“I can do it on my own!” That thought is ingrained in us from childhood. How often don’t kids insist on taking on impossible tasks with false self-confidence—“I can do it on my own!” Life is often the slow realization that there are a whole lot of things we can’t do on our own—including save ourselves. Yet, how often don’t we insist on taking on the impossible task of saving ourselves with false self-confidence? “I’ve got to take the first step.” “I opened my heart to Jesus.” “I live a good life.” “If anyone’s going to be in heaven, it’s me!” In other words, we say to God, “I can do it on my own!”
Know what God says? “You can’t!” We’re sinful! But then God adds this wonderful truth: You don’t have to do it on your own. God has a much better way. “In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17). The Bible’s great gospel message is that the righteousness (or perfection) we need to be saved doesn’t depend on us at all. It depends on Jesus—from first to last. We’re saved by faith from start to finish. From beginning to end. It’s not up to us to start our relationship with God. It’s not up to us to finish it. It all depends on God’s grace in Jesus! The next time you realize you can’t do it on your own, smile! You don’t have to. Jesus did! We’re saved by faith from first to last.
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