Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
Is this Christian life just about trying to be good?
That’s what many people assume. When they think of Christianity, they think it’s just a bunch of religious rules to follow. But that’s not what Jesus came to bring us. In John 10:10, He said that He came so we could “have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (AMPC).
I’m not saying that sin is okay. Not in the least. Living morally is the best way to live, and Jesus gives us the power to do so. The problem is that if we spend our entire lives just trying to live by a set of rules, we become self-focused. We become so busy trying to earn right standing with God that we forget that Jesus already earned that for every believer. And we forget the point of it all—that we’re here to help others discover a relationship with Him as well.
Your Father God doesn’t want you to spend your life feeling inadequate and hopeless. That gives Him no pleasure! He wants you to rise up, confident in Him and in His power in you so you can live as the new creation Jesus made it possible for you to be!
Living morally is great, but you can aim even higher than that. Dream big with God! Get yourself focused on His cause and your part in it. Join your life with His; that’s where His abundance is.