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Why I Gave Up Trying to Live the Christian Life

“For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest . . .”

~ Hebrews 4:10-11

This blog post has been revised and turned into a chapter in The Rethinking Series.

The series includes each book in PDF, Kindle, and Nook formats.

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Category: Spirituality

About Frank Viola

Frank Viola is a best-selling author, blogger, speaker, and consultant to authors and writers. His mission is to help serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. To learn more about Frank and his work, go to 20 Years of Projects. To invite Frank to speak at your event, go to his Speaking Page. Due to a new problem with persistent spam that we haven’t figured out how to control, comments are closed for the present time. To contact Frank, use the “Contact” page in the top menu.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jhunnelle

    October 16, 2013 at 7:36 PM

    Just done listening to the podcast it’s a mind-blowing teaching. I thank The Lord for your life, for your generosity and for allowing me to find your blog online

  2. Dusty Cooper

    July 7, 2012 at 4:14 PM

    This is something God brought home to me after I had given up myself through the old book, The Key to Triumphant Christian Living by Jack Taylor. This book is based on Colossians 1:27, “…Christ IN you, the hope of glory.” It is my surrender God wants, not my struggles, to let Him live through me, not me trying to imitate Him. Awesome blog, even more awesome message…thanks, Frank!

  3. Kevin

    June 19, 2012 at 7:19 AM

    i agree wholeheartedly.i have tried for soooooooooo long 2 b a good christian that pleases GOD. Over 20 years i’ve tried!Your words are refreshing they have given me a renewed purpose in life.It must be HIM because i have proven that i can’t do it alone. Thanks 4 reminding me.We are all failures without HIM (JESUS)That’s why HE came 2 prove it to us.

  4. JohnD

    June 9, 2012 at 1:31 PM

    No wonder Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” When a person finally realizes the mystery of Colossians which says that it is Christ in you, your hope of glory, the lights begin to go on and praises begin to flow.

  5. Kayla

    April 23, 2012 at 7:53 AM

    I may listen to that message once I can secure an interpreter for it. Maybe a transcript or something similar for those of us who can’t hear well? Just a suggestion, brother!

    I love this post, though! I love #3 in your reasons. Jesus lived by his father’s indwelling life and that’s the life I want to live.

    • Frank Viola

      April 23, 2012 at 7:57 AM

      No worries. A book will come out next year based on the transcripts. So you’re good. 😉

  6. SAM

    April 21, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    Great stuff and so glad to know someone else is in the same place too.

  7. Skip Rigney

    April 16, 2012 at 10:20 PM

    Dallas Willard is famous for saying, “Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning. Earning is an attitude, effort is action. Without effort, we would be nowhere.” That makes sense to me. What is hard to synthesize and articulate is: how do we expend effort / strive (a word Paul used in a positive way) / and “work out our salvation” (again, a phrase used by Paul), while simultaneously “entering into God’s rest, and resting in our labors” (as per Hebrews 4)?

    • Frank Viola

      April 17, 2012 at 6:50 AM

      I agree with Willard, however, going deeper than that statement is the question of “what is the SOURCE of the effort?” That’s the real issue. The source of the labor. Is it our life or Christ’s life? Paul strove in the energy of Jesus Christ, not his own – Galatians 2:20.

  8. Anne Bosworth

    April 16, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    I really enjoyed this post, Frank. It really is a comfort as I continue others who have (as I have often said myself…thinking myself so amusing and original…HA!) “given up for Lent” the effort to live the Christian life. I finally came to the place where I had to believe that God is far more honored when I use my ATP differently…for the Spirit guide me to love Him and enjoy Him. Trying to live the Christian life sucked everything of value out of my instinctual over-achiever’s heart, and turned me into a depressed soul with nothing that resembled healthy confidence. I was utterly exhausted, entirely dissatisfied, and mired in self-loathing…no use to God or anyone. Can’t say that I’ve figured it all out now, but I’m certainly far more liberated and in love with Jesus than I was. I’ll take it!

  9. Bro. Laurence

    March 29, 2012 at 2:39 AM

    We would appreciate if someone would transcript “Living by the Spirit” for the benefits of people who don’t have an ability to hear.

  10. Roger Ferguson

    March 28, 2012 at 9:16 PM

    Where can I get the rest of the messages shared in the Toledo, Ohio conference, especially what was shared on Sunday?

    • Frank Viola

      March 28, 2012 at 9:32 PM

      Read the comments as I’ve answered this already. Sunday wasn’t recorded. I’d also encourage you to read these two pages carefully as they will prove educational for you: http://www.ptmin.org/top100 & http://www.ptmin.org/academic – by contrast, some people never give their sources when they speak or write and thus people mistakenly think that everything they say is original with them.

  11. David M

    March 28, 2012 at 6:00 PM

    I will definitely give this a listen as soon as I can. I’m so glad you recommended me to your page, Frank. So blessed to find people who are asking the same questions I’ve been wondering for so long and finding the answers in His Word! Jesus is enough.

    • David M

      March 28, 2012 at 7:57 PM

      You just referenced Toonces the Driving Cat. hahahaha. No way.

  12. kenneth dawson

    March 28, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    hi frank–wonderfull message–whenever i read something good on the internet i print it and i did this one then i read it and write notes and here are my notes–i stop with my attempts-i cannot live the christian life he must live it in and thru me just like god lived the god life thru jesus-i do not live the christian life-im dead-now christ lives the christian life out of me-igive up-you do the livin lord–the christian life–its impossible for me and himpossible for god when i get out of the way.

  13. Tamara Buchan

    March 28, 2012 at 5:53 PM

    I agree completely. I find the more we focus on behavior, the worse it gets.

    I encourage God’s people to experience his love and to find the true identity he gives them. It is through this foundation that obedience becomes something we want to do, and so we seek after the Spirit to enable us.

    It then becomes a joy to align our lives with Christ’s life.

    Thanks for your valuable words.

  14. Courtney Cantrell

    March 28, 2012 at 5:36 PM

    FRANK!!! Post + audio = MY MIND BLOWN. I don’t even have words to express everything running through heart, mind, and spirit right now. The good news is that *spirit* definitely resonates (not just mind!)!

    Two things stick with me in particular: One, these aren’t just abstract concepts, Good and Sin. This is the pure, glorious lifeform of Christ and the corrupt-angelic lifeform of satan. The lifeform of satan quashes my every attempt to “do good.” No wonder I can’t fight it. BUT the lifeform GOOD lives in me and seeks to live what I cannot. What a relief.

    What a Christ!

    The other thing that sticks with me is a reaffirmation that none of this happens individually; it happens corporately. I’m only at the very beginning of comprehension of what that means…but the small peeks I’ve had at this truth have so far been glorious. I can’t wait for more!

    I’ve shared this post on Facebook — and this time, I remembered to use the “share” button. ; )

  15. Julia

    March 28, 2012 at 12:30 PM

    I’m in my 20s. A friend turned me on to this this morning. Wow! It blew me away. My friends and I don’t hear this. We only hear “Do this, don’t do that, and try really hard at it.” What you said really spoke to me. Thank you.

  16. Lisa A. Brown

    March 28, 2012 at 12:09 PM

    Dear Frank, I just finished listening to your message ‘Living by the Spirit’ and it is a beautiful TRUTH! Knowing there is No Condemnation to those IN Christ Jesus is what the Lord had shown me over the past few years and I became so free. It is so true. I was in so much bondage to the point of despair. When I realized how much the Lord loves me and I began to experience that LOVE is when my whole life began to change. As I write these words even today I am so moved by all that Christ has done for us and my heart aches for those that are like I used to be. It was awful.
    I am still learning and experiencing more with the group of saints here in RI. As I stated in the above post just this past week the Lord started opening up to us who gather together in Him Gal. 2:20 and Romans. How wonderful that you shared this post today. My heart is filled with gratitude and awe.
    Please tell me how we can hear the rest of this beautiful message that you and brother Milt shared. How I long to hear the rest of that message. Thank you again.
    Lisa A Brown

    • Frank Viola

      March 28, 2012 at 12:13 PM

      Thanks for your kind words. Go the CHRIST IS ALL podcast and you’ll hear another talk on Romans 8 from that conference that I delivered: http://www.ptmin.org/audio-mp3s (the podcast is on iTunes also). Those two messages are all that’s online from that particular conference. But there are many other talks on the same podcast from other conferences.

      • Lisa A. Brown

        March 28, 2012 at 1:32 PM

        Oh thank you so much! Last Friday I ordered all 3 Threshold Conference mp3s on CD’s from your website. I am so excited and cannot wait to hear them. Thank you again.

        LB

  17. Mike

    March 28, 2012 at 12:09 PM

    This message and many before it have been a continual blessing and encouragement.

  18. Lenny

    March 28, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    Great post… I have seen these same 5 things in my life too… and oh what a wild roller coaster ride it’s been since then.

  19. Thomas

    March 28, 2012 at 11:52 AM

    New to your blog. 32 years old, been a Christian since I was a child. Your message was awesome. Are you speaking at any conferences this year? Glad you have more on the podcast.

  20. mark

    March 28, 2012 at 10:47 AM

    It wasn’t until I realized the need to lay down #1 that I could even be open to #2-5. I’m very thankful that your ministry led me down this direction and opened me to the Spirit in new ways. It has changed so much for me.

  21. KinleyW

    March 28, 2012 at 10:42 AM

    Paul has a such am amazing way of using therefores, howevers, and buts. Too many times we get stuck living before these paradigm shifting phrases. Romans 8:1-2 is one of the biggest. I reached the point of moving past Romans 7 recently myself. Looking forward to the download finishing so I can listen to your message. In Ir*q… so it says I have another 30 minutes. Bringing Beyond Evangelical to Kurdi$tan. :o)

  22. Vanessa Hancock

    March 28, 2012 at 10:34 AM

    A needed word in the reality of this day.

  23. Tim

    March 28, 2012 at 10:30 AM

    Just listened to it. I’m 27 and part of the new Reformed movement. I’ve NEVER heard anything like this. Amazing!

  24. Shar

    March 28, 2012 at 10:04 AM

    Frank, this is why I love you, why I subscribe to your blog and pass your words along. Yes. Thank you for hammering this in again and again.

  25. Lisa A Brown

    March 28, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    Dear Frank_ I am so thrilled about today’s post! Over the past few years I have been realizing that I can’t do anything on my own without the Lord and just this past week when the group of saints gathered together Gal. 2:20 was the theme we gleaned upon. My daughter and I have read and reread ‘The Normal Christian Life’ and just this past week I had finally realized why Paul said he lived by the faith of the Son of God. It was so wonderful how I finally understood how and why Paul was able to say that. Of course it was because he lived by the indwelling Spirit within. How excited I became and still am. We also focused on reckoning ourselves dead… I believe we will experience more revelation about Truth as time goes on. I just know I am so much more at rest_ in rest than I ever was before. I can’t wait to listen to your message and I am going to let every saint in the gathering know about this message. God is so faithful and so amazing. You have no idea how timely this post and your message is. Thank You_ Lisa A Brown

  26. Phil Mertens

    March 28, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    Thanx for the audio-file. I’m curious to hear that.

  27. Quincy Zikmund

    March 28, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    This reminds me of the statement Watchman Nee makes in The Normal Christian Life. He said “I cannot please God so I’m going to stop trying.” That statement shook my world and has become one of the biggest things I’ve had pounded into my head and spirit from my own study and other close friends. When you think about it, this is really one of the most foundational facts of the Christian life. It’s sad that it’s just not very commonly known, at least not subjectively known. Thanks for sharing!

    • David M

      March 28, 2012 at 5:59 PM

      I was just about to comment about “the Normal Christian Life.” I’m currently going through that book, as well, and it is so crazy how often we overlook what Paul is really talking about in Romans 6-8; we WALK by the Spirit, not work into it. It’s a natural occurrence when we truly let God do what He is desiring to do.

  28. Mary

    March 28, 2012 at 8:31 AM

    It’s such a relief to just stop and relax in Jesus! I’m there too.

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Frank Viola

Frank is a bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, and blogger. He helps serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. His blog – frankviola.org – is regularly ranked in the top 5 of all Christian blogs on the Web and his podcast – Christ is All – has ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in the USA on Apple Podcasts. He and his conversation partners also host The Insurgence Podcast. Frank’s books have sold over 600,000 copies and they’ve been translated into many languages.

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