Accepting and returning God’s love is what leads to your fulfillment and peace. However, this decision must come from your free choice. Some people experience the anticipated feelings of freedom immediately upon becoming a child of God, but for others it takes time to move psychological concepts from head understanding to heart insight. (If the move to the heart does not happen, a Christian will experience cognitive dissonance exhibited as anxiety because s/he is not acting on what s/he knows of the Truth of God.) When understanding is heart-felt, you purpose begins to crystalize.

 

In the past, a search for significance may have been elusive and inconclusive. When you find God, you find your significance in God and this changes your outlook and forthcoming decisions (Psalm 119:18, Acts 26:18, Ephesians 1:18, 4:23, 4:31, "The Use of Conscience in Decision Making ..."). The love received from God penetrates through you, energizing you to do compassionate works without stopping to analyze your head understanding. When you express in your body what resonates in your spirit, you look to see how you can help. Doing acts of kindness for others is physical work, however, it’s effortless because of the positive energy generated by the Holy Spirit in your heart and the hormonal release that triggers positive feelings (Appendix 2U).

• Read the article called “Why Does Helping Others Feel Good?” | The Science and Benefits of Altruism.

 

The Law of Reciprocity Applied to a Follower of Jesus

​Secular psychologists Prochaska & Norcross, explain that trying hard is nothing more than “overt action without insight” and this will likely lead only to temporary change (2001). God reveals that it is through your heart that your body acts, and acts restfully! One of the mysterious works God does in us is that, once we accept His love, we can do good works, not out of obligation but from gratitude. It is closely related to the secular law of reciprocity; a Tit for Tat mentality, but it’s different. Christian researchers Emmons, R. A. & McNamara, P. phrases it like this; Our gratitude mixed with God’s trustworthiness motivates a reciprocal love relationship (Emmons, R. A., & McNamara, P. (2006).

• See Appendix 2G for more on how your Spirit- led behavior leads to insight.

 

When we accept God’s love and turn to Him to lead our life, our need for significance is fulfilled and this shows in our own motives and actions. A new identity in Christ means we can choose to express His type of love in what we do, not just what we think or say (1 Peter 1:13-16). When you act from your identity in Christ, you show actions consistent with Christian Character integrity while your attitude reveals a restful joy (Jeremiah 6:16, Lamentations 3:22-23, Hebrews 4:10-11). Accepting God’s mercy and grace for you melts your prideful defense mechanisms so you can take on a new humbled outlook that freely expresses love to your neighbor and yourself.  

• For a brief Christian look into the law of reciprocity see https://foxven.com/r12h-spiritual-law-of-reciprocity/#:~:text=(Reading%20time:%202%20minutes),that%20reciprocity%20applies%20to%20everyone

 

Since God first loved you, even when you were alienated from Him, He leads you to accept His Holy and unique characteristics and empowers you to implement those compassionately with your neighbor (Titus 2:11-12). As a Christian, what you do for others is returned to you by God, in whatever season and measure He chooses. For example, Romans 13:9-10 says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 'Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law'. Or another example is when  the Apostle Paul describes the law of sowing and reaping Paul says in Galatians 6:7, 9:

“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ... So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

 

God's character integrity operates on love, but His rewards operate on your expression of that love (Revelation 22:12, 1 Samuel 26:23, Hebrews 11:6). Salvation is not a reward. It is a free gift (Ephesians 2:7-8, Romans 6:23, 3:23-24, Titus 3:5, John 3:16). God is love means that He has an endless supply of mercy and grace that is applied justly to everyone. However, people that refuse to enter a relationship with Him will not see the totality of God and the reciprocity of this relationship. It’s a mindset of love and responsibility that maintains a relationship with God, and your commitment is demonstrated when you take action that is consistent with this (your) mind and attitude (Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16). Doing this proves God to the world (Matthew 3:8,  5:17-18). The use of the word authentic is another way of describing a mature Christian who holds himself accountable to God’s standards (Exodus 18:20-21, Matthew 5:43-48).

 

As a Christian, motives drive behavior and God knows our motives (1 Chronicles 29:17, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:4). So, just like a rule following, obedient, Christian will respond to God out of obligation, a mature, gracious Christian personalizes God’s mercy and grace, and responds freely with justice and integrity - wanting all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 18:23, John 3:16, 1 John 3:17).​ "Freely" because it’s Christ that rules your heart, and it's your knowledge of His character that enables you to do the good you know to do without feeling pressured, and without the worry of needing to be perfect or to impress others (Colossians 3:15, James 4:17, https://www.gotquestions.org/let-peace-Christ-rule-hearts.html).The balance of works and grace is summed up by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10, 58:​

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. … . Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”​

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Applying Christian Theology ...

The balance of works and grace is maintained by resting in God and is much like how obedience is a natural outpouring of both the proper balance of the fear and love of God (Exodus 20:20, 22-23, Deuteronomy 10:12, Psalm 2:11, Philippians 2:12-13, 1:6, 9-11, Hebrews 4:1, Matthew 11:28-30). When you live inside the boundaries of a holy loving God, you will feel safe, secure and free (see Appendix 2H). Loving God changes your perspective from obligation to trust - proven by voluntary compliance (John 15:8, James 2:13-14). Having this perspective protects you from being carried away by the temptations of the world with the goal to please yourself, as was the case for King Solomon.​ It also guards against a works based mentality* regarding your salvation (2 Timothy 1:8-9).

• *Secular Christian is a phrase used to describe a Christian in heart but hasn’t learned to single-mindedly express God’s Holy love.) 

 

Being justified by your confession of faith secures everlasting spiritual life but it doesn’t change your physical life until you act on your spiritual condition. (Hope sees, Faith believes, Trust acts and Love persists!) Me-centered thinking sometimes confuses the difference between the justification, sanctification and glorification processes of Christianity (Romans 8:29, 2 Timothy 2:21, John 17:22, Romans 2:7).

• Your physical righteousness is what brings glory to God (Romans 6:13, 6:19, Philippians 1:16).

• Your spiritual righteousness was an immediate result of a heartfelt confession of Christ. It is a work done by God as a result of your heartfelt belief (John 3:1-21, Romans 10:1-13).

• Your Spiritual sanctification was immediate too as a result of Holy Spirit in your heart (Romans 8:28, Hebrews 10:14). However, to see the benefits of your spiritual condition today, you need to transform (change your secular behavioral habits) and show the results of this transformation physically in your A, B, C's.) Allowing the Holy Spirit (D) to lead you into reshaping your Attitude and Behavior so you glean better Consequences - today.

• The physical sanctification process is your physical transformation process (Christlikeness, C), a life-long journey of progressive changes made to your behavior. You learn to change your physical habits to align with God's holiness. It's not the results of your intentions that please the Lord, it's your motive.  (Ephesians 5:1-2, Appendix 1M).

• Glorification is also two-fold. Spiritually you will be made perfect when you enter heaven bringing glory to God, but physically you can glorify God through your actions - today. This is achieved by your decision to honor God above all else as you live your life (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 2:12). While God imputes righteousness into our spirits, we need to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 1:6), and willingly enter into the physical change process. This is what makes your spiritual transformation into Christlikeness become a reality in this physical world so you'll ShinE   God in you, D(A + B) = C  = Eternal Excellence.

 

In the New Testament, Romans 12:1-3 implies that because of Christ’s work as a physical sacrifice for sin, our work is done for us Spiritually by God, but our gratitude is shown by physically doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Deciding to walk down the "highway of holiness" for the rest of your physical life on earth is an on-going part of your process of sanctification (Isaiah 35:8). The fear and trembling refers to the performance tension of changing habits, not the fear of consequences. Perfection is not the goal of the holiness command in Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:2, 1:15-16, nor is it possible in this life. It comes from God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness (Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 43:25, 1 Corinthians 1:9).

 

Even when you are faithless and disillusioned, God's promises remain true and so your hope can always stay alive (Romans 3:3-4, John 3:17, 1 John 4:19, Ephesians 1:7, 2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Peter 1:3-6, 1 John 5:13-14, see "Take Hold of Biblical Hope").​ It’s your dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit that leads you to fully express the love from your confidence of being in Christ that brings you the peace from hope fulfilled (Hebrews 11:1, 6:19-20, Revelation 22:2, Romans 15:13, Laminations 3:25-26). This is the mystery of Christian faith; “that is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:14-16, Ephesians 3:19, Colossians 1:26-27, 1 Peter 2:9). ​Christians stand out in the crowd when their conversation credits God because gratitude provokes merciful actions while entitlement stifles loving and authentic responses (Colossians 4:6, Matthew 5:13-14, 16, 1 Corinthians 9:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude to God for the gift of Christs’ Spirit in you is an active present state that brings forth restful, peaceful and loving actions that glorify God (Colossians 3:15-17, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). On a larger scale, Christianity can provoke social responsibility (Leviticus 19:18, Exodus 22:21–24, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 1:17, 58:7, Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 25:31–46, Galatians 6:2). 

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Do you know God?

What is your response to God's grace? 

 

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

​Ephesians 4:32