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What characterizes the Christian life? There are many things we should and should not do as believers. We should NOT lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, cuss, kick the cat, or be a brat. We should attend church, read our Bible, pray, give money, go to small group, and work in the nursery if there is a need. But, doing ANYTHING - or not doing other things, - does not define Christianity. Only the GOSPEL defines Christianity. Christianity is about two things: trust and gratitude.

TRUST

When we truly trust God, then things like love, belief, and faith just tend to come naturally. So much is said about faith being 'a means to an end' - or getting what we desire (healing, a job, a restored marriage, or whatever). But when you truly examine the New Testament text, faith is always directed toward God, what he has done, and who we are in him because of what he has done. It does not begin in us. Instead, it is a response to God.

You see this as early as Abraham in Genesis, being called by God to go to a place he would be shown. He is 'the father of our faith,' and his faith wasn't in some GOAL, but in GOD. This is the same thing Paul says "I know WHOM I have believed" (I Tim 1:12). Trust is not about a WHAT, but is about a WHOM. Without trust, nothing in the Christian life works. If you think about it, unbelief in who God said they were was the motivation for original sin in Eden. Adam and Eve didn't believe they were in the image of God, and wanted to be 'more like God' (Gen 3:5). Being in the image of God, you can't be more like God unless you are God.

GRATITUDE

Learning to truly trust God, his love for us, and who he as made us to be in Christ creates love for God and others, and is shown in peace, joy, patience, etc. Gratitude is the LANGUAGE spoken if we live a gospel lifestyle." It is born in trust. Paul calls it 'thanksgiving. He says, 'In ALL things give thanks' (I Thess 5:23). We don't choose what to give thanks for because gratitude is not born in life circumstances, but is instead born in trust. The first looks at the GOAL, the second looks to GOD.

I've come to see that too many Christians are afraid to give Jesus too much credit. We see regarding the future end times vs. the finished work of the cross. Most Christians don't believe Jesus: "It is finished!" With their trust eroded, they really can't live in gratitude, because they're waiting for him to return to finish what he started in his life, death and resurrection (sic). The GOSPEL is the revelation of the finished work of the cross.

This might be called, 'the religion of done.' It reveals who we are in Christ (or as Romans 1:16-17 says, our imparted righteousness). Living in the gospel's power causes us to live (1) in total trust in God, and (2) in total gratitude toward God.

(Next: Thankfulness Is Not Being Joyful In All Things).