The New Thank You – Instead of having the will power not to sin, not sinning is a thank you to God
As a baby Christian I’m still learning some of the differences between what The Bible teaches and religion. I realize that some simple ideas are not so simple to adjust to my perspective.
Growing up I thought that I needed to be good and avoid sinning in order to get “God Points.” (I can hear some of my Christian friends laughing already.) Resisting a temptation would earn me more points. When I saw other people sinning, I mistakenly concluded that they were losing points, and that made me feel better about myself.
I’m beginning to realize now how wrong I was; how that thinking does not go along with The Bible. I was attempting to be good to get points, not realizing that, in God’s eyes, I didn’t need points. He has already saved me.
What I needed to do was change my perspective, to be good and do what’s right as a thank you to God for dying for my sins. I realized that my behavior should show my appreciation for what He did rather than my trying to get enough points to get into heaven.
How about you? Do you already get and understand this? Any insights for helping people like me who grew up with a different perspective?
Please add your comments.
Thank you, God for Grace, Truth, Love, and Laughter,
Darren
(Reminder, this is just a journal of my mistakes, experiences, and thoughts along with my journey to having a closer relationship to God. I do not claim to be an authority on the subject. If you want to know The Way, read The Bible.)
What church do I attend? Verve Church in Las Vegas
http://vivalaverve.org
P.S. Thank you, especially, for grace.
Want to see more God Blog posts?:
https://darrenlacroix.com/category/godblog/
Oh my gosh, yes! Growing up in a strict religious home, I always saw God as this heavenly judge who was diligently watching to see if my good outweighed my bad. My life was a constant struggle to do more good than bad, because I really believed that if I checked my behavior, I’d win God’s favor. And truthfully, I thought was doing well…it seemed the scale was always tipping in the right direction. Then some bad choices I made couldn’t be made “good” and I found myself ashamed of my own sin. That’s when I met Jesus, the loving and forgiving God, and I learned that HIS sacrifice covered all my sin, and I was released from the bondage of trying to weigh my good against my bad. I still screw up but I’m forgiven and free. Whoo hooo!!!
No additional comments. I think you got it.
I grew up going to a private school and in a religion that was steeped in tradition and generations of doing works, such as going to church every Sunday, confession, confirmation, infant baptism and taught that if you did these things you would go to Heaven.
My life was an attempt to please my parents, relatives, and friends and not trying to please God and Jesus.
Then I was asked the question in High School if you died tonight would you go to Heaven? I honestly could not answer that question. I was then presented how to get to Heaven from a biblical perspective and gave my life to Christ.
I still remember the peace that came over me from that decision. I do get the part about being a new believer in Christ.
Thank you for sharing from your heart.