You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell
We chase after many do’s and don’ts hoping to find something we can hang our assurance on. This is known as a “performance” based salvation and is not what God seeks. Scripture calls those who teach this practice different names; whitewashed, hypocrisy, blind. We are not much different though are we. We keep a ledger in our mind of the good and bad we do trying to be right in God’s eyes. We will never be right in God’s eyes trying to perform good enough. Paul said salvation is by the grace of God and not by works lest any man might boast. We must be careful to keep our feet firmly planted on God’s grace and forevermore be thankful. We will never find that peace of God’s that passes all understanding performing for it. We only truly find a place of purpose, peace, rest, joy, stronghold, hope, love, mercy, kindness, faith….. when we listen and obey. Listening and obeying is not performing – it is choosing to humbly following and be a servant to the Heavenly Father in whom you have placed your heart and soul because of what has been done through Jesus Christ – salvation and eternal life.
Matthew 23:24
These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel
For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self
For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness
1 Samuel 15:22
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God
