Passing God’s Test of Righteousness

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But let each one test his own work (Galatians 6:4, ESV).

Christianity is a relationship, not religion.

Our relationship with Jesus isn’t ultimately about keeping a set of rules, not breaking one of the Ten Commandments, or keeping the faith to go to heaven. Nothing wrong with rules, commandments, and heaven — but if they become our purpose, we serve a religion, not a living God.

I’m glad because I often fail at obedience.

I don’t feel bad because the Apostle Paul didn’t pass the “perfect conduct” test when claiming, in 1 Timothy 1:15b, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Paul says he’s the worst of all sinners (though I will debate him on this point in heaven), and all of us can get in on this debate about “the worst” because we all fall short of the glory of God.

We can’t pass God’s holiness test, yet in the Bible, we are told to test ourselves. There are two primary Greek words, used about one hundred times in the New Testament, that can be translated as “test” or “examine.”

For example. . . 

Examine (word #1) yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test (word #2) yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)?

We must test ourselves. But how do we pass the test, and why do we even try, knowing in advance that everyone fails? Because the object of the test isn’t to pass “religion” but to check our “relationship” with Jesus!

All relationships develop in a similar manner. 

We get married knowing we’ll fight, skirmish, and pout, but we still get married. We have children knowing they will cry, treat us as idiots when they become teenagers, and break our hearts. We also become members of a church, join a sports team or a club — with the same result — and yet, we do it.

Why? Relationships are worth it.

It’s okay to stumble. In religion, we find judgment in failure, but in following Christ, we excel in His grace through our inadequacies. As that great sinner, the Apostle Paul reminds us. . .

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

When I was in the fifth grade, I decided not to follow Jesus. Between the ages of 10 and 18, I majored in rebellion against God’s righteousness. Fortunately, when I returned to Jesus at the age of 18, I found that while I was unfaithful to God, He was still faithful to me.

I experienced His grace.

We could think, “Let’s just sin all the more,” but I’ve found that I don’t want to sin anymore. I don’t want to sadden the heart of my Savior. And while I still fail at obedience, I experience grace instead of condemnation, which makes me — more and more — desire to be like HIM!

That’s passing the test of righteousness.