Either she’s right or I am.
They will either be promoted or terminated.
Either Jesus was a lunatic or the Son of God.
Sure, some things truly are either/or, but most of life takes place in the perplexing and. Christianity brilliantly conveys this, asserting that Jesus of Nazareth was and is fully divine and fully human, that salvation involves free will and divine sovereignty, that faith requires hearing and doing the Word.
Can we look at that last one for a moment? Wouldn’t you agree that sometimes we want to be expert hearers (only), as if punctual attendance at church and respectful nodding during the sermon were all that were required. Be careful: This is total self-deception.
At other times, we want to be expert doers (only), as if working to earn God’s favor and salvation were an option. Be careful: This is self-righteousness and an absolute sham.
True believers hear and do the Word. We spiritually understand the gospel, humbly receive it by grace through faith as the Holy Spirit implants it in our heart, and then nurture it like a tender shoot. But how? How do we cultivate this implanted Word of God?
By doing it.
By yielding to the Holy Spirit to actually obey it.
As we live the and—that is faith and works—hearing and doing—God liberates more of our love. We live in increasing freedom to love Him and neighbor without fear of judgment or failure. He gives the grace for this liberty as He leads us to “more fully embrace Jesus Christ who is not only the way to life, but the way of life,” as Dr. Richard says.
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*Scripture references: Luke 18.9-14; James 1.22-25, 2.12; Romans 2.1
