A believer is not just reformed or changed, but a new creature by the power of God’s salvation. (2 Cor 5: 17) Before God, the Christian has nothing to fear because out of nothing, God has made them perfect. So far we have learned, God’s mercy is behind our salvation, He is faithful to keep His promise of salvation, He is powerful to accomplish salvation and His grace grants the believer their salvation. The salvation of sinners is His grand project and primary focus in all creation.
What’s the purpose? (Luke 1:74)
The reason God so wondrously saves is so that we may serve Him. He is our new good and loving Master. Previously we served only ourselves, but now we serve the living God, not begrudgingly or unfairly, but with love and thanks. To serve God does not just mean a ministry or a position at church. Serving is worship to God and to live in obedience to His word. In Exodus, God brought the Israelites out of Egypt to serve him, to worship Him and to celebrate His salvation. (Exodus 5:1, Exodus 9:1)
How do you know you are serving God properly?
Examine your heart for division. A divided heart is dangerous while serving the Lord because it deceives and blinds the person from their true condition. This blindness will lead to unfaithfulness God’s word, like the Israelites who failed to serve the Lord wholeheartedly in the wilderness (Deut 1:34-36, 40). Naturally our hearts will falter and fail, but that’s the process of sanctification. We must not remain stuck at justification, but progress on to wholehearted obedience (Heb 5:11-13, 1 Cor 3:1-3). In Jesus, we have to reason to fear God even if we do fail at times. He is our High priest who advocates for us and intercedes on our behalf (Heb 4:14-16). This confidence should launch us into prayer at all times as we serve Him.
How to serve God?
To serve God properly, we need the righteousness of Christ which is given as took on our sin and bore the punishment on our behalf. This exchange at the center of the gospel is the foundation for acceptable service unto God.
We must serve God in holiness and righteousness. These are two sides of the same coin, holiness is internal while righteousness is acts externally. To act righteously without holiness is hypocrisy, like the Pharisees which were condemned. Your act of service is an attempt to deceive the Lord.
Holiness is a righteous character at all times. It is your character conforming to the character of God. Jesus is our example, who showed true service through word and deed (Lk 24:19). A zealous heart is not enough, but like Christ, we desire a holiness driven by God’s truth and love. The Pharisees are our warning, they failed to be holy and God judged their deeds as lawlessness (Mt 7:23, Rom 10:1-4). However, a holy heart produces righteousness. A holy heart acts on the Word of God, places its trust in the word of God and goes through life in the Word of God.
Salvation is the actualization of Jesus Christ and the gospel. Through salvation, God equips us with holiness and righteousness. We serve in the presence of God, `before Him all our days`. A Chistian is saved to be the light of God in the world, to serve in holiness and righteousness, so that others may also be saved.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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