God wants us to be forgiven. He gives us His only Son so we can truly have the chance to "do the right thing" and accept what is freely given. But that's the only doing that He expects from us. Until we believe.
When we believe, we are opened in our hearts to the Holy Spirit -- He comes in, resides with us and changes us from the inside. He transforms us, makes us new, Resurrects our souls and takes over in our lives.
THEN, we begin to act in ways we never did before. Not because of our actions to try and reach God, but because -- through Christ -- we have already reached God and His Presence is affecting us -- changing us -- making us more Perfect.
That's the process ... it's one of Grace, Belief, Acceptance, Surrender, Indwelling, then Good Works. If you don't believe that God is in you, guiding you, talking to you, residing in your life and teaching you every day -- then you're not going to change anything by "being Good".
Believe that God is in you through Christ's Sacrifice -- then start listening.
