🌾 A disciple of Jesus Christ, after baptism, is to live to the Spirit in order to please God. How is this done?
Before you became a disciple of Jesus Christ, you were by nature living to the flesh. That means that you were thinking your own thoughts and saying your own words. You were directing your own steps and living the way you thought was best.
Now you have agreed to live your life to please God, like our example Jesus Christ did. Living to the Spirit is living to please the Father, who gives His Spirit to those who obey Him. What does the Father want us to do in order to live to the Spirit? He wants us to glorify Him by doing good works. Many people believe we live this way naturally after accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Scripture shows clearly that this is a false conception. Look at the world. It is a mess!
Many people who claim to be Christians are practicing a faith without good works. As a result, they remain spiritually dead in their faith. They are becoming religious, but not holy; and without holiness, no one will see the Lord. We cannot possibly be holy without obeying and practicing the words of Jesus Christ each day. This takes godly discipline, but just remember, it is easy and pleasant. It is wonderful. Try it! You will love it and the Lord will love you too.
And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.
Acts 5:32
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
James 2:14-26
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Luke 6:46
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:30
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