How to walk with Christ and do good works that pleases God

How to walk with Christ and do good works that pleases God

STATEMENT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA:

What I believe is meant by, walk with Christ, is literally in that all one has to do to become one with Christ or God, is doing good things. If we become like the image of God, ie the perfect example to follow, then we are by proxy becoming God. The more we do that is God-like, the closer we move upward. Even Christ said we could do even greater things than he did

MY REPLY:

‘Good works’ are good, but it counts for nothing if it is your own works. Paul says in Gal.2:20-21,

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

“I live, yet not I, but Christ.” How does that happen? Only one way: By the word of God that dwells in you richly, Col.3:16, which renews your mind and influences your thoughts and ways. You cannot become transformed into the image of Christ without the knowledge of our doctrine getting embedded in your mind and its subsequent application. As the doctrine steadily increases and starts to transform you, it is then that Christ lives in you, producing the fruits of righteousness, Rom.7:4

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Unlike in the Kingdom dispensation, in this dispensation of grace, righteousness does not come by the law. Good works do not come by trying to do good and abiding by the law. God has suspended that operation, Rom.7:6, 9-14; Rom.8:3. The law is not for the righteous, but for the unrighteous, 1Tim.1:9. As believers today, if the word of God is working within us, producing the fruits of righteousness, then the righteousness of the law is increasingly being fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit (which is the word of God in us), Rom.8:4.

Notice again what Paul says in Phil.1:9-11, that proves that it's the knowledge of the word of God in you that brings the fruits of righteousness.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

It is God who works in you to will and do according to His good pleasure, Phil.2:13. Good works are produced without your effort as you give over to obedience to the operation of the word of God working within you. As you choose to give over to those workings that stir in your soul, obeying the influences of the word within you, it is then that the fruits of righteousness, approved by our Father, is created. Conversely, the good works that originate in your heart (which is deceitful and desperately wicked, Jer.17:9) are but filthy rags before God, Isa.64:6.

Our initial salvation comes by the gospel and justifies us through faith in the cross work of Christ. However, sanctification is the next step in our salvation journey and that is to grow up in Christ and become profitable to God.

(1) Those believers who renew their minds with the grace doctrine (Romans to Philemon) that God provided, transform into sons of God who live by the knowledge of the word of God working within them, who can judge good from evil, who produce righteousness after the true seed planted inside them.

Heb.5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

(2) Those believers who do not get into the word of God, to renew their mind and study the grace doctrine, remain babes in Christ, 1Cor.3:1-2, being tossed to and fro by the winds of ‘other’ doctrines, Eph.4:14, and philosophies, and remain ignorant of the ways of God, Eph.4:18, never becoming profitable to Him. They are saved to eternal life, but they are functionally dead to God’s ways, judgements and righteousness.

So, to conclude, the word of God, our grace doctrine, is our only means to learn of God and of His will and ways for this dispensation. It is also our only source of knowledge and strength that we may know and do the will of God and please Him as we grow more Christ-like through its instruction. 

If we are to walk with Christ and do good works that please God, we are to start and end with the word of God, getting it into our minds, so that it can transform us into vessels that are profitable and fit for the Master’s use,

2Tim.2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these (profane and vain babblings, v16 and errors concerning the truth, v18), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

God bless.