Did you know that a person who does the right things, may not always do them for the right reasons? Let's take three people, who all do the right things, but are doing them for three distinct reasons:
Person A) does what is right because he fears that at the slightest mistake, God will be angry with him. He does what is right, but out of fear that God is a strict taskmaster, tapping His foot, waiting for a slip up.
Person B) does what is right, because he feels that he's earning his good status with God. He is not relying on the mercy and goodness of God, but rather his own acts of righteousness. This is legalism.
Person C) does what is right because they have came to know God in a genuine relationship with Him. He knows that God truly loves and cares for him, and is merciful towards him in spite of his failures. Therefore he WANTS to do what is right, because he has been conformed to the image and likeness of Christ. He hates the things God hates, and loves the things God loves.
Person C is the only one who's life (and heart) has been transformed by the love and power of Christ. The other two have not been transformed on the inside (their heart), and if you take away the fear and brownie points, where would their heart be? Would it be Christ-like?
Which person are you? I believe that God wants to take us to a place where we WANT to do what's right. That only comes from a genuine relationship with Him! We have to KNOW of His goodness, before we can truly repent in our hearts for our failures. God's Word tells us that it is His goodness (mercy, lovingkindness, forgiveness, love, etc.) that leads a person to true repentance:
Romans 2:4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
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