Not Working up By Effort, but Working out By Faith

The Christian life is not about working up to a standard. In fact, if we are trying to work up goodness through our own efforts, the results are disappointing and devastating:

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2: 16)

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 4)

and

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. . . and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5: 19-21)

The great irony for the believer is that in attempting to do good according to the law, he ends up bringing up the worst elements in himself, for the strength of sin is the law (1 Corinthians 15: 56)

We are not called to work up to a standard, but rather to work out the Finished Work of Christ Jesus that is in our lives:

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. " (Philippians 2: 12-13)

Instead of trying to be good, let us receive by faith the goodness which is brought forth in us by the power of the Holy Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)

"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." (Ephesians 5: 9)

These are fruits of the Spirit, which we bear forth not by effort, by by abiding in Christ:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5)

We rest in Him by faith, He works through us, and we bear the fruit of obedience in our lives. It cannot be put more succinctly, the simplicity of Christ (2 Corinthians 11: 3).