The gospel is not: If you believe in Jesus and do good, then God will accept you. The gospel is: If you believe in Jesus, then God will accept you and you will want to do good.

“I will not enter my house

or get into my bed,

I will not give sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

until I find a place for the Lord,”

Ps. 132:3-5

Why was David so set on finding a place for the Lord? In order to do good for the Lord and be accepted by Him? No! It was because he was already blessed by God and out of thanksgiving and joy, he WANTED TO do good to the Lord.

My 10 year old daughter organized the whole house on Saturday – folding laundries, replacing scattered items, decluttering the loft, etc. Why? Was it so that she would be accepted into the family? No. It was because she wanted to please us, the parents, because she’s already accepted.

The gospel is not Jesus AND. Not even good works, or religious works. It’s Jesus. Period.

Don’t strive to know Jesus and to do good. Strive to know Jesus. Then, you will do good.

PH