1. Looking Like a Christian While Working for Self
Many Christians love to sound and look like Christians. There are two sides to this, however, and the side that appears most Christian is often not truly so — or is only so in appearance. Why do so many Christians desperately want to be seen as Christians rather than be Christians? This is precisely what the righteousness by faith message addresses.
Does doing everything that sounds and looks Christian make us Christian? No. Performing religious duties and seemingly doing everything Jesus commands does not make us Christian. Righteousness by faith tells us that Christianity is not what we do — it is what we are. As long as we are caught up in appearances, we are just as lost as the Pharisees.
2. Looking Like a Christian for People’s Applause
It seems so hard for people to understand that nothing we can do earns us heaven. Furthermore, none of our works are truly done by ourselves. Our works come automatically once we spend time in daily connection with Jesus. This is righteousness by faith.
Once someone continues to believe that what they do makes them a Christian, they remain lost.
Connection with Jesus has nothing to do with what we do. Connection with Jesus has everything to do with who we are. The works are done by faith — by Jesus, through us. The works of God in us are never done so that we might be saved, approved, or have our conscience appeased. Righteousness by faith begins here.
Why do so many Christians still believe their Christianity is based entirely on what they do? Because they have believed the lie that there is something inherently good in them.
3. Looking Like a Christian for Self-Gratification
Once a Christian truly believes and understands that there is nothing good in him apart from Christ, he will stop performing and striving to appear righteous before others or to satisfy his own conscience. Christianity has nothing to do with what you do — what you do is the natural outworking of who you are. This is righteousness by faith.
When a Christian measures how well he is doing by his own performance, he is still lost. Paul said in Galatians 5:4:
“You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by the law. You have fallen from grace.”
The Bible makes clear this is a serious matter:
- Such a Christian does not truly have Jesus.
- This Christian is separated from Jesus — which means they cannot have eternal life.
- This Christian has fallen from grace — the very thing that saves us from our fallen condition.
4. Looking Like a Christian for Peace of Mind
It is a very sad condition when a Christian measures their spiritual life by what they do. They have not understood that who they are and what they do are two entirely different things. Someone can always do the right thing outwardly while being deeply evil inside. Someone can perform good deeds their entire life yet remain selfish, proud, and uncaring at the core.
Righteousness by faith tells us that true conversion comes from God through faith. Righteousness by faith transforms the heart so that the power of God works within a person without them straining to produce it. They do not need to worry about their works — those works become automatic.
The Christian who bases everything on personal performance still believes there is something good in himself. He is lost and does not understand the fallen nature of humanity. He will become rigid, believing that Christianity depends on how strictly one adheres to outward details and performance.
He thus appeases his own mind, and on a good day — when his obedience to rules and outward performance seems strong — he deludes himself into thinking he has done well. In reality, God has not approved any of his so-called good works. All his works are filthy rags, done in a self-justifying spirit (Isaiah 64:6).
5. Looking Like a Christian Out of Pride
Performance-based Christianity is a proud and selfish Christianity. It wants the self to feel good about its own soul. Such a person’s worth as a Christian does not rest on what Jesus did — it rests entirely on what they do and how well they perform. Deep inside, they can be very selfish, proud, uncaring, unloving, and apathetic — resembling Satan far more than Jesus.
Their understanding of what makes a Christian has nothing to do with resembling Christ. It has everything to do with following rules. Satan follows rules. In fact, Satan’s army is highly organized and orderly. Does that make Satan and his army good and holy? No.
Now is the time, brothers and sisters, to repent of this self-justifying spirit that stands in direct opposition to the righteousness by faith message. Those who cannot understand that Jesus died for them — and who continue to believe that their own efforts contribute to their salvation — will ultimately be lost. They will not receive the seal of God. They remain separated from Christ, even while sitting in the church.
Pray this with me:
“Father God, help me to understand righteousness by faith. Help me understand that I am lost and separated from You as a legalist. Help me understand that there is nothing good in me. Give me daily Your robe of righteousness, in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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