Focus on Jesus BRINGING GLORY TO GOD
Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16.
For the person who has given up on himself, there is then the privilege of accepting Christ's righteousness. There are two aspects to the righteousness of Christ--first, Christ's righteousness for us, and second, the righteousness of Christ in us. There are people who have given up and accepted Christ's righteousness for them who have not given up and accepted Christ's righteousness in them. It is possible to give up on one but not the other, and in that case you have the most subtle form of holding on to the old problem of salvation by works. Even though I believe the cross and the finished work of Christ is enough to save me, if I haven't given up on trying to change my life, trying to manufacture genuine obedience on my own steam, trying to force myself to victory, then I am still a victim of salvation by works on that level. Accepting of His righteousness on both fronts is a tremendous privilege that we cannot dodge or miss in the great theme of salvation by faith in Christ alone.
The object on the Christian life is the reproduction of the character of Christ in His followers. The object of the Christian life is fruit-bearing, for God's glory. (See Christ's Object Lessons, p. 67). Is the object of the Christian life to reproduce His character so that we can be saved? No. It is so there can be honor and glory brought to God. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus made it clear that the fruits of righteousness are for glorifying God. John 15:8, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." John 17:10, Christ is glorified in us. Our works, our sanctification, our obedience, our victories, are not for saving us in heaven, they are for bringing glory to God. But if a person is interested only in getting to heaven, and not interested in bringing glory to God, then we might seriously question whether salvation in heaven can be expected by that person.
In Christ's Object Lessons, page 384, we are told that sanctification is Christ in the life. What is the purpose of having Christ in the life? It is to bring honor and glory to God, as others see Christ in us. There is still bigger business than the certainty of our own salvation, and that bigger business is bringing glory to God, as we share His love with others.
Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16.
For the person who has given up on himself, there is then the privilege of accepting Christ's righteousness. There are two aspects to the righteousness of Christ--first, Christ's righteousness for us, and second, the righteousness of Christ in us. There are people who have given up and accepted Christ's righteousness for them who have not given up and accepted Christ's righteousness in them. It is possible to give up on one but not the other, and in that case you have the most subtle form of holding on to the old problem of salvation by works. Even though I believe the cross and the finished work of Christ is enough to save me, if I haven't given up on trying to change my life, trying to manufacture genuine obedience on my own steam, trying to force myself to victory, then I am still a victim of salvation by works on that level. Accepting of His righteousness on both fronts is a tremendous privilege that we cannot dodge or miss in the great theme of salvation by faith in Christ alone.
The object on the Christian life is the reproduction of the character of Christ in His followers. The object of the Christian life is fruit-bearing, for God's glory. (See Christ's Object Lessons, p. 67). Is the object of the Christian life to reproduce His character so that we can be saved? No. It is so there can be honor and glory brought to God. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus made it clear that the fruits of righteousness are for glorifying God. John 15:8, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." John 17:10, Christ is glorified in us. Our works, our sanctification, our obedience, our victories, are not for saving us in heaven, they are for bringing glory to God. But if a person is interested only in getting to heaven, and not interested in bringing glory to God, then we might seriously question whether salvation in heaven can be expected by that person.
In Christ's Object Lessons, page 384, we are told that sanctification is Christ in the life. What is the purpose of having Christ in the life? It is to bring honor and glory to God, as others see Christ in us. There is still bigger business than the certainty of our own salvation, and that bigger business is bringing glory to God, as we share His love with others.
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