There is a significant misunderstanding within Evangelical Christianity, leading many of God’s children to believe that their behavior plays no role in their salvation. This misconception arises from a misinterpretation of Paul’s teachings, whose words, when taken out of context, can seem to support this view.

[Romans 4:5] And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…

[Ephesians 2:8-9] 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.

[Titus 3:5] He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…

Whatever these verses mean, it’s clear that Paul is not saying that our works have nothing to do with our salvation, because the same Paul also said:

[Romans 2:13] It is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

[1 Corinthians 7:19] Neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

[1 Corinthians 9:21] To those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law.

These verses are unequivocal. The same Paul who emphasized faith and grace also underscored the importance of being doers of the law and keeping God’s commandments. He boldly stated that he was under the law of Christ, which is God’s law under the New Covenant. Thus, works do matter.

This perfectly aligns with the teachings of Jesus Himself, who taught that those who love Him will keep His commandments.

[John 14:15] If you love me, keep my commandments.

This means that failing to keep Jesus’ commandments shows a lack of love for Him. Apostle John echoes this same sentiment in his first epistle.

[1 John 2:3-4] By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

[1 John 5:3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.

Thus, according to John, those who don’t keep the commandments of Jesus show themselves to be insincere in their faith, regardless of their professed beliefs.

This concept is further echoed in Revelation, where true saints are identified not only by their belief in Jesus but also by their commitment to keeping God’s commandments.

[Revelation 14:12] Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Contrary to what you’ve been taught by misguided teachers, keeping God’s commandments is not optional. The question is not whether we need to keep them, but rather which commandments we need to keep.

Paul never suggested that obeying God and keeping His commandments is optional. His main point was that under the New Covenant, we are no longer required to keep the Old Covenant laws, not that holiness and righteousness are optional or irrelevant to our salvation.

Our behavior has everything to do with our salvation. Born-again believers are no longer sinners. It’s not that they’ve become perfect, but they no longer live in willful sin.

[Galatians 2:17] But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!

The born-again Paul was not a sinner. Please don’t twist his words to your own destruction, as so many do. God’s standard has always been and will always be the same: obedience out of love.