HOW CAN WE, AS BELIEVERS, LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD? Whenever I hear someone say, "It is so hard to live the Christian life," the first thought I have is that it is impossible for any of us -- it can only be accomplished through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." When we understood our lost position in Adam, and realized we were born sinners and desperately needed a Savior and that He alone did all the saving, we, by faith, received His perfect righteousness and eternal life. Somehow though, we have misunderstood the Christian life, and think that it is something we can accomplish. We believed that He saved us, but assume now that it is up to us to live a life pleasing to God.

Trusting Christ as our Savior is the most important decision we can make in life -- but we can never know the peace and joy He has provided for EVERY believer without the knowledge of grace teaching, rightly divided. Many believers have been deceived in thinking that being saved is all we need, but God instructs Paul to teach grace, and that He wants every believer to be informed of this.

We have met people who have claimed to be believers but have given up on everything (going to church, reading their Bibles, witnessing, etc.) because they tried to live the Christian life in their own strength and failed. The Lord tells us in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." God has given us eternal life, but He has provided for us to live life, here on this earth, and be more than conquerors THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.

God is never given the glory He ALONE deserves without the understanding of grace teaching. The Apostle Paul tell us "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." No one can boast about his own accomplishments in his Christian life, but realizes it is Christ in him that gives him the victory.

The only way to succeed in living the Christian life is by realizing that it is impossible for us to achieve in our flesh. It is only through the Holy Spirit living His life through us. The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." I finally understand why God refuses to share His glory with another! He alone deserves the glory, because without Him we can do NOTHING.