Jesus Calls us To Live Good Lives
As we've spent time in John 5 this week, we've learnt much about the authority of Christ. Yesterday we heard the great news again, that it's not by our good deeds or by our lack of them that God will grant us life, but it's by our faith in Christ. But then Jesus goes on to say this in verse 28 and 29: “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out. Those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
Faith Revealed by Works
Now again, at first glance, and just by itself, this seems to support the notion that if I'm good enough, one day I will live on, but if I'm not good enough, one day I will be condemned by God. But again, remember what we learnt yesterday, that it's our faith in Christ that qualifies us to be acquitted instead of condemned - it's not our deeds.
However, our good works are there to prove that we have turned away from the world and thrown ourselves onto Jesus. Our good works won't save us, but they will prove that we truly did give ourselves to him.
There's a saying that says good works are not the root, but the fruit. They're not the root of our salvation. We can't claim that by being good enough, God has granted us new life. But they are the fruit! Since he has granted us new life by grace, our lives are transformed and we start to do what is good.
And so, yes, those who have their faith in Christ will live lives of goodness. But those who have not placed their faith in Christ and have not lived for his glory have in the end done what is evil and will rise to be condemned, as Jesus said.
This is a sobering thought, isn't it? Are our lives matching the salvation that we claim as Christians? And you know, Jesus was quite clear that his call is not an easy one. In fact, in Luke 14, Jesus spoke about counting the cost before you start something. And he said if you want to build a tower, you'll sit down and think about the cost before you start.
Then he says if a king is going to go to war, he'll sit down and consider if he's able to do it, if he's able to send it out. And then he said this: “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” He was saying count the cost. The life of a Christian is not just free acceptance of a gift and then going on as before, but it's a new commitment to Jesus, to his mission, and to the life of love and holiness to which he calls us.
Commit to Christ
Friends, let's not make the mistake of accepting Jesus’ free grace and then living in sin. Let's rather consider the cost. Realise that Jesus calls us to a life of great commitment to him. And then, having accepted the great free gift of grace that he offers us, let us go and do the good works that he's called us to do, not to try to own our way, but in order to honour him and bring his message into this world.
Jesus is always at work. He is one with the Father. He is the judge of the world, but he offers mercy for believers, and then he calls us to live in a way that honours him.
May you and I do that today and every day.
