Following The Rules
Alright, so - there isn’t anything you can do to earn God’s favor. No action you take can save you or damn you. Your salvation is based solely on whether or not you believe, not whether or not you dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s.
So why does the Old Testament have whole books describing what you should and shouldn’t do? Why does Jesus spend so much time telling stories of the righteous?
I’ve come to understand that though every man knows of God and the law, God also uses the Law and the example he set during his time on earth to show us what a godly life looks like.
That example isn’t there to make us feel guilty for falling short (we’re already perfect in God’s eyes - there is no need for any guilt). Rather, it’s there to show us if we’re growing closer to being the person we would have been.
When we’re saved and the Holy Spirit becomes a part of us, we come to the point where we want to do God’s will. Actions follow salvation, not the other way around. So, “If you teach people who they are, you don’t have to tell them what to do.” Once you truly understand the grace of God, that he loves you no matter what, you will want to do what is right.
Forgive the fact that this post is brief and in no way exhaustive; I've been writing for hours and am kind of slacking off on this last one!
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