Believers have been made right with God. He sees us as righteous not because of anything good we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did and our faith in that. This is a significant departure from Old-Testament law, which demanded strict obedience and constant self-effort to earn righteousness. Our stance in Christ is permanent and independent of our behavior, which reflects our continually transforming state on our Christian journey.
Believers have been made right with God. He sees us as righteous not because of anything good we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did and our faith in that. This is a significant departure from Old-Testament law, which demanded strict obedience and constant self-effort to earn righteousness. Our stance in Christ is permanent and independent of our behavior, which reflects our continually transforming state on our Christian journey.
Believers have been made right with God. He sees us as righteous not because of anything good we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did and our faith in that. This is a significant departure from Old-Testament law, which demanded strict obedience and constant self-effort to earn righteousness. Our stance in Christ is permanent and independent of our behavior, which reflects our continually transforming state on our Christian journey.
Believers have been made right with God, regardless of their actions. As Christians, we’re righteous because God says so and we believe it; this is our stance, which is permanent. By contrast, our state is continually changing as we progress through our earthly lives, making mistakes but gradually becoming more and more like Christ. The world offers us plenty of choices of foundations to build our lives on; any foundation other than Jesus Christ will crumble and fall when trouble hits.
Believers have been made right with God, regardless of their actions. As Christians, we’re righteous because God says so and we believe it; this is our stance, which is permanent. By contrast, our state is continually changing as we progress through our earthly lives, making mistakes but gradually becoming more and more like Christ. The world offers us plenty of choices of foundations to build our lives on; any foundation other than Jesus Christ will crumble and fall when trouble hits.
Faith is extremely important to God. He wants us to rest in the promises He made to us; this rest is only possible through genuine belief in what He said, with absolutely no doubt or unbelief. Believing Him keeps us from thinking that we must work hard to earn the right to enter into the place of rest He has already provided for us. Trusting in Jesus and in His finished works delivers us from self-effort.
Faith is extremely important to God. He wants us to rest in the promises He made to us; this rest is only possible through genuine belief in what He said, with absolutely no doubt or unbelief. Believing Him keeps us from thinking that we must work hard to earn the right to enter into the place of rest He has already provided for us. Trusting in Jesus and in His finished works delivers us from self-effort.
Faith is extremely important to God. He wants us to rest in the promises He made to us; this rest is only possible through genuine belief in what He said, with absolutely no doubt or unbelief. Believing Him keeps us from thinking that we must work hard to earn the right to enter into the place of rest He has already provided for us. Trusting in Jesus and in His finished works delivers us from self-effort.
For proper spiritual growth, Christians must know the difference between works based on self-effort and works of faith. For Christ to have any impact in our lives, it is imperative that we refrain from trying to earn God’s approval the way the people did under Old-Testament law. Under the law, God’s ability to bless was based on man’s behavior; under grace, this is no longer true. Being righteous before God is now based on our faith in Jesus and in His works, not in ours.
For proper spiritual growth, Christians must know the difference between works based on self-effort and works of faith. For Christ to have any impact in our lives, it is imperative that we refrain from trying to earn God’s approval the way the people did under Old-Testament law. Under the law, God’s ability to bless was based on man’s behavior; under grace, this is no longer true. Being righteous before God is now based on our faith in Jesus and in His works, not in ours.