That we are saved by grace is clearly taught in the New Testament.  Having the hope of heaven is possible only because of the unmerited favor of our heavenly Father.  No one emphasized this truth more than Paul.  He knew He was what he was by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10).

While we are saved by God’s grace, we still have work to do as citizens in the kingdom of God.  We must be productive in Christ if we hope to maintain a good relationship with Him.  Our Lord’s religion is a doing religion.  I have often said, being a Christian is not for those who are lazy.  It involves doing, not just hearing and then talking about doing.  James put it like this:

James 1:22-25 (ESV)
²²  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Who is the one that is blessed?  James is clear about it.  It is the one who acts.  That is what our religion should be all about—action.  Only then will we be productive for Christ.

Jesus taught a timeless lesson to His disciples when He washed their feet (John 13:1-17).  Can you imagine the Son of God washing the feet of His disciples?  Even they were surprised by it, especially Peter.  He told Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet.”  Of course, he changed his mind when Jesus responded by saying, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

It was not the physical act of washing feet that was important…it was the lesson of humility and servitude that the disciples had to learn that was necessary.  The mission of the apostles, after Jesus would return to the Father, would necessitate a great deal of serving others, and no example could demonstrate that better than Jesus washing His disciples’ feet.  Notice, though, how Jesus ended this scene with His apostles.  He concluded by saying, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (ver. 17).

Paul also taught the importance of doing.  When trying to get the brethren at Corinth to give to the poor saints at Jerusalem, he reminded the Corinthians of the commitment that they had made nearly a year earlier (2 Corinthians 8:10).  They had gladly agreed to take part in such a wonderful endeavor that would, not only relieve saints who were in need, but also go a long way in developing a better relationship between Jewish and Gentile brethren.  After reminding them of their previous pledge, Paul says, “Now perform the doing of it.”

Declaring a commitment is one thing; doing what we commit ourselves to do is something else.  If our religion is what it should be, it will be demonstrated by our doing, and we will live productive lives in Christ.  While doing this is a part of developing a sound religion, it is also a critical part of our salvation.  Jesus said…

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.