Pleasing God: A Response of Love, Not an Attempt to Earn Salvation
One of the greatest misunderstandings in the Christian life is the idea that because we are saved by grace through faith, any effort to grow, obey, or serve the Lord is somehow an attempt to “earn” our salvation. This thinking leads to a dangerous neglect of the biblical call to live in a way that pleases God.
The truth is, our salvation is entirely a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), but how we live after we are saved matters deeply. The Christian life is not about trying to be “good enough” for God but about responding to His love with joyful obedience.
Rather than seeing obedience as a burden, we should see it as an expression of gratitude. Seeking to please God is not an act of legalism but an act of love. As Scripture teaches, our pursuit of holiness and obedience is carried out in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit—not in our own strength.
Let’s explore what it means to live in a way that pleases the Lord, addressing some common misunderstandings along the way.
1. We Are Called to Seek What Pleases the Lord
Some might say, "Since we are already perfect in Christ, why worry about how we live?" But Scripture is clear: we are called to actively seek to please God in our daily lives.
“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9, NASB)
“So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10, NASB)
“That you excel even more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NASB)
These passages make it clear: our daily actions matter to God. While Christ’s righteousness is credited to us at salvation, we are still called to live in a way that honors Him.
Seeking to please God is not about insecurity over our salvation but about deepening our relationship with Him. Just as a loving child desires to please a good parent—not to earn their love, but as a response to it—so we, as God’s children, desire to please Him.
2. Faith Is the Foundation for Pleasing God
Our efforts to please God must be rooted in faith—not in a works-based attempt to earn His favor.
“And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NASB)
True obedience flows from trust in God’s character. If we do not truly believe that He is good, loving, and wise, our attempts to obey will feel like dry religious duty rather than joyful worship.
Faith and obedience are not opposites—they go hand in hand. When we trust God fully, we will want to live in a way that pleases Him.
3. We Offer Ourselves as Living Sacrifices
Romans 12:1-2 beautifully expresses the heart of Christian obedience:
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1, NASB)
This verse reminds us that our efforts to please God are not about trying to be worthy but about offering ourselves fully to Him in gratitude.
This means:
Surrendering our will to His
Living in a way that honors Him
Letting His Spirit renew our minds
We do this not to earn salvation but because we have already received so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3).
4. We Live to Please God, Not People
A common trap is living for the approval of others rather than for the approval of God. Paul warns against this:
“For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, NASB)
When our motivation is to gain the applause of men, we will compromise on truth and neglect what truly pleases God. But when our hearts are set on pleasing Him alone, we will walk in boldness and faithfulness.
5. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Pleasing God
One of the greatest dangers in discussing obedience and holy living is to think that we must do this in our own strength. But our efforts to please God must always be Spirit-empowered.
“And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8, NASB)
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13, NASB)
It is not about striving in our flesh but about yielding to the Spirit. He is the One who enables us to walk in a way that pleases the Lord.
This means:
We don’t obey out of fear but out of love.
We don’t obey by sheer willpower but by His Spirit.
We don’t obey for acceptance but from acceptance.
As we rely on the Spirit, our efforts to please God become a joyful partnership with Him rather than a crushing burden.
6. Pleasing God in Our Conduct and Obedience
Living to please God is not just about internal faith but about external action.
“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10, NASB)
“Now may the God of peace… equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ.” (Hebrews 13:20-21, NASB)
God calls us to walk in obedience, not as a means of salvation but as a reflection of it.
We are called to:
Pursue holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Bear fruit in good works (Colossians 1:10)
Love and serve others (Galatians 5:13)
Grow in knowledge and wisdom (2 Peter 3:18)
These are not burdens—they are blessings that flow from a heart devoted to Christ.
Conclusion: Loving Obedience as a Response to Grace
Seeking to please God is not about trying to earn something from Him—it is about responding in love and gratitude for all He has done.
“We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NASB)
When we truly grasp the depth of His grace, our hearts will long to please Him—not out of duty, but out of devotion.
So let us live each day seeking to please our Lord—not as slaves trying to earn His favor, but as children who delight in their Father.
Does your heart desire to please Him? If so, rejoice—because that desire itself is evidence of His Spirit at work in you!