One thing that sets Christianity apart from other beliefs is that we simply cannot gain favor, let alone access to God the Father through our own works.
The God that we serve is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There are two things we need to understand and take to heart regarding His character. He loves us, but at the same time, His Justice will prevail.
Religion demands that the focus be on what we do. As Christians, what we believe transcends us above the way of thinking brought upon by religion. What we have is more than religion – it is a relationship. In this relationship, we no longer place what we do as a priority; instead, our focus is on what God has done, is doing, and will do. It is His Will that takes precedence, and it is by faith that we guarantee that everything else follows. What has been lost will be found. What was wrong will be corrected – even our definition of what a relationship is will be corrected.
To say that the feeling of freedom we have through Jesus Christ is nothing less than exhilarating… I must say that this is something to appreciate at first. However, our expectations of good feelings must eventually evolve to our wholehearted decision to love God through Jesus Christ, through both blessings and trials. Any relationship based solely on feelings will die. That is another guarantee.
We must never be content with our relationship with God. What I mean is, we should strive with every day to know Him more. Let me warn all of you (and myself) that the day we say we know enough about God is a day of disaster. My friends, God is no respecter of persons. I believe that there are no set levels of knowledge – there is only spiritual maturity. As we grow more and more mature in spirit, we recognize the sheer importance of humility – there is only humility to feel as more and more of His greatness and grace is revealed to us, and as we give more and more our ourselves to Him.
The Word says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” If we know more and more about the Lord, yet keep it to ourselves, we fall into another pit. If there is something we know, or if there is something revealed, it must be shared in love.
Yes, the only way to go is to establish a relationship with God, and that is only done by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord. We do not work to be saved – it is because we are saved that we work. We inform because we have been informed. We bring others to conviction because we ourselves have been convicted. We tell others of grace because we have received grace. But above all else, we love because we have been, are, and always will be loved.
Praise God. The Lord’s perfect Will be done.