I was born in a family that always honored hard work. I was always taught that I needed to work hard to get the things and the success I wanted in any area of my life. It helped me to grow as a responsible person but sometimes this thought confused me to understand the Word of God about a specific topic: salvation by faith!
If someone told me that I could live eternity with God, receive peace on Earth no matter what happens in my life, full provision of all my needs and a healthy body, I would think that it would cost me more than I could pay. That is true, it would cost me more than I could pay if Jesus didn’t pay it for me. My mind delayed in understanding that my part in that reality was just to accept this huge love that came with all those gifts.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10
There was nothing that you and I could do to be saved. Our part on this is to accept the sacrifice of Jesus for us that conquered all these rights for those who receive Him as the Lord and Savior of their lives. Never try to buy the love of God with your good works. He loved you before you were born. There is nothing that you can do to Him that could make Him love you more.
On the other hand, if someone loves us with unconditional love, we want to honor this person with all our strength. Here is the reason why Christians start to live their lives in a way to please God after being saved! Let’s check one way the Bible says about how God likes to be pleased:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
He is so good that the way He likes to be pleased is through our faith and belief that He rewards those who seek Him! And how can we show our faith? James wrote about it in the Bible.
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17
James teaches us that our faith is shown through the decisions and deeds of our lives! Does it sound strange for you, since I have just said that we are saved by faith and not by the good acts that we do? I can explain! These verses don’t say that we are saved by deeds, but that the deeds show that we are saved. For example: I don’t help someone to show God that I am good, and I need to be saved by my good action, but I help someone because I know that I received this huge love without any cost and I want to share it with someone.
Can you see the difference?
We were “created in Christ to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10), never the opposite. Trust the love of God for your life. He wants to show you His love. When we accept His love by faith we please God! This is a good way to please God today!