"The Christian life is not 'the copying of Christ' by us; It is His likeness reproduced in us, by the Spirit."
George Goodman
I recently read the above statement & thought about how our Christianity can often be simply walking the walk & talking the talk, praying the right things in public, attending a satisfactory number of meetings or not saying & doing certain things. We know what a good Christian is supposed to look like, so that's how we act.
Yet the Bible tells us that it is not by our acts that we are redeemed, but by Jesus. Furthermore we are told that as Christians we do not work from our own strength, rather our lives are changed by Christ and our 'righteousness' is as a result of Him in our lives. we do good works because we are saved & because Christ motivates us from the heart level.
Here's some passages to consider:
Galatians 3:2-3
"Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or bu the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"
Philippians 2:13
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
Philippians 1:6
"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Yet the Bible tells us that it is not by our acts that we are redeemed, but by Jesus. Furthermore we are told that as Christians we do not work from our own strength, rather our lives are changed by Christ and our 'righteousness' is as a result of Him in our lives. we do good works because we are saved & because Christ motivates us from the heart level.
Here's some passages to consider:
Galatians 3:2-3
"Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or bu the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"
Philippians 2:13
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
Philippians 1:6
"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
