"Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for before Your face no one living is righteous." (Psalms, Ch. 143, v. 2*, the bold text is ours)
One of the main biblical questions is that of deeds and faith. Many of us tend to lean towards doing good deeds to prove to ourselves, to those around us, and even to God that we are worthy of the salvation we receive through Christ. Others seek out and point to verses from the Bible that state that salvation is a gift, a present that cannot be earned and therefore we should not try to achieve it through our good deeds and behavior. In this line, "we are not obliged to have any special behavior or deeds differing from others."
Do you know that you are not the only one who has struggled with thoughts of your own inadequacy and sinfulness, trying to earn forgiveness and acceptance through good deeds.
In fact, every time we forget or neglect the cross of Christ, we are prone to either lean towards doing good deeds and thus self-righteousness, or towards the unbiblical doctrine of grace, according to which nothing is required nor will be required from us in terms of actions and behavior. Where is the truth and which biblical hero also faced this dilemma?
Apostle Paul is one person who writes extensively on the topic of deeds, faith, and justification. He was a former Pharisee, taught by the highest Jewish teachers of his time – extremely devoted to Pharisaism, zealous and earnest for the observance of the Law. However, what does he say about justification through deeds: "...I can rely on human advantages. If someone else thinks of relying on them, then even more so I, who was circumcised on the eighth day, of the tribe of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, concerning the law – a Pharisee, for zeal – a persecutor of the church, blameless according to the required righteousness of the Law." (Philippians, Ch. 3, v. 4-6*, the bold text is ours) In Galatians, Ch. 2, v. 16a, the apostle continues: "However, knowing that a man is justified not by works according to the law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ, we believed in Jesus Christ, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ." (the bold text is ours)
Apostle Paul understands something that changes his entire life – even if he is perfect before people and the Law, it will not save him because Salvation is given freely by God, bought for us on the cross with the blood of Christ, the only one we can truly call Blameless. From then on, Paul's actions are not motivated by gaining something that cannot be won but by another – love and gratitude. When we surrender our lives to Christ, for us it becomes true: "whether we live, we live to the Lord; whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Because Christ died, rose, and came to life in order to reign over both the dead and the living." (Romans, Ch. 14, v. 8-9*, the bold text is ours) Our thoughts, actions, will, desires, soul, intellect, and body are no longer ours but belong to Christ and His plan to spread the message of salvation to all people.
The good deeds we do are not to be justified, but a result of our belief in God, who justifies us.
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but has no deeds? Can faith alone save him? (…) But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.' (James, Ch. 3, v. 14, 18*)
Deeds are a sign and consequence of faith, but not the cause of salvation and justification. The good deeds we do for Christ must certainly be present in our lives, but they testify to God's power and greatness, which makes us capable of them. If we think that we have the power, self-discipline, good qualities, abilities, and character to do something good, we are deceiving ourselves. Then it appears that Christ is not necessary for us, that we serve ourselves and our self-esteem, and the motives we have for doing good are actually selfish and vain. This realization can be painful, but the pain is necessary and healing.
What does Jesus wish us to think and believe concerning our righteousness, the good deeds we must do for Him, and concerning faith?
"Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself if it does not remain in the vine, neither can you if you do not remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches; whoever abides in Me and I in him will bear much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing." (John, Ch. 15, v. 4-5*, the bold text is ours)
Challenge for the week: Build a habit starting this week. During the day, when you plan to meet someone, when you are doing or saying something, ask yourself this question: "What is the real reason I am doing/saying this?" We encourage you to be painfully honest with yourself, because it's just you and the Lord, and He already knows the answer. Every time you see a problem in your motive for doing something, even if it's good, we encourage you to postpone it if possible, then take time in prayer and reading God's word. Ask the Lord to transform your motives and give you the right perspective. Do not let guilt or pride stop you from being the best God has planned for you to be for Him and for others.
*Biblical quotes are according to the text of the Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013.
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