Steps to Christ: The Sinner’s Need of Christ (Chapter 2)

Thisis such a crucial chapter in this book.  If a person doesn’t come tothe place where they recognize that they are not all that they desireto be, then God/religion/Jesus won’t mean a thing to them.  Jesus dyingfor their sins wouldn’t make sense unless they recognize and takeownership of the fact that in and of themselves, they are unable tolive a life without selfishness. 

Last week on a plane ride, I met a lady by the name of Loretta.  Withina few minutes of talking she discovered that I used to be an atheistand was now a follower of Jesus.  She, a full time women’s advocate andhumanitarian, told me that she was raised a believer but was now anatheist.  As we talked she told me that she believes that the moralityof humanity is “evolving” in a positive direction.  Honestly I couldhardly believe my ears as it seems to me that the morality of man isnot moving forward, but rather digressing. 

Ellen mentions that “Man was originally endowed with noble powers and awell-balanced mind.  He was perfect in his being, and in harmony withGod.  His thoughts were pure, his aims holy.  But through disobediencehis powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love.  Hisnature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossiblefor him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil.” So in thebeginning we were created in the image of God to live a life ofselflessness and love.  Through sin, however, selfishness becameparamount and now we are no longer able to resist the power of evil. 

Furthermore she states that “It is impossible for us, of ourselves, toescape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken.  Our hearts areevil, and we can not change them.  ‘Who can bring a clean thing out ofan unclean?--Not one.’ ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God; for itis not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be‘ (Job 14:4;Romans 8:7).  Education, culture, the exercise of the will, humaneffort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they can notchange the heart; they can not purify the springs of life.”

I hope that this doesn’t come across as judgmental, but I am fearfulof some approaches that the SDA Church takes when it comes toevangelism.  Sometimes it seems that we focus on education and humaneffort to get the life in order.  And while people may look/talk/actbetter, does that mean that the heart is right with Jesus?  In the nextparagraph, Ellen states that “The idea that it is necessary only todevelop the good that exists in man by nature, is a fatal deception.”Could it be that many are being led astray as the emphasis is placed ontheir behavior and not the life and death and resurrection of Jesus? 

I love the Apostle Paul’s words when he exclaims, “Wretched man that Iam! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25 ESV).  In John 14:6 weare reminded that, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If wecould earn our way to Heaven, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to come tothis planet to die for our sins. 

I encourage you today to simply acknowledge your sins to Jesus, acceptHis free gift of salvation, and now walk with Him in newness of life! 

Blessings,

Matthew
New Haven, CT