God’s Way and Man’s Way

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).

In no case is this statement more truer than in promptings and admonitions to proper conduct. It is clear that under grace God does everything apart from all human merit and any thought of repayment. He does not offer His blessings as an inducement, nor His judgments as a threat to encourage obedient behavior. Under grace God first reminds the believer of what has been accomplished on his behalf. Then on the basis of this important understanding he may be encouraged to live a life that is compatible with the grace that has been so fully extended to Him.

But man’s ways are not God’s ways. Generally, and sadly too many of the misguided are persuaded that great benefits come because of good conduct, and losses ensue because of bad conduct. The natural man mistakenly believes he must contribute something good to earn God’s favor. God’s approach under grace may be seen in Jesus’ dealing with the woman, taken in adultery, and brought to Him by the Pharisees. When the Pharisees had left, having been silenced by Jesus, He said to her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Has no man condemned you?” She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:10,11).
Jesus first freely forgave her sin and then admonished her to live a life free from sin. It should be noted that under the law she was worthy of death.

It should be noted that under the law God’s order was reversed. The requiring law promised blessings only on condition of obedience and threatened curses if every part of it was not fulfilled (Note Deut. 28.) It is imperative that God’s order under grace must not be confused with what pertains under the law. Unfortunately, it frequently is, because the order under law parallels the thinking of the natural man. If God appeals to mankind to live obediently because of His infinite work of grace, is it not incumbent upon believers to do likewise? Unfortunately, many have used God’s appeals, but entirely neglect His work of grace as a basis for these appeals. Many appeals have been made using a partial text to persuade believers.

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), without the slightest reference to the first part of the text, which is the real basis for the appeal. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.” A clear presentation for mercies of God as a basis for the appeal is rarely heard. Yet the written Word contains eight chapters that are devoted to telling of His mercies before the appeal was made. The same is true of all of God’s appeals. Many believers consider God’s admonitions for a life pleasing unto Himself entirely apart from the primary work of grace in salvation. Perhaps this partially explains the present low spiritual level from which many believers live: God’s appeals have no force when His admonitions are ignored. As God’s appeals to the believer are ignored the service that may flow from them is often done in dependence upon self instead of upon Him. When God’s appeals are based on His work of grace the resulting conduct will be in dependence upon Him and for His glory.

A stimulating environment or the persuasive powers of a speaker may move some to action, but the actions that emanate from such temporal admonitions will probably be lacking in depth and will not result in consistent service for the Lord. Grace is all that God is free to do for man on the basis of the accomplishments of Jesus Christ on the cross. Legalism is man by man’s efforts seeking to gain the favor or approbation of God by means of these human efforts. The more the message comes from God’s word and is centered in the incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, intercessory work of Christ, and the greatness of God’s work of grace, the stronger will be the appeal for consistent and God authorized living. Why? Because the basis for a consistent Christian way of life will be based on thus saith the Lord and not on human relative behavior.

When Scriptural truths are omitted from the lives of the children of God it is common that man’s reasoning will be substituted. Some of this human reasoning involves uplifting stories about great zeal, busyness, self-sacrifice, and what may be obtained by sacrificial giving. Your church, denomination, or organization needs your support is a common and repeated appeal. The view becomes less God centered and more man centered for the purpose of building a human edifice including all of the accoutrements to sustain and perpetuate it. All of this is allegedly for the eventual glory of God. The response to this kind of appeal can easily become the fulfillment of a duty or the attainment of some great humanistic ideal and not a joyful and spontaneous labor love for Christ.

When God’s message to serve Him for His own glory is disregarded the service that follows will be done in dependence upon self instead of upon the living God. When admonitions from God’s word of grace are a part of a believer’s service the resultant conduct will be in dependence upon Him and for His glory as opposed to human dependence for the glory and recognition of a lowly and transitory human being. When people are moved by the persuasive and eloquent powers of a speaker many may be motivated to actions that otherwise would be dormant, but such responses will more than likely be lacking in depth and may not be centered in God’s primary will. God’s admonitions for living a God centered life are valid only when human activity is based on His particular plan for their lives.

No one has the right to ask another to do what God requires by suggesting the adoption of human reasoning and activity that offers less than what is written in His immutable Word. The admonitions from God’s Word are so great that they cut to the very core of our lives and nothing less than His own admonitions justify compliance and willing obedience. God’s standards for the Christian way of life are so high that it is impossible to appeal to them on the basis of human or moral reasoning without detracting from their most high requirements. God’s own authority is necessary to require any appeal to conform to His perfect standards.
Any admonition that is based on human reasoning will fall far short of God’s high standards. When God’s holy Word is disregarded or diminished the standards for godly living are lowered from a God ordained plane to unacceptable levels of human concepts and reasoning. This pursuit may be acceptable by some, but God’s Word must not be compromised. To do so is to be subject to the anathema of God and to walk in human versus divine viewpoint.

Many well-intentioned but deluded teachers are espousing nothing more than prohibition or the abstinence of certain vices. The Word of God provides correction for poor behavior, but it is the impact and power of His word that gives alignment and true definition in the life. Poor behavior emanates from the sin nature, and the believer must be taught that such behavior is inconsistent with their perfect position in Christ. Condemnation of illicit behavior apart from God’s work of grace tends to encourage an attitude of self-righteousness and a holier than thou attitude from those who espouse such behavior. This illicit behavior engenders a spirit of despair in those who repeatedly fail through their personal weakness. This kind of self-righteous condemnation emphasizes dependence upon self instead of dependence upon God.

It is unfortunate that much of the encouraging to right living is purely negative. Participation in certain amusements, personal habits, and even manner of dress are condemned. These prohibitions are frequently done by sensation and are without regard to the various growth levels of believers in the listening audience. Such an approach becomes a nervous desperation to attack certain behaviors that may be out of alignment due to immaturity in knowledge of the Word of God. Under such legalistic teachings it is rare that a better alternative is offered to replace that which is condemned. This kind of well-intentioned but misdirected teaching produces a great void and much uncertainty in a young believer’s life. As the laws of nature abhor a vacuum, so does human life and behavior.

In the gospel of Luke there is a record of a life from which an unclean spirit had departed, but afterward returned and found the house swept and cleaned, but empty. As a result of seeing the vacuum “the evil spirit brought seven others more wicked than himself and the last state of that individual was worse than the first” (Luke 11:25,26). While the Word of God encourages believers to live clean and respectable lives, His emphasis is much different than the humanistic approach mentioned above. There are two methods the Lord uses to draw the heart away from the present world with its associated lusts. The first is, by setting before it the attractiveness and stability of things which God has prepared for them that love Him. The second is, by faithfully declaring the temporality and transient nature of things on Earth. When the innermost being of the believer in Christ finds all satisfaction and fulfillment in the things of God and in His Son, there is no need to condemn the transitory pleasures of the world. God provides far better things in the place of that which passes away with the using. Much of the lethargy and insensitivity to spiritual matters is due to a failure to draw empty hearts to Christ by teaching and emphasizing His plan for their lives which is clearly delineated in His holy Word.

God lovingly and patiently bases His admonitions on Bible truths and relates individual behaviors to those truths. Humanity tends to deal with individual acts by themselves, apart from any basic principle of truth. This approach is largely a legalistic point of view which considers specific offences and results in restrictive regulations that involve precept upon precept and behavior to behavior. Much of these teachings are related to Christian conduct and appeals to perform or reform. It should be stated that reformation is on the outside and relates to behavior; regeneration is on the inside and relates to a new life in Christ Jesus. An individual cannot become regenerated and saved by their behavior any more than a car can become an automobile by being in a garage or going to a mechanic. There is unquestionably a place for instruction and correction as to details of the conduct of a believer. The Apostle Paul frequently mentioned things which should or should not be done. The Corinthian church was called upon “to put away lying, anger, and stealing as a part of putting off the old man and putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-29).

How much more conclusive and effective is this admonition rather than a mere condemnation of lying, anger and stealing, etc.? To omit the basic principles upon which all admonitions of grace are based and to consider specific precepts by themselves is to miss the peculiar nature of grace teachings and to substitute ethical teachings in their place. One is human viewpoint with man centered precepts; the other is divine viewpoint and God centered truths. It is the spirit of knowledge and truth that guides believers in all truth.

“His word is truth and will never return unto Him void “(Isaiah 55:11).

Therefore, the Word of God must be learned by means of the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit in order for man to grow in grace and in understanding so that he may become spiritually self-sustaining. Spiritual growth pertains to those who have believed on Jesus Christ as Savior and has no application to those outsides His family. To be a member of His family one must become a child of God by exercising faith in Him personally.

“For you are all the children of Gods by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).

For the Scripture says, “Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed” (Galatians 10:11).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13)