Human beings, and even Christians sometimes get to a point in their thinking and faith that –
“God is put in the position of a debtor and is in duty-bound to reward a good work with the gift of eternal life. This is a wicked teaching………… If I could perform any work acceptable to God and deserving of grace, and once having obtained grace my good works would continue to turn for me the right and reward of eternal life, why should I stand in need of the grace of God and the suffering and death of Christ? Christ would be of no benefit to me. Christ mercy would be no use to me.” So says Luther and his commentary on Galatians.
How often do we go to the length of believing we would be doing God a favor if we return to him. So God becomes dependent on the grace of man.
So often Pastor I think it is the “stinkin thinkin” of pride!! That vice affects us all. I think you alluded to this earlier how WE are so proud of our efforts! How could God get along without our meager attempts at being a savior?
We never feel the sweetness of grace more than when the law has exposed us for who we really are and how our works righteousness is like filthy rags!!Why can’t we just do these good works out of pure love for Jesus and what He has done to save our sorry souls instead of doing them to edify our own sorry selves?
We need to despirately cling to that cross as if our very lives depended on it. They do you know!!
Thank you Pastor!
Betty M