With you I am well pleased...

Those are six words that every Christian hopes to hear the day they stand before God. So we strive to work hard, obey all the commandments, feed the homeless, fast and pray, do evangelism as much as possible, hand out tracts, try not to cuss and not to litter. This is what will make God pleased with us...right? 

Wrong. Fortunately that is not the Gospel.

Now before you call me a heretic, let me explain. 

Mark 1:9-11 "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." 

Let's analyze what Jesus did that made God say "I am well pleased". 

He walked over to the river and dipped in and walked out. That's it.
Jesus didn't raise the dead, he didn't change the water into wine nor did he heal anyone yet. He literally did not do a thing. Yet, God called Him a beloved son. 

Beloved means "cherished, adored, loved" and pleased means "to give enjoyment, pleasure or satisfaction to".

Well of course that's Jesus you may protest. But, through the cross you have been adopted as a son or daughter, just like Jesus, and have become a co-heir with Christ. God loves you just as much as He loves Jesus...without you having to do anything! Now that is good news! (Romans 8:29, Romans 8:15-17, Galatians 4:4-7).  
 
Paul uses the same language in many of his letters to the believers of the 1st century, Ephesians 5:1 for example. 

Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

Good works follow knowing you are loved, adored and cherished by God. It is rooted in identity. 

Now I am not belittling good works, one should do them. But, good works should be a byproduct of salvation, intimacy with the Father and not something one does to gain brownie points with God. 

You will never do enough, be good enough or not sin enough to be right with God. He is proud of you because He is your Dad through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. That is all. You did absolutely nothing. It is Jesus and only Jesus. Nothing more and nothing else, anything different is not the Gospel, it is self-righteousness which is deception. 

To close I leave you with these few verses: 

Galatians 5:1, For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (He is referring to legalism). 

Romans 4:3, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness...5:1 since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. 

God is pleased with you, He loves you, Jesus lives as you through you. Be at peace and live life out of the place of knowing who are you. You stand perfect before God forever because of Jesus.

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