As I interact with others in the community, I encounter a large number of people who have a checklist spirituality. In other words, they are striving to be better people and exemplify goodness, at least to some degree, but they are seeking to do this through human effort alone. Often times, Christianity is seen as a list of activities that, if we are honest, are really geared to present a religious image rather than lead to lasting life change. Form (such as getting to church on Sundays) often takes precedence over substance (desiring to really know Christ and develop a dynamic relationship with him).
During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke out against an externally based religion that valued works righteousness and self-justification. In contrast to religion, the life of Jesus penetrates and transforms the heart, renews the mind, and manifests in Spirit-empowered living that results in fruitfulness. The Pharisees turned God's inside-out transformation process into an outside-in approach that was rendered powerless due to the fact of placing trust in human effort instead of in God's grace.
The Apostle Paul clearly describes the difference between trusting ourselves vs. trusting God for salvation and life change when he wrote these words to Titus:
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7)
One of the reasons the Pharisees focused on the externals was because they had forgotten one of the key functions of the law: to point out sin and drive people to the recognition that they cannot fulfill God's perfect standard in their own strength and will. Once again, the Apostle Paul is helpful on this point:
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Romans 3:20)
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law... (Romans 7:7)
Thus, one of the key purposes of the law is to point out our sinfulness and lead us to the cross of Christ where we can find grace, justification, forgiveness, and righteousness--all through the person and work of the Savior. Instead of seeing the law as a standard to strive for apart from Christ, we are to see Christ as the one who fulfills the law and the prophets (see Matthew 5:17).
Christ as fulfiller of the law leads us to the message of the gospel (Good News) because, in the words of Paul, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. The righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" (Romans 3:21-22). The gospel message proclaims that the righteousness of God is given through faith in Christ--not through human effort. The divine righteousness--and, consequently, fulfillment of God's perfect standard-- comes as a result of being united to Christ the law fulfiller. This union is the result of faith, not works. The life of obedience (works) flow from the union with Christ; the works don't come first, faith does.
The reason the gospel is good news is because Christ is righteous and he clothes us in his righteousness, a truth that is strikingly painted by Jesus when he describes a loving father clothing his prodigal son in the best robe anyone could find (see Luke 16:22). This picture reminds me of an older song by Wes King called The Robe. Here are the lyrics:
Anyone whose heart is cold and lonely
Anyone who can't believe
Anyone whose hands are worn and empty
Come as you are
Anyone whose feet are tired of walking
And even lost their will to run
There is a place of rest for your aching soul
Come as you are
Chorus:
For the robe is of God
That will clothe your nakedness
And the robe is His grace
It's all you need
Come as you are
Anyone who feels that they're unworthy
Anyone whose just afraid
Come sinner, come and receive His mercy
Come as you are
Will you let Christ clothe you in his grace and righteousness?
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