What Does God Require?

In a world that often swings between extremes, we find ourselves grappling with the tension between God's grace and our responsibility. How do we reconcile the unmerited favor of God with the call to live faithfully? This question isn't new – it echoes through the ages, from the ancient Israelites to modern-day believers.

Let's look back to the book of Deuteronomy, where Moses poses a profound question to the Israelites: "What does the Lord your God require of you?" This query comes on the heels of God's incredible display of grace. The Israelites, stubborn and rebellious, had broken their covenant with God multiple times. Yet, God in His steadfast love, continued to fight for them, forgive them, and fulfill His promises.

In light of such overwhelming grace, what could God possibly expect from His people? The answer is both simple and challenging: covenant faithfulness.

Moses outlines five key aspects of this faithfulness:

1. Fear God: Not with trembling dread, but with reverent awe that recognizes His power and majesty.
2. Imitate God: Walk in His ways, reflecting His character to the world around us.
3. Love God: Commit wholeheartedly to Him, desiring Him above all else.
4. Serve God: With all our heart and soul, prioritizing His will over our own.
5. Obey God: Keep His commandments, not out of duty, but out of transformed hearts.

These requirements aren't about earning God's favor or paying Him back. Instead, they're a natural response to the transformative power of His grace. It's like the story of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. When shown unexpected mercy by a bishop, Valjean's life is radically changed. The grace he received became the catalyst for a life of compassion and benevolence.

Similarly, God's grace should lead us to a life of wholehearted devotion. But why should we be faithful? Moses provides compelling reasons:

1. God's Great Authority: He owns everything – from the smallest atom to the farthest reaches of the universe.
2. God's Glorious Identity: He is the "God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God."
3. God's Good Purpose: His commands are always for our benefit, not to rob us of joy.
4. God's Gracious Activity: He has worked mightily on our behalf, fulfilling His promises despite our failures.

Fast forward to the New Testament, and we see Jesus perfectly embodying these requirements. He feared the Father more than any enemy, imitated God flawlessly, loved unswervingly, served selflessly, and obeyed perfectly. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus established a new covenant, fulfilling the old and opening the way for us to approach God.

But does this mean we're off the hook? Does that grace negate any expectation of faithfulness? Far from it. The Apostle Paul wrestles with this tension in his letters. In Romans, he emphasizes that we are "justified by his grace as a gift," yet also calls believers to present their bodies as "living sacrifices." In Ephesians, he declares that salvation is "by grace... through faith" and "not a result of works," but immediately follows by saying we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works."

Peter echoes this sentiment, reminding believers of their identity as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation," while urging them to "abstain from the passions of the flesh" and to "keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable."

So how do we live in this tension? How do we embrace grace without falling into license, and pursue faithfulness without slipping into legalism? The key lies in understanding that our entire lives are a product of God's grace, yet within that grace, He calls us to covenant faithfulness.

This faithfulness isn't about earning salvation or God's love. It's about reflecting the transformation that has occurred in our hearts. It's about allowing the reality of what Christ has done for us to shape how we live, think, and act.

It means continually returning to the gospel, reminding ourselves of what Christ has done, and allowing that truth to propel us forward in faith. It means seeing our obedience not as a burden, but as a joyful response to the love we've received.

As we navigate this path, we'll undoubtedly stumble. We'll face moments of rebellion, doubt, and failure. But even then, God's grace remains. His covenant faithfulness doesn't waver based on our performance. Instead, it becomes the very ground on which we stand to get back up and continue the journey.

So, let us live as people transformed by grace, pursuing faithfulness not out of obligation, but out of love. Let our lives reflect the God who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. And in doing so, may we find that the path of grace-filled faithfulness is not a burden, but the very route to true freedom and joy.

You can view the sermon in its entirety below.