I believe that many, many people who call themselves Christians, they are a bit confused about what Christianity is all about. They think that just because they go to church, they’re Christians. Well, try standing in a parking lot and see if you turn into a car. The thing is that Jesus was very clear about what you should be if you call yourself a follower of Him. But that’s not the only thing. One of the things that always literally shocked me when I read in Scripture is not just the fact that you say that you know Him or you love Him, but the very fact that He wants to find you eagerly waiting for Him.
The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27-28, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” And look at this now. Let’s read together. “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Do you understand what we just said? There’s a group of people for which Jesus will come back but it won’t be when He descends on the Mount of Olives. Instead, He will appear in the clouds.
It’s a different story. To them and them only, He will appear a second time. What for? To save them from their sins? No, He already came to save us from our sins. It’s for the salvation found in Romans 8, the salvation of the body. Look at you. Look at yourself right now. Pathetic. Most of us here reach the point where we stop admiring what we see when we look at the mirror, and it’s a free fall. If you put a photo of you from twenty years ago, you can tell you’re dying. This is a tent. It’s not a building. This is a sinful body that cannot and will not enter the kingdom of God. In order for us to change, He needs to come and appear in the clouds. And for that, He’s going to come, and it is for those who eagerly wait for him.
While there are many debated topics within the church today in regards to the proper interpretation of one issue or another, there is one that is seldom addressed despite there being two very staunch groups and beliefs. The issue is the difference between evidence and efforts. We might also put it like this, it is the difference between works of righteousness by us and the righteousness of Christ at work through us. Not understanding the difference is dangerous:
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
These false teachers were confused about the difference between evidence and efforts. They thought their efforts done in Christ’s name should grant them access to the kingdom of heaven. Yet Jesus said to them that the evidence of saving faith was not present in them, in spite of their works, and their separation from Him was revealed by their practice of lawlessness.
This is where we need to gain understanding in this age of ear tickling and heretical teachings in the church. Many today say that seeking to live a righteous life is “efforts” when the truth is it is “evidence”. Evidence of what?
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
When Christ is at work in you, He is going to be doing good works through you. This is not works righteousness, this is the righteousness of Christ at work. It is evidence that a good work has begun in you.
2 Peter 3:11-12
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
The word “hastening” doesn’t mean to make it happen sooner. It means to “desire earnestly” the day of God, which concludes with the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. Until then, as we desire earnestly for that time to come, we should live in holy conduct and godliness. That means those things are not efforts, they are evidence. They’re not works righteousness, they are righteousness at work.
Don’t confuse evidence and efforts. Getting up and going to church, serving at church and even doing things in the Lord’s name can be efforts or they can be evidence. The difference between them is the holy conduct and godliness which goes along with those things. God is not looking for efforts from us but evidence through us. This truth is summarized by one who understood the difference between them, the Apostle Paul.
Galatians 2:20-21
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
The evidence of Paul’s crucifixion with Christ was expressed by the life he lived in the flesh and by Christ living through him. It wasn’t effort, it was the evidence of a transformed life by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through him.
Make sure the evidence is present in your life and not just effort. For those in whom Christ is evident are eagerly awaiting His return by living in holiness and godly conduct.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus