We Cannot Save Ourselves
We suppose that many would be apt to think that they could save themselves from their sins by doing something that pleases God; this is what every other religion in the world essentially teaches its followers. This actually couldn't be further from the truth. Logically, it makes sense to believe that “being good enough” is a lie since everyone continually falls short of the glory of God – short of God’s perfect standard and perfect law (Romans 3:23). If everyone continually falls short of God’s glory, then not one act of good or right living is just enough to save someone from their own damnation. Without an act of God’s grace, all are 100% evil; it doesn't matter what standard you live up to – because “none is righteous [– no – not one]” (Romans 3:10 English Standard Version). As Galatians 3:10 (English Standard Version) says, “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse [as] it is written, ‘Cursed [is] everyone who does not abide by [and who does not do] all things written in the Book of the Law’” – that is, all things – the entirety of God’s righteous standard.
Redemption is the Key to Freedom
Since no one can save themselves then from the physical and spiritual death that includes eternal separation from God and eternal damnation, then the truth is that all need a Savior – someone to redeem us all from the curse of the law which is death; this Savior is God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he has sent to save us all from damnation; this was accomplished through Jesus Christ who willfully took God's own wrath upon him – the punishment for our sins – so that we could find eternal life in Him (John 2:2 in the English Standard Version speaks of Jesus Christ as the “propitiation for our sins”). One of our writer’s most favorite Bible passages that speaks to this end is 2 Corinthians 5:21 (English Standard Version) which says, “For our sake [God Almighty] made [Jesus Christ] to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God;” another favorite passage of his is Romans 3:21-26 (English Standard Version): “The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law… through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. [T]here is no distinction: all have sinned and [continually] fall short of the glory of God and are justified [only] by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness because [(1)] in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins [and (2)] in the present time he would be just and [also] the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Since only the Lord Jesus Christ can redeem all of us from damnation, it is fitting for us to trust in his death and resurrection in full faith – and not in whatever acts we can do in our favor – so that we can find eternal life: an eternity in God’s presence after physical death where there is no more evil, pain, and where there is fullness of joy – an unimaginable place of rest that is more perfect than anything that your faculty of thinking can come up with.
