How Then Shall We Live?
How Should Christians Live? Understanding Salvation, Grace, and Obedience
Because Jesus saves us by grace, we don't obey to earn salvation; we obey because we trust and love the Savior who has saved us.
Salvation is a gift
39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
—Luke 23:39-43 NKJV
Jesus was crucified between two criminals who were also being put to death. We are not told much about these men, but they had done something the Romans considered bad enough to be put to death by crucifixion. (see footnote)
The criminal on the cross received salvation before he could perform any good works. The thief had no opportunity to demonstrate the life of discipleship that normally follows conversion. His salvation, therefore, exposes the fatal error of treating religious performance as the basis for acceptance with God. His lack of subsequent works doesn't demonstrate that discipleship is unnecessary; it demonstrates that works are not the basis of his acceptance by God.
What we see from the criminal on the cross is a recognition of his own guilt (verse 41). He sees that Jesus is innocent (verse 41). He also recognizes that Jesus is king/has a kingdom (verse 42), and that he needs mercy (verse 42). The criminal realizes and believes all of this when Jesus looks completely defeated. This criminal had incredible faith; all he could offer Jesus was his belief that Jesus was who He claimed to be. The criminal came to Jesus, knowing he has nothing to contribute to his salvation.
We never witness his transformed life since he died soon after receiving salvation. The criminal on the cross reminds us that salvation rests entirely on Christ, not on our ability to accumulate good works. No human work can add to what Christ has accomplished for our salvation. Church attendance, charitable gifts, volunteer work, and missionary efforts would not have made the criminal on the cross any more saved. Our salvation is secured in Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross. That day Jesus gave the criminal on the cross assurance of salvation. (see footnote)
Obedience is not irrelevant
The sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross does not mean that our behavior is irrelevant. Just because my good works do not make me more saved does not mean my actions are inconsequential. The thief confessed his guilt; he defended Jesus, recognizing Him as King even as He died on a cross. His faith was bringing about a change in his life.
But do we really want the thief on the cross to be our example? Do we want to live a life of sin and rebellion and accept Jesus and receive salvation just before we die?
You can spend your life living a selfish life of hedonistic debauchery. Living for your own pleasure above all else. You can break all the rules and find yourself on death row. You can repent, accept Jesus, and receive eternal life, but is that the life you want?
Is the best possible life the life lived in pursuit of selfish gratification?
Another way of thinking about this is:
Do you believe you would be happier with more sin in your life?
This is a serious question. This brings to mind Genesis 3.
Saved people trust God
The serpent asked Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b) Interestingly, God had said the opposite in Genesis 1:29.
“And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”
—Genesis 1:29 NKJV
Genesis 1 describes God as a powerful and loving provider who creates everything we could possibly need and so much more. God creates a perfect world that is very good. (Genesis 1:31) However, God gives humanity one command. (see footnote)
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
—Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV
The serpent portrayed God as withholding something good from Eve (humanity).
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
—Genesis 3:4-5 NKJV
Up until this point, Adam and Eve only knew good. They did not know shame; they did not fear; they did not know pain. It was true that they were ignorant; the lie is that they were missing something worthwhile. Yes, God knew both good and evil, but gaining a knowledge of evil did not make Eve’s life better. I would gladly spend my whole life without experiencing the consequences of sin.
Satan wants us to believe that God's commands are restrictions keeping us from the good life. Will you trust God enough to believe that what He has given you is good—and that what He has withheld is also for your good?
Do I believe Jesus knows what leads to life better than I do? Because if I trust Him, obedience stops being payment for salvation and becomes trust in the Savior who has already given me salvation.
Sin may appear to be freeing, but it brings bondage, death, and destruction. God’s ways may seem restrictive, but they provide freedom and promote love and joy. A life of obedience to God is a better life. But obedience to God is about more than good behavior; it is about a growing relationship of love and trust.
The question is not how many rules I can keep, but whether I trust Jesus enough to believe His way is better than mine.
Obedience is about relationship
Do you love Jesus, or are you just afraid of hell?
Do you want a deep and personal connection with Jesus?
Or do you just want eternal life?
Do you love God, or are you simply interested in His blessings?
Often, as I study the Bible with others, they ask me whether this or that is a salvation issue. If you are reading this and have asked that question, I don’t want you to feel bad or guilty, but let’s think this through together.
God’s commandments don’t deprive us of good things
When you read in the Bible, things like
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
—Genesis 2:1-3 NKJV
Do you see a blessing or a curse? Do you see the seventh-day Sabbath, set aside as blessed and holy, as a burden for all of creation? I see it as a weekly reminder that God values quality time and is interested in a personal relationship with me. It also reminds me that my value doesn't come from what I do, but from who I am as His child. Exodus 20 records the Ten Commandments, and among them is the command to remember the Sabbath day. God had freed Israel from slavery and commanded them to remember to rest on the day He blessed and made holy at creation.
Speaking of the Ten Commandments, what about when you read Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount? Jesus references the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder.”
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
— Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV
Does saying “you fool” sound like a salvation issue? These are Jesus’ words, not mine. But it sounds pretty serious to me. Have you ever seen anyone in church be disciplined for calling someone else a fool? Or for being angry with his brother?
The point I hope to make is that we should not read the Bible with the goal of compiling a list of do’s and don’ts in order to earn God’s favor. If salvation were about behavioral modification, the Bible could have been a much shorter book. God could have just given us a list. Maybe something like 28 easy steps to earning eternal life. But instead, we have 66 books written by approximately 40 different writers over roughly 1,500 years.
Jesus wants a transformed character
My takeaway from reading and studying the Bible throughout my life is that it is not focused on behavior modification but on character development and relationship-building. God wants a personal relationship with us, and He molds our character in the process. He does this for His honor and glory.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
—Matthew 5:16 NKJV
My behavior is not an attempt to earn or add to my salvation; my good works are to bring glory to God. When I stumble, when I fall short, I am not afraid that I have lost my salvation, but my heart breaks when my poor or rebellious behavior causes another to stumble, or brings pain to my neighbor.
When I read the Bible, I am open to learning God’s will, and I desire to align my life with His revealed will. This is not out of fear of hellfire but out of love for God and a burden for those around me. I want to live a life of discipline and obedience because it honors God and blesses those around me. My obedience is, first of all, a loving response to Jesus.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
— 1 John 5:2-3 NKJV (see footnote for more examples)
Love expresses itself through mission
Secondly, obedience to God is about the mission of making disciples and spreading the gospel. When Jesus restores Peter in John 21, He asks Peter if he loved Him; when Peter says he does, Jesus tells him to feed His sheep.
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
—John 21:17 NKJV
Satan, like the serpent to Eve in the garden of Eden, paints a picture of God as someone who withholds good things from us. Do we believe that if we worked seven days a week, we would accomplish greater things and be happier than if we remembered to keep holy a day that God sanctified from the creation week? (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11) We also miss a special blessing from God when we turn Sabbath rest into works meant to save us.
Satan whispers in our ears that if we lied more often, life would be better; that if we cheated on our spouse, we would be happier; that we should steal. After all, everyone else is stealing, and they seem to be enjoying life. When you feel like the wicked have a better life, I encourage you to read Psalm 37 and Proverbs 24:1-22.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
—Psalm 37:7-8 NKJV
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that there was more to the law than just keeping the letter of the Ten Commandments. Jesus is interested in transformed lives, not list-keeping. We don’t transform ourselves; He does that work in us. We just have to remain (abide).
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
—John 15:5 NKJV (for more on John 15-17 see Jesus’ Final Words)
Bearing fruit is not something we do by trying hard. We don't produce spiritual fruit through sheer human effort. Fruit comes from abiding in Christ, but abiding itself involves continually choosing to remain connected to Him. We must also be aware that the Father prunes the branches that bear fruit in order that they can bear even more fruit (John 15:2).
A life of surrender
What do you love more than Jesus in this life?
What would be too much if Jesus asked for it?
The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23) walked away from Jesus sad, because he had great possessions, and Jesus asked him to give it all up (Matthew 19:22). Abraham, on the other hand, was willing to sacrifice what he loved most, his only beloved son (Genesis 22:2, 12).
In many ways, salvation is simple.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
—Acts 16:30-34 NKJV
But the Christian life requires surrender and death to self. (Matthew 16:24; see footnote for more examples) But when we surrender, we are not working to earn our salvation; we are allowing God’s will to be done in our lives.
Why I choose to obey God
When I was ten years old, I gave my heart to Jesus and I received salvation. I am not more saved now that I have a Master of Divinity degree. I am not more saved now, after almost 20 years as a pastor, than I was as a 10-year-old who loved Jesus and decided to be baptized. So why all the hard work and dedication to ministry? Why all the reading, studying, and teaching? Why the disciplined life?
I believe 100% in Christ's finished work on the cross. I have no doubt regarding my salvation. It rests not on my performance but on what Jesus did for me. It is my joy to love God with all my heart and my neighbor as myself. I long for the Holy Spirit to continue shaping my life in a way that honors Christ. Not for me to obtain salvation, but for me to honor Christ in all that I do. My desire to obey God does not take away from my life; quite the opposite: in Jesus, I have a more abundant life (John 10:10).
Salvation isn't the reward for obedience.
Obedience is the response to salvation.
I don't obey Jesus because I'm afraid He won't save me.
I obey Him because He has already saved me—and I love Him.
We don't obey in order to convince Jesus to save us. We obey because we've encountered a Savior worth surrendering to.
Footnotes
Assurance of Salvation Today
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
—Luke 23:43 NKJV
The Greek manuscripts did not contain modern punctuation, so the placement of the comma is a matter of interpretation. I understand Jesus' statement as, ‘I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.’ This reading is consistent with Jesus' statement after His resurrection that He had not yet ascended to the Father (John 20:17).
Crucifixion
Both Greeks and Romans restricted crucifixion only to slaves, considering it too barbaric for citizens. In the imperial era, the Romans extended its use to aliens, but they still used it mainly for crimes against the state.
(Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Crucifixion,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 555.)
One command
One Command in Genesis 1-2. I would argue that the only command clearly stated in Genesis 1-2 is found in Genesis 2:16-17: to freely eat of every tree of the garden, not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And what we have in Genesis 1:28 is not a command but a blessing.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
— Genesis 1:28 NKJV
Compared to
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
—Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV
Love is our motivation
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
—John 14:15 NKJVIf you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
— John 15:10 NKJV
A Life of Surrender
Here are some verses that reference a life of surrender: Matthew 16:24; 7:21; 26:39; Luke 14:33; Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Romans 6:13; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Philippians 3:7-8.
