Godly Conduct

Godly Conduct

Some think that because I focus a lot on the love of God and our identity in Christ that I am neglecting godly conduct or that I think it’s okay for us to sin.

Let me be crystal clear. It is not okay for the holy and righteous children of God to sin. Ungodly conduct is completely antithetical to our status as His beloved body and spotless bride. It flies in the face of all our Lord Jesus has done, and continues to do, for us. It bears no spiritual fruit, and it is damaging to us and to those around us.

People see Jesus in us. They may not recognize Him at first because it is our corruptible bodies they see with their eyes and our behavior they evaluate in determining who we are. None of us conduct ourselves perfectly. Nevertheless, the Spirit of God lives within us and people will find themselves drawn to (or repulsed by) the aroma of Christ wafting from us.

Sometimes opportunities will present themselves for us to give a reason for what others see in us. For some, a change of their mind about sin and about God will result. We call that repentance. For these, faith in Jesus will be the conduit through which righteousness and life will be given to them. We call that salvation.

This is the value of living in dependence on our Father in heaven and behaving like His righteous and holy children rather than living and acting like those without God in the world.

That’s why grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and live upright and godly lives in this world. (see Titus 2:11-12) These good works are those that Father prepared long ago and that should characterize our lives. (See Ephesians 2:10)

Such godly works are works that are not burned up in fire at the judgement. They are not burned up because they are not things we have done in our own power. Rather, they are things we have done in total dependance on Him. They are spiritual things and cannot be burned up.