Why do Christians live the way they do rather than trying to earn God's favor?
Christians live as they do not to earn God's favor, since no one can make points with the Almighty or merit His favor. Instead, they respond to what God has already done for them and through them, being led by the Spirit as God's children and joint heirs with Christ.
Les explains that this is the secret of the Christian life the world cannot understand. The world assumes Christians live the way they do to make points with the Almighty, but Les says that is not it at all. Believers cannot make points with God or do anything to merit His favor. Rather, they are responding to what He has done for them and through us. Romans 8:14 says as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God; verse 16 says the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are already the children of God; and verse 17 says if we are children, then we are heirs, joint heirs with Christ. This identity, not earning favor, explains Christian living. The passage also goes on to Romans 10:9 about confessing the Lord Jesus and believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead.