"The Gospel Series - We Cannot Save Ourselves"

 

2nd.Corinthians 5:21 "For HE hath made HIM to be sin for us, WHO knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in HIM."

     The Gospel -- the "good news" of eternal life based upon the person and work of JESUS CHRIST -- is offensive to mankind because it tells us that we cannot save ourselves. Once again, consider the words of 1st.Corinthians 15:3 (Pictured above): "CHRIST died for our sins." As sinful human beings, we cannot do anything to make ourselves righteous. No acts of goodness or charity could ever enable us to measure up to the perfect standard of a righteous and Holy GOD. We are hopeless and helpless in and of ourselves.

     The cry of the secular humanist in today's culture is this: We do not need anyone -- including a Supreme Being -- to save us; we can and must save ourselves; in fact, we will save ourselves. The idea of being utterly powerless, according to the works of the flesh, to fix our brokenness is totally offensive to the proud and self-sufficient (yet self-deluded) person who thinks so highly of himself. Yet today's text is clear: A just (perfect and righteous) ONE needed to be a substitute for the unjust. It is impossible for one who is dead in sins to provide himself or herself with spiritual life. Romans 5:6 (pictured above) also makes it plain that, prior to trusting in CHRIST, we were "without strength." In other words, we had absolutely no ability to obtain for ourselves salvation and peace.

Missing hiker found by a search party.

     Rather than being full of pride and offense because we cannot save ourselves, we should possess a heart of gratitude. On a physical level, we do not find lost hikers who are "too proud to be saved" when they are lost in the wilderness; rather, they are full of joy and thanksgiving for those who rescued them when they could not save themselves. Our response to GOD, likewise, should be that of humble appreciation. MDC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Jule

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