I Doubt That - Q1
Question: I know we don't need the law to be saved as we are saved by Jesus, but should we still try? Does it bring joy to God for us to still try to follow his law?
This is a great question. If we are saved by grace, then why would we need to obey God? Does it matter or is it worth the work? As followers of Jesus, we live in the tension between grace and obedience. We are not saved by the Law. No act of righteousness, no checklist of rules, no spotless record can bring us into right standing with God. Salvation is a gift that we do not deserve and could not earn on our own as shown in Ephesians 2:1-10.
Made Alive in Christ
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We are saved through grace, by the love of Jesus Christ poured out to us on the cross. Yet, grace doesn’t excuse us from holy living, it empowers it. Grace changes our why. We don’t follow God’s commands out of fear or duty, but from love. Jesus didn’t say, “Keep my commandments so I’ll love you.” He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”(John 14:15). When we keep God’s commandments, we express our love to God and we grow closer to God.
The Law itself, while unable to save, is still good, because it reflects God’s heart. His commands are rooted in love, justice, mercy, and holiness. When we walk in obedience, we mirror our Father. Like children imitating a parent they adore, we begin to speak, act, and love like Him. We continue to develop our understanding of God, our closeness to God, and live out our faith by obeying God’s word.
Read: Romans 3:21-31
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
As followers of Christ, we ‘uphold’ the law because we love Jesus. We show our love back to the Father by following and abiding in the things that make him glad. We grow closer to God and understand His ways better by obeying His commandments. We can’t earn our salvation as that is completed through Jesus. Instead, we respond to Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection by living in a way that honors God.
Ask Yourself:
Obedience is not legalism when it flows from a heart of love. It’s not about perfection, instead, it’s about direction. Every step we take in obedience, no matter how small, delights the heart of our Father.
Made Alive in Christ
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We are saved through grace, by the love of Jesus Christ poured out to us on the cross. Yet, grace doesn’t excuse us from holy living, it empowers it. Grace changes our why. We don’t follow God’s commands out of fear or duty, but from love. Jesus didn’t say, “Keep my commandments so I’ll love you.” He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”(John 14:15). When we keep God’s commandments, we express our love to God and we grow closer to God.
The Law itself, while unable to save, is still good, because it reflects God’s heart. His commands are rooted in love, justice, mercy, and holiness. When we walk in obedience, we mirror our Father. Like children imitating a parent they adore, we begin to speak, act, and love like Him. We continue to develop our understanding of God, our closeness to God, and live out our faith by obeying God’s word.
Read: Romans 3:21-31
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
As followers of Christ, we ‘uphold’ the law because we love Jesus. We show our love back to the Father by following and abiding in the things that make him glad. We grow closer to God and understand His ways better by obeying His commandments. We can’t earn our salvation as that is completed through Jesus. Instead, we respond to Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection by living in a way that honors God.
Ask Yourself:
- Am I trying to obey God to earn His love, or because I already know I’m loved?
- Where in my life has grace transformed my motivations?
- Is my obedience a joyful response or a burdensome task?
Obedience is not legalism when it flows from a heart of love. It’s not about perfection, instead, it’s about direction. Every step we take in obedience, no matter how small, delights the heart of our Father.
Posted in I Doubt That