Good Deeds vs. Good Faith

Which good are you?

What does God say?

Romans 4:2-3 NLT
“Good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.””
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.2-3.NLT
 
Many of us believe, “If I'm a good person, I'll be right with God.”
Some of us were raised with this concept OR this idea is foreign to us. The people and choices around us, define our future.

As kids, we would copy and mimic the actions of people around us.
As a kid, freckles and all, I would copy those things around me. 

• 3rd grade year - I cussed because my friends cussed. 😂
  
• 6th grade year - I was trying to fit in, just like everyone else. 😁
• High School - I skipped school every Friday to go with friends to the beach and play sand volleyball (who wouldn't). I also got arrested on base, but that is a different story. 🫢🤯
  
• At Church - Everyone in the church is raising their hands during worship. So, I did the same thing. 🙌🏻

 We mimic the people and culture around us.

God's Culture takes us past all of that!
 
Question. Are we defining ourselves by how good we are or by faith?

Faith is trusting in God vs. mimicking the people and life around us.
 
Our passage to consider…
Romans 4:2-3 NLT
“Good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.””
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.2-3.NLT
 
Wow! This passage is very clear.
If we believe we can create salvation through good deeds or mimicking what's around us, we're wrong. God has so much more for us.
 
As scripture clearly says, if we could build it, they will come. Wait, I apologize, that's a reference from a movie called Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner.
 
As scripture clearly says, finding Faith is the key to being righteous before God.
 
Righteousness is acting with God's heart, by living with faith.
 
God tells us...
Proverbs #:5-6 NLT
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek God's will in all you do, and God will show you which path to take.

What do we believe?
Do we need to live life our way or God's way?