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CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso
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1994-12-23
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ESSAY 54
THE "I CAN SAVE MYSELF" MYTH
The proud person tries to be totally independent. How-
ever, there will come a time when we all will need the help
of someone else.
We were helped into this world by others: mom and dad
conceived us. Someone else helped in our delivery after nine
months. Then our parents raised us.
Teachers helped us in school.
Medical people helped us when we were ill.
Someday, the undertaker will help us after we die.
So, "I can save myself?"
The secularist believes that mankind must save itself
and not look to "deity" for help. It is true that we must do
our part in life. However, there are some things we are un-
able to do.
It should come as no surprise that God has helped us all
along. He has protected us and given us undeserved grace
throughout our lives. He wants to help us find peace of mind.
How can we find peace of mind?
First, realize that God loves us and desires an abundant
and joyous life for us:
God Loves You
God loves you and desires an abundant life for you:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John
3:16).
Not only did God tell you that he loves you, but he proved
his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love is also
expressed by the abundant life he has planned you now--in
this life as well as in the life to come. Jesus said,
The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abun-
dantly. (John 10:10).
Why is there so much evil in the world and why do many
people not experience the abundant life?
Sin is the Problem
Because people are sinful, they are cut off from God and
his blessings. The Bible teaches and human experience con-
firms that man is sinful:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God; (Romans 3:23).
Man was created for fellowship with God, but that
fellowship was broken when he rebelled against God. This sin
brought man spiritual death:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:23).
Man continually strives for the abundant life but
always falls short. Business success, wealth, education,
religion, fame, drugs, pleasure and all human substitutes
cannot fill the God-shaped void in the human heart. How does
one become reunited with God and experience the abundant
life?
Jesus Is the Solution
Jesus Christ is God's only provision to forgive your sin
and give you abundant life. Jesus died for you--he took your
penalty of death:
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet
peradventure for a good man some would even dare to
die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us. (Romans 5:7-8).
God demonstrated that Christ's death was accepted as a
sacrifice for you by raising Christ from the dead:
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I
also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was
buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures: And that he was seen
of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: After that,
he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;
of whom the greater part remain unto this present,
but some are fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
Christ is the only way to God:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(John 14:6).
It is not enough to know that God loves you, that sin
has cut you off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only
way to God.
Accept Jesus Now
You must personally receive Christ as your Lord and
Savior. The Bible states that,
But as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that be-
lieve on his name: (John 1:12).
You must receive Christ by faith:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of
works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians
2:8-9).
When you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you a
spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this being born again:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he can-
not see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3).
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. (John 3:7).
This is the most important experience that you will ever
have. God brings new life into your being. This new life
will make you like the Lord Jesus.
The Prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning the ministry of
Christ:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the
LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto
the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-
hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and
the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all
that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in
Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil
of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD,
that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3).
This word picture of Isaiah speaks of the joy of deliverance
from past guilt and bondage of sin. However, it does not
happen automatically. Christ stands at your heart's door--
you must open the door:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
(Revelation 3:20).
You can receive Christ in your heart right now. Pray
this prayer from your heart:
Almighty God, I confess that I have sinned against
you. I ask you to forgive me. I receive Christ as
my Lord and Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins
and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tell someone that you have accepted Christ as your
Savior. Please write me and tell me the good news also. (This
presentation of the plan of salvation was adapted from Dr.
Bill Bright's "Four Spiritual Laws.")
END