Loving and Obeying Christ

As I began to grasp the doctrines of grace, I saw more clearly the depths of my depravity. I recognized that God's forgiveness to me was not conditional because Jesus had already met the conditions required for true righteousness. However, I still saw (and see to this day) a huge gap between a life that is pleasing to God and my own conduct.

How, then, may I live a life pleasing to God, yet not be focused on the deeds themselves so that I may boast in them (or find my justification)? Here's how God guided me through the process.

• Jesus said that if we love him, we will obey his commands (John 14:21, 23, 24).
• If we are forgiven much, we love much - if we are forgiven little, we love little (Luke 7:46-48).
• Our justification before God hinges not on our moral efforts, but our willingness to admit our depravity and need of forgiveness (and receiving that offer of forgiveness, trusting in the atonement and righteousness of Christ). See the parable of the Tax-collector and Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14.
• Finally, in the parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), we see that the servant departed thinking he could somehow repay God (vs. 26) for a "reprieve" vs. the actual offer of complete forgiveness (vs. 27). It is no wonder, then, that this servant went out and choked his fellow servant, not extending him any mercy.
  

So, how does all of this work together?

• We realize we have a moral obligation to obey God's commands, yet we find that we fail to do so, and often find we have a blatant lack of desire for obedience as well.
• Jesus words in Luke 7 tie the forgiveness we've received with our love for Him.
• If we, like the tax collector, realize just how sinful we are, and make no attempt to justify our standing before God because of our works, we stand in His justification.
• We must cast from our minds any belief that we have any ability to pay off our debt to God, but must instead just marvel as His amazing grace!

Now, this posting isn't the final word on how all of this works out. I'm certain there are many ministers of the gospel who have a more profound grasp of all of this than I, or how have a more elegant way to address this issue. All I am really saying is that this works for me, and I don't believe I've done violence to the texts I've cited or the essential meaning of the gospel.

I'd be interested in any comments, additional insights, or corrections about what I have written.