The Same Way

  

 

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (Col 2:6).

 

 

If we really followed what this verse says, it would end a lot of error in our lives. Paul says that the way we received Jesus as our Savior is the same way we should live our lives.

 

We received Jesus Christ by completely placing faith in His grace. We had no holiness to offer Him. We had not fasted or prayed or read the Word. We came just as we were. We were sinners needing His forgiveness and grace.

 

But some believers, after receiving Christ by faith believe after they are saved, that God responds to them according to what they do for Him. They believe that they receive from God in this world based on their ability to live "good" enough for Him. Instead of walking by faith in the righteousness Jesus has purchased for them—instead of walking in the assurance of their right relationship with Him, they strive to prove they are worthy enough for God to love them. 

 

We have no worthiness to prove. Only in Christ, we are worthy. Attempting to prove worthiness to God is self-righteousness. It is not walking in the righteousness Christ has given us. As we received Christ, we are to continue in the same way. If we began our lives in Christ by grace, we should live our lives in Christ by grace. This is the exact point Paul made to the Galatians when they began to fall away from the grace they had found in Christ.

 

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3).

 

We can never make ourselves perfect through what we do. We did not receive Christ through our works. Having begun by faith in Jesus, why do some believe the works they do prove how much they love Jesus? No! It is Christ’s love only that proves us worthy to God. Faith without works is not faith at all. We “do” because of what Christ has done for us. We walk by faith in His gift of righteousness. We know we do not have to prove ourselves to God. We know Jesus has proved us worthy. Spiritual understanding of our righteousness in Him empowers us. His grace fuels our walk in Him. We love because He first loved us. 

 

When you came to Christ for salvation, you weren’t saved. You put faith in what Jesus did and received it. Colossians 2:6 says we continue to receive from God in the same way. When we put faith in Jesus, we receive by faith. 

 

If we came to Christ for salvation by faith, why do we sometimes hesitate to come to Him for other things we need our lives? Perhaps, because we don’t feel worthy of His love. Perhaps, we believe if we pray enough, fast enough, give enough, and do enough God will respond to us. 

 

We can’t do things “enough.” It is impossible for us to do anything “enough” to get God to respond to us. God has already responded to all our needs in Jesus. Jesus earned the salvation we were unable to earn. He has earned the healing we were unable to earn. He has earned the deliverance and provision we were unable to earn. We cannot earn what Christ has earned for us. We receive from God when we believe that in Christ alone we are worthy. We place faith in what He has done. Not in what we do.

 

We receive by faith. We walk in Him by faith.

Why would we ever turn the grace we received by faith into things we feel like we have to do in order to receive from God?

 

As you received Jesus Christ your Lord, so walk in Him.

 

 

© 2023 Lynn Lacher

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