Isn’t it great to know that God’s love for us is not dependent on what we do? There is no way we can earn God’s love. He loves us with a total love. I have found that many people think that God accepts them by the ‘good works’ they do. It is if they believe that the more ‘good’ they do, the more God will accept them. Equally there are those who believe they have been too bad for God to love or accept them

 

There are also those who believe that ‘good works’ is the way to heaven. “I’ve lived a good life”; “I haven’t hurt anyone.” they say

 

Some people, when they do something wrong, or feel they have let God down, try to make up for it by trying to do better. If we believe this, there is always the question in our minds, “How ‘good’ do I have to be; how much do I have to do to make up for my wrongs?” “If I get into heaven by ‘good works’, how do I know if I have done enough?”  

 

 We don’t come to know, or have a relationship with God based on rules and regulations - you know, “Do this, do that, don’t do this, don’t do that”

 

The Bible makes it clear that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard ( Rom 3:23 ). If that is the case, there is no point in trying to make it through good works, because we have already failed!   So, if we have already failed, and my ‘good works’ are not good enough, how do I have a relationship with God? 

 

Jesus said “God so loved the world ( that is the whole world, everyone in it, good or bad ) that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16)   

 

Note it says ‘believing in’ not ‘believing about’. When the Bible uses the words ‘believing in’ it means to trust in, to commit to, to put faith in. Therefore we come to know God by putting our faith in Jesus and what he has done for us on the cross, not by our works

 

The Bible makes this clear: ..you have been saved through faith – not by works, so that no-one can boast. (Eph 2v8 )

 

It was on the cross that Jesus took our sins and the punishment we deserve for our sins. When we put our faith in Jesus He forgives our sins, past, present and future. We are declared ‘not guilty’. Isn’t that amazing? I am loved, accepted, forgiven, even when I get it wrong – which I do often! 

 

To know these truths is so releasing. To know I don’t have to perform, or somehow have to make up some shortfall in my life to gain God’s approval, is real freedom. All I have to do is to accept God’s love and forgiveness, and to simply enjoy being His child

 

It is because of these truths that I love God and want to serve Him