When you do a good deed, remember what the Lord said: “Without me, you can do nothing” (John. 15:5). Because the source of all virtues is God, like the sun that is the source of daily light.
The Lord, wanting to show that every commandment is a duty for human beings, while adoption is a gift offered to them which is made with His own blood, says: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (Luke. 17:10). That is why the Kingdom of God, Heaven, is not a reward but a gift offered by the Lord to His faithful servants.
A slave can not demand freedom as a reward, but pleases his master and, therefore, one expects it as a gift.
Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15: 3), and freedom is offered to those who serve Him well. Because He says: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21).
He is not yet a faithful servant who relies on simple knowledge but one who by obedience shows his faith in Christ who gave the commandments.
One, who honours the Lord, carries out his commands. When one makes mistakes or disobeys, he endures the trials that will come because they are responsible for their fate.
Some people, even though they are not carrying out the orders, think that they actually believe in God the right way. Others carry them out but await the Kingdom of God, Heaven, as a reward which God owes to them. They are both wrong.
A master owes no wages to his slaves; slaves who have not served properly do not receive their freedom.
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) and, therefore, it is obvious that we must continue being His slaves until death. So why do we think that He owes our adoption to us?
Christ is our Lord in terms of our existence and He is also our Lord because he is our Saviour. Because he created us, while we did not exist, and redeemed us from our sins with His own blood. He gave His grace to those who actually believe.
Source: koinoniaorthodoxias.org