was freely given.
Do you still rest in your original faith or have you somehow returned to "working" your way to heaven? It's become all to common. In fact, Paul encountered it with the Galatians and wrote them a letter to address this dread spiritual disease. He doesn't mince words when he says; "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3)
He's asking them why they would use a failing method to live their life by when that's not how they started their life in Christ. I'm glad he wrote the book because Christians down through the ages have needed to be reminded - including myself, that somehow, grace seemed too easy and we feel we have to try to earn our salvation.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
How can you tell if you are infected with this dread disease of works? Well, do you find yourself keeping a note pad of your spiritual life? How many good deeds you do? How much you pray? How much money you give? Do you find yourself equating that with how much favor you have with God?
If so, return to that original moment when you realized that the blood of Jesus was sufficient to secure you with God. It was good enough then and it is still good enough. Remember the Galatians 3:3 and Romans 4:4-5 truths each day and don't try and earn what was freely given.
