Gospel of Human Effort

One of the most deceptive religious practices of the evangelical church is trying to imitate Christ.  We hear teachings continually that tell us to try and act like Christ, think like Christ and be like Christ. We study Christ to see how we can imitate Him.  This is nothing less that a gospel of human effort.  Even though it is a lofty idea, it cannot work.  What then is the TRUE GOSPEL. The truth is we receive Christ by faith alone and trust Him alone to clothe us in His righteousness for salvation.  There is nothing we can add to His completed work for our salvation. Paul then states, "As you have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in Him." The same faith that saved you sanctifies you!  You must have faith in your identification with Christ alone for spiritual growth.  You identify with Christ's crucifixion, burial, resurrection and your new position as "seated in heavenly places in Christ."  (Eph. 1) Human effort absolutely plays no part in your spiritual growth. You don't become like Christ by outward works, but by inward faith, trusting the power of the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out! Paul summarizes this in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..."  Paul talks about this in the book of Galatians. Paul dealt with the outward form of circumcision. Titus came into the church uncircumcised and was even considered a heretic according to the Jewish customs. For them It was easier to look religious by outward acts, even though the Pharisees hearts were not changed. Paul said that the religious leaders wanted to boast in the circumcision of their converts. Let's be careful to not in human pride exercise an outward form of godliness, but deny the power of the transformed life.Paul calls this transformed life a "New Creation". Paul closes Galatians by saying "I boast in nothing but the cross of Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I unto the world."  Galatians 6:14   No human effort there!