If we are saved by faith why do good?

If 'all have sinned' (Romans 3v23) but Jesus has paid the price of our sin for us then does it matter how we live?

As mentioned in a previous post over 70% of the UK population would class themselves as Christian. [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293] However if you compared the morality of our modern western culture with that laid out in the Bible you would see a growing difference. As one example while Biblically sex outside marriage (Hebrews 13v4) and getting drunk are both wrong (Ephesians 5v18) these things seem to be a 'cultural norm' in modern Britain.

Is this the result of hundreds of years of Christianity? Perhaps Christianitys theology of Christ paying for our sin means that we can act how we like with no thought of any judgement or consequences. In fact couldn't you argue that the more we sin the more Gods love is shown in that he forgives us?

“Shall we go on sinning so that grace [Gods undeserved loving forgiveness] may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6v1-2

Gods word clearly denies such an idea. So in the light of Gods forgiveness for the sinner how does that mean Christians should live and if we already have our 'ticket to heaven' what's the motivation to live for God?

1. We are saved through faith alone in Christ NOT by the good we do

“This righteousness [Right relationship with God] from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3v22-24

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him” John 3v36

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no-one will boast” Ephesians 2v8-9

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteousness” Romans 5v19

As we can see from the above the Bibles message is clear that we are saved through faith alone in Christ. Righteousness [a right relationship with God] comes as a gift from God – not earned by the good we do.

Through faith in Christ we are redeemed – the price of our sin paid for by Christ in our place on the cross. Through faith in Christ we are imputed [given] his righteousness gained by him obeying every part of Gods law fully.

To underline then we are saved through faith alone in Christ and......

2. A true Christian can never go to hell – once saved nothing he does will ever lose his salvation – he is guaranteed a place in heaven.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1v13-14

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 5v1

Above we read that through faith we are justified. Being justified is to be 'declared righteous' – having peace with God with no sin to separate us from God. 'Justified' is past tense - it happens when a true Christian is converted. Once it has happened we have peace with God which we cannot lose.

All true Christians receive the Holy Spirit once they are saved which is a guarantee of our inheritance – eternal life with God. A true Christian cannot lose his salvation.

3. The Holy Spirit indwelling in all true Christians will change them – giving them a hatred of sin and love for holiness.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” Philippians 2v13

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8v9

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2v19,20

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 8v18-23

Over the 70% of the UK would call themselves Christian. Someone can believe in God, can believe academically in all the truths of Christianity but if it has no affect on their life it is a dead, useless faith. Faith without works is a dead faith.

We are saved through faith alone, not what we do. But all true Christians who are justified by faith receive Gods Holy Spirit which will affect how they live. They will bear Good fruit, showing a hatred towards sin and growing in Godliness. If someone is converted to Christianity yet consistently shows no outward change in there behaviour then it is a strong indication that they have not truly accepted Christ into there hearts and fully submitted to him in repentance.

4. True Christians with the Holy spirit will still battle with sin in their lives.

“For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing” Romans 7v19

“For in my inner being I delight in Gods law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 7v24-25

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1v8-9

Once we are saved the Holy Spirit does not make us morally perfect robots. Christians will still battle with sin and will constantly fail. Through the Holy Spirit we have the power to fight sin. Through the Holy Spirit we have a desire to do good. Through the Holy spirit we will mourn when we do sin. The indwelling Holy Spirit will cause a change in someone's life as mentioned above but on this earth we will still battle with Sin in our lives. However for all who faith in Christ he has already paid for all our sin on the cross so that by confessing them to God in prayer he has promised to forgive us.

We will be rescued from this battle against sin – which as Christians we will mourn over – when Christ returns and we are given new sinless resurrection bodies and spend the rest of eternity in a new heaven and a new earth free from all sin, death and suffering getting to know more of our loving creator each day.