This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. – 1 John 5:3
What is the goal of living a Christian life? Without a solid answer to this question, followers of Christ may find themselves frustrated, merely striving to be good. But is it possible to actually keep the law of God?
The reality is that the glorious goal of the Christian life is transformation, allowing God’s Spirit to create a beautiful likeness of Jesus Christ in you! It is a matter of the heart, a communion resulting in what the apostle Paul calls “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5). This transition fulfills God’s commands and brings the name of Christ to the nations. It is yielding to His goodness instead of striving to be good.
The outworking of the Christian life is a Spirit-enabled life. Before accepting Christ, you were dominated by your “flesh,” the desires of this world, and the appetites of your body. When you surrendered your heart and mind to God, He then began to do a makeover of your desires, moving you towards things that matter to Him and bring Him glory. The Spirit leads you in expressing faith by loving God and loving the people in your life. The practical aspect of that love causes you to do good works specific to those relationships. Those good works will bring you to a place of self-sacrifice requiring God’s power to accomplish the task. As you live, guided, and empowered by His Spirit, God will provide everything you need to do what His grace requires.
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