I Never Knew You

I started talking about "doing good" yesterday and asked that we find the why behind our works. I want to dig a little more and discuss our efforts.

You see, far too often people think they can earn their way into Heaven by simply doing good. While that's nice and all, there will be many service-oriented people who meet Jesus on judgment day only to hear this:

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"

Matthew 7:22-23

That would suck. Unless we rediscover the foundation of service, our good works can become all about us, promoting our image, heightening our own vanity and pride. Service becomes a means to achieve our dreams, our purposes, our goals.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

The message of Grace is religious anarchy. We are forgiven, accepted, and loved not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus Christ has already done on the cross. Independent of our performance, we are loved. We can't earn the forgiveness we desperately need. God freely offers it through Christ.

Unless we are responding to the God who loved us first, our good works become about us, the antithesis of the Gospel.

Be Nice. Grace Wins.

FMJ