There are certain questions that come up often in the life of a Christian. One of which is, "Why must we live a holy life? If we are saved, and salvation is a free gift, then why are works a part of it at all?" This is an unlearned question; unfortunately it is a question too often asked.
Where the mistake comes in is thinking that after the free gift of salvation comes through us that we are the same man or woman that we were. We are not! Our thoughts have changed, our wants have changed, our inner-most desire is no longer to ourself, but unto God who hath purchased us with His own blood. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (II Cor. 5:17). As you see, our whole life changes, not just our eternal one, but also the carnal. David said it this way: "he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Ps. 37:4) God gives us new desires, new hopes, and new dreams. Sin doesn't all of a sudden become not sin, our sins are forgotten, but as it was from the beginning "if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." (Gen. 4:7).
We are not saved "by" works, however, we are saved "unto" good works: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) God before ordained that we should walk in good works; not that we are saved by them, rather, they are an evidence of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20) Not by their signs, not by their wonders, and not even by their tongues, but by their fruits. "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:21-23)
Holiness is not a request of God, instead it is a command: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (I Pet. 1:15,16) We are given a liberty when we are saved, taken from the law of sin and death, but we are placed in the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25, 2:12). It is written "he led captivity captive" (Eph. 4:8). We are no longer the servants to Satan, but unto God do we owe our lives. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." (II Cor. 5:14)
Therefore, this is the sum of the matter: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness . . . not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God . . . For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (Rom. 6:16, I Pet. 2:16, Gal. 5:13) |
