Church versus Bar

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

Happen to see this on the internet by chance:

QUOTE
A man went to church. He forgot to switch off his phone and it rang during prayer. The pastor scolded him. The worshippers admonished him after prayers for interrupting the silence. His wife kept on lecturing him on his carelessness all the way home. One could see the shame, embarrassment and humiliation on his face. After all this, he never stepped foot in the church again.

That evening, he went to a bar. He was still nervous and trembling. He spilled his drink on the table by accident. The waiter apologized and gave him a napkin to clean himself. The janitor mopped the floor. The female manager offered him a complimentary drink. She also gave him a huge hug and a peck while saying, "Don't worry man. Who doesn't make mistakes?" He has not stopped going to that bar since then.
UNQUOTE

Profit motivation seems to work better than gratitude-motivation.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)

Law Cannot Save, Jesus Saves

The law cannot save.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. (Galatians 3:11 CSB)

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20 ESV)

The law brings condemnation.

For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (Romans 4:15 ESV)

Jesus saves by fulfilling the law on our behalf.

For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law's requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4 CSB)

For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. (Hebrews 10:1a BSB)

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24 BSB)

When we are saved, our lives will reflect the law.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15 KJV)

This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. (1 John 2:3 CSB)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15 BSB)

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV)

The Difference That Is Grace

Christian living is grace motivated, confident in the works of Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

The different behaviour of two wives
Grace - The wife who knows that her husband loves her is joyful and confident.
Works - The wife who does not know is nervous and miserable, striving to keep her husband happy.

The two different ways a father admonish his son:
Grace - You should not do this bad thing because you are my son - focus on relationship.
Works - You did this bad thing! You are a bad boy! - focus on behavior.

The grace of God is based on our standing / relationship with God in Christ. Fellowship may change but relationship does not.

Stewardship of the Gospel

Scope and Responsibility
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. (1 Corinthians 9:16-17 ESV)
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV)

Motivation
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21 KJV)
As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. (Ecclesiastes 5:15 ESV)
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7 KJV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)

Requirement
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV)
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? (Luke 16:10-11 ESV)
For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:7-8 ESV)

Quantifying Performance

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22 ESV)

When a rule is made in good faith to quantify the performance of the heart, there will always be a Pharisee who will do the minimum to avoid judgement and to claim merit, without a change of heart.

The Law cannot save. It kills.

Motivated By Grace

And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:15 HCSB)

The grace of God should spurred us into action.

Will of God

1. Believe in Jesus to have eternal life
For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40 HCSB)

2. All come to repentance
...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

3. Give ourselves to the Lord first
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. (2 Corinthians 8:5 KJV)

4. Give thanks for everything
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

5. Do good to silence fools
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (1 Peter 2:15 KJV)

6. Do good even if it involve suffering
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (1 Peter 3:17 KJV)
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)

7. Abstain from fornication
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (1 Thessalonians 4:3 KJV)

Motivation and reason to do God's will:
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2 NASB)

Gratitude-Fueled Good Works

Christian good works are fueled by our gratitude to God.

We love, because He first love us.

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)

We forgive, because we were forgiven.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

We give, because we were given.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8 KJV)

Unlike the meritocratic religions where there are incentives to do good works, for the Christians, the rewards are assured and given. Thus some Christians are not too motivated to do good works. The quantity and quality of the good works are affected by our knowledge of how much we are loved by God, how much we are forgiven and how much we are given. Our knowledge of this is affected by the awareness of the following gaps:

1. Saved into and saved from gap;
2. Holiness of God and sinfulness of self gap;
3. Love of God and Wrath of God gap.

Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.
When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him - she’s a sinner!"
Jesus replied to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Teacher," he said, "say it."
"A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?"
Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave more."
"You have judged correctly," He told him. Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"
And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." (Luke 7:36-50 HCSB)

Motivation

Christians must be motivated by gratitude to Christ for His salvation so rich and free.

Rewards

Rewarder
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

Rewards
God is our exceeding great reward:
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1 KJV)

Keeping of God's word has great reward:
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:11 KJV)

Love your enemies and receive a reward:
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. (Proverbs 25:21-22 KJV)
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (Luke 6:35 ESV)

Christians will be rewarded according to works:
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NASB)

Reward for the Persecuted:
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 KJV)

Reward for the Prosperous:
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." (Luke 18:22 ESV)

Motivation
Christ's motivation:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Abraham's motivation:
By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:9-10 HCSB)

Moses's motivation:
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11:26 ESV)

The doctrine of eternal rewards for our obedience is the neglected key to unlocking our motivations. Bruce Wilkinson.

Action
Work towards the prize
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 KJV)
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV)

Do not despise your birthright
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Hebrew 12:16 KJV)

Ultimate
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17 KJV)