Christ Jesus must save us from sin, for we cannot save ourselves. How can a guilty sinner be put right with a holy God? What is a sinner's only hope in life and death before the thrice-holy God who is both our Lawgiver and Judge? These are the vital questions of life and death. All men by nature are slaves to their own vile passions and unclean desires. We are all in a sinful mess without Jesus Christ. The world incessently tries to psychologize away your sinful condition. Sin will enslave and alienate you. Human nature stubbornly tries to fix itself, but it can't, because human nature is dead in sins. There is a place called Hell, and if you have done wrong things (sins) like lying and stealing, and you know what you have done is wrong, you will go to Hell for those things. You need someone to save you from the curse and guilt of your sins.
You need a Savior, you cannot save yourself, you are in the wrong with God, you have offended God. You have worshipped gods of your own making, and loved sins that have left you feeling empty, helpless, sad, alone, and guilty. Sin always complicates life. Only the Bible tells you of your true sinful condition, and only the Holy Ghost can convince you of your dangerous sinful condition. Men are always on the defense when they are called a sinner; they try to pass the buck to someone else. The Holy Ghost must make your sin clear to you. Jesus stepped out of Eternity down into time, so He could do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Men have light thoughts of God, so they don't fear Him. Superstitious men long for a supernatural realm, a love that is stronger than death, a good that triumphs over evil, and a closer relationship with nature. But these same men and women abhor the reality and truths of the Holy Scriptures.
God is your Maker and Judge before whom you will stand and give account of yourself. Committing sins make you feel guilty and depressed, but you still love it. The standard of God is absolute Perfection, and you are busted. Your sins demand the justice of God, you need a Substitute to take your place. You have sinned against Heaven, but God is rich in mercy to sinners for Jesus' sake. The ground of salvation is in the finished work of Jesus and the free mercy of God. Help me, Lord Jesus, save me by your Grace, be merciful to me a sinner. The just punishment that was due to my sins was inflicted upon the Lamb of God for my sake. Christ Jesus bore every one of your sins which you commit every day, and He died in your place with those sins on Him, He paid the penalty for every one of your sins.
Ye must be born again spiritually, for you were born wrong the first time. *John 3:7* Regeneration is an instantaneous, inward, radical change by the Spirit and Grace of God. The Holy Ghost must change us from the inside out. Crying, feeding, crawling, resting are all symptoms of the New Birth. After we receive Jesus Christ and are born again, we begin to cry Abba, Father in supplication and prayer; we desire the sincere milk of the word of God and begin to grow; we crawl to God for help and comfort; we love resting in Jesus' arms of love and mercy. True regeneration by the Holy Ghost makes us a new creature in Christ and brings with it spiritual activity and appetite. The world says no to nothing today; nothing is a sin anymore. But once we are born again, we start saying no to our old dirty and selfish ways (ungodliness and worldly lusts), and start saying yes to the ways and things of Christ. Leave your old life and walk in newness of life for Jesus' sake, for the glory of God. Daily choose to follow truth and obey the Spirit's leading; put off the old man, and put on the new man. Don't let your mind be controlled by this world's culture or by some worldly person.
We are not what God intended us to be, we are flawed and fallen in sin. All of our sins were involved in the death of Jesus Christ. You and I are what is wrong with the world today. Sinners can only be saved by God's mercy, not by human merit. Jesus saves you, you don't save yourself. You must come to the end of trying to save yourself. Education, examples, and experiences cannot help you. Meticulous religiousness is all vain and useless. You must seek God's goodness and lovingkindness through simple faith in the Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ. You cannot make yourself commendable to God, for your sin has already condemned you. Human nature thinks God owes it Heaven. Now understand - A good God will not reward nice people for doing their best. God will only have mercy on you for Jesus' sake. Men that are at ease in their sins and self-righteousness won't call upon the Savior God. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved from the love of sin and divine justice.
