Lie #1: Your standing with God is based on your behavior.

by Russ Masterson

The word gospel means “good news,” not “good advice.” Yet, we usually only hear good news about forgiveness, and then the good advice takes over from there – how you should live and what you should do and how often. But that’s not the gospel.

And what is news? Something that’s already been done. NBC’s Brian Williams doesn’t give me advice every night – he tells me what has already happened. Jesus didn’t just die to forgive our sin; He also died to impart to us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). And with that truth the 801 pound gorilla on your back can crawl back into the forest.

I think this second half of the gospel gets lost as the list of religious to do’s begin to overload us. Many of us know we are forgiven by the grace of Jesus but our standing with God on a day-to-day basis has nothing to do with grace and everything to do with behavior and merit.

Let the gospel fully rescue you today, from the penalty of your sin and the urge to attempt to earn or maintain your position with God.

Jon Bloom has a great blog on this over at
Desiring God.

As well, Tim Keller wrote on this in his terrific book The Prodigal God.

Tags: gospel, grace, lies, moralism

2 Comments to Lie #1: Your standing with God is based on your behavior.

1. [...] Take a read of my previous post on the gospel rescuring us from our effort. [...]
Worst Church Name Ever | Lies I Overheard in Church and Other Musings on January 5th, 2010
2. 

   I enjoyed all I’ve had time to read so far. I used some of : Your standing with God is based on your behavior – last night for bible study!! Keep up the Grace filled perspective you’ve been blessed with, it’s refreshing I enjoyed lunch the other day as well.

   Peace, J
Jeff Wood on January 15th, 2010

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