Setting Christians Up for Failure in the Christian Life
God has gifted Christ’s church with people positioned to equip the saints for the work of service to build up the body of Christ (Eph 4:11–12). The prerogative of these gifted individuals is to explicate the grace of God in the life and ministry of the believer. God’s grace is His own work for the benefit of His chosen people.
Our concern here is pastoring and teaching that burdens the saint to perform duties, but with zero acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit. Essential to this study would be the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, as a Bible doctrine. For it is God who performs all our works for us (Is 26:12), according to His will and good pleasure (Eph 2:13).
The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote that He no longer lives but Christ lived in him, even as the Spirit of Christ indwells every born again soul (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 2:20). The Christian is not just endowed with the possibility of being enabled to perform a good work prepared for him (Eph 2:10), but the indwelling Spirit is accomplishing what concerns the Christian (Ps 57:2; 138:8).
The expedient work of God is that His elect people believe in Jesus whom God the Father has sent (Jn 6:29). God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and those who believe in Him do not perish, but they are saved, having been granted eternal life (Jn 3:16; 10:28; Acts 16:31; 1 Jn 5:11). From beginning to end, salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1).
Christians are to put no confidence in one’s flesh (Phil 3:3) because the flesh is at war with the Spirit (Gal 5:17). Yet, the indwelling Spirit is working in the believer, which is not only a work to make that person holy in the likeness of the image of Christ (Rom 8:29; 15:16; 1 Thess 4:3, 7; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2), but the Spirit of Christ is working through the Christian, too. He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4), which means the Christian overcomes the world by the faith granted to Him and manifest as the fruit of the Spirit…faithfulness (Gal 5:22; Phil 1:29). Thus, when a Christian has been faithful and true to a task, then be assured it was the Holy Spirit at work.
Christians should be encouraged not to think more highly of themselves than they ought (Rom 12:3) because it is only by God’s doing that we are in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 1:30). It is by faith and not by working that we are justified before the God the Judge of sinners (Rom 3:25; 4:5; 5:1).
Someone may ask about James’ argument that faith is made apparent by one’s works (Jas 2:14–25). Man looks at the outward appearance and he sees others performing works in the maturing Christian life. Can he see the invisible Spirit of God at work? It is God’s Word that reveals God’s Spirit at work…not the eyes of men.
God is the architect and builder of everything (Heb 3:4; 11:10), but have you ever seen this with your eyes? Jesus is building His church with living stones who are positioned in His Holy Temple in the Spirit (Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20–22). You may know that from your study of the Bible, having spiritual eyes, but have you seen this whole temple with the naked eye?
We also know from Scripture that all God’s works were finished from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3). For from Him are all things, and through Him are all things, and to Him are all things (Rom 11:36). As the Creator and Source of all things (Gen 1–2; Col 1:16), our God also sustains all things by the Word of His power (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3), so that God can testify that it is not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit all things have their being (Zech 4:6).
How do all things work together for good for those who love Christ? It is God who causes them to do so (Rom 8:28). When obedience to God’s Law is achieved, who is the cause of that compliance? It is the Holy Spirit who causes one to walk in obedience to all God has commanded (Ezek 36:27). This is exactly why the Christian has blessed assurance of eternal life, today (1 Jn 5:11–13). He who has the Son (Jn 3:36), who promises to never leave nor forsake the child of God (Heb 13:5), has this life new, abundant, and eternal.
It is the life of God in the soul of man who is permanently present and who is at work. For He who does the work receives the glory and God does not share His glory with another (Is 42:8; 48:11). Christian, have you ever been challenged to work harder, be more committed, run the race, be holy, fight the good fight, etc? Just because you are challenged to do these spiritual things does not mean you have the capacity, the ability to perform what is demanded or required (Rom 8:7). This is why people who know the truth point you to Christ and not to yourself or your performance.
Sanctification belongs to the Lord (1 Pet 1:2). This is good news for the perplexed. Christian works belong to the Lord, too. For us to be “not guilty” of stealing credit from God, we must acknowledge Him in all our ways (Prv 3:5–6). We must give thanks without ceasing, as it pertains to absolutely everything (1 Thess 5:17–18). We must attribute every good thing to Him alone who is good (Mk 10:18). We never boast in ourselves, but only in Christ (Rom 15:15–17; 1 Cor 1:29–31).
Therefore, the next time one of those in a position to equip you actually presses you to perform, without acknowledging the Holy Spirit, you must pause and consider that God is the Potter and you are the clay (Jer 18:1–8; Rom 9:17–21). He is at work. He will do it (Ps 37:5). Here is the believer's rest here and now. As we rest in the Spirit, it does not mean we are passive, however.
As God works in us and through us, we, too, are seen at work both by ourselves and others. We will receive the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful slave…enter the joy of the Lord.” Having been given the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), you will reason then as you hopefully reason, today, “It was not I doing my own will or even God’s will, but it was always Christ in me by His Spirit that lived and ministered through me. All glory to God for the great things He has done. I gladly confess, it was never me but always Him.” This, my dear reader must always be on the forefront of your thinking when anyone challenges you to become a better, more committed, more productive Christian.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 14, 2022
