As a follow-up to my discussion on good works defining Christianity, today I want to probe a bit more on how humans do good things, to what extent that qualifies a Godly person, and what exactly God wants from us.
I have a friend who believes in universal salvation. She frequently remarks the common maxim, “Everyone is just doing their best!”
This implies nobody is deserving of hell. Humans are good!
Well, yes and no. It’s complicated.
Jesus said that we are evil, but that we are capable of giving good gifts (Matthew 7:11).
David himself said that he was conceived and birthed in sin (Psalm 51:5) but he also says that from his mother’s womb, “You have been my God.” (Psalm 22:10)
There is a tension here — the “natural man,” as it’s called in Mormonism, is “an enemy to God” (Mosiah 3:18) and yet, many of us also want to have a good life with loving relationships, doing good things!
Both are true.
In Reformed Theology, there is a concept to describe this, called common grace. Although we are all born into a state of sin, God’s grace is over us. Godliness appears in the hearts of sinners! Enlightenment comes to the minds of many unreligious people.
But common grace (the desire to do good) is different from saving grace (when we surrender our lives to God, receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ).
In other words, the fact that we have some good intentions and experience Godly things like love doesn’t mean that we don’t still need salvation from our sins.
Because Jesus doesn’t just want good intentions. His standard is perfection (Matt 5:48).
And while grace is free for anyone who believes in Jesus as Lord, He also has very high demands of us once we are His.
Yes, God requires so much more than good works! He requires everything! We need to give our whole life to God.
If everyone is doing their best, but failing, then does that define a Godly life?
Giving our lives to Jesus isn’t just being a nice person, or receiving approval from others horizontally. We need to surrender vertically — and as good as many atheists are, they haven’t given their lives to God.
Let Him be the driving force of your life. Make all your decisions based on His will, His word.
Do you see how that’s more than just being a good person?
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)
But this is a process that will occur over time for his believers, as He sanctifies them. All we can do today is surrender.
“With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything” (Goodness of God)
Again, admit we are helpless sinners and cannot save ourselves. No amount of outward deeds (be it good works or religious performances) will save us.
Like the rich young ruler who had done everything right, he still didn’t have the Kingdom. Because they were only external actions, and he still needed to give his entire heart, his whole life to God. He was shown his blind spot and refused. He needed a clean heart.
My awesome friend Kaitlyn said, “And just being humble enough to be like ‘God I don’t know the answers, and you do. Please create in me a clean heart. Show me what it is that are my blind spots so that I can be closer to You.’”
This is the process of sanctification for Christ’s church — as He works in us, and we cooperate.
Here is a beautiful song about what surrender looks like, what consecration means. This is a Godly life:
All I Possess 