Have you ever heard or perhaps used the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves”? Yeah. I’ve heard it many times and in many different contexts; the thing is, this isn’t a biblical concept or teaching. It sounds good, it’s great for justifying our actions and behaviors or second portions of mashed potatoes but it’s not biblical.
One of my favorite biblical phrases comes from the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. In chapter 2, Paul reminds the Ephesians of the reality of personal sin and like them, we must remember the condition from which Jesus saved us.
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
Paul explains that all of us, without exception, are lost in our sins and cannot help ourselves. Many are moral, kind, good and law abiding but on God’s absolute scale, no one is good enough to earn salvation. If we stopped reading now, it would seem quite hopeless; however, this is where my favorite phrase and teaching comes!! “But God…”
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
We were dead in our sins, but God… We were rebels against him, but God… We were enslaved by the devil, but God… We were controlled by our sinful natures, but God… God could have left us spiritually dead, in rebellion against him and in bondage to our sins; But God… didn’t. God did not save us because of, but rather, in spite of, what he saw in us. By his grace we are saved, so that none may boast. We cannot help ourselves, only God can. We were dead, but because of Christ’s resurrection we are also now alive in Him!
(A musical reminder of this great truth; click this link)
May the Lord bless and keep you today!
