WE ARE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH TO MERIT SALVATION: WE NEED A SAVIOUR

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

WE ARE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH TO MERIT SALVATION: WE NEED A SAVIOUR

Matt 19:20 NIV  "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

                            There are two types of Christianity, (1) the born-again Christianity where a person’s salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and (2) religious Christianity characterized by external display of so-called good works designed to impress man. The religious kind of Christianity is devoid of the substance of the virtues of a saved life namely righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom14:17).  Practitioners of this kind of Christianity like the other man-made religions still struggle under the burden of guilt as no good work is good enough to exonerate a man from his sins. Like the rich ruler in Matthew 19:12-21, they lack the confidence and assurance of salvation only attained by the inner witnessing of the Holy Ghost given to those who have received the gift of righteousness by faith in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross (Rom8:16).

           The religious Christian seeks to take credit for his or her salvation. They are quick to flaunt their  inconsequential religious achievement as shown in the statement of this ruler in Matt 19:20 ‘ All these I have kept," and display a false piety as shown  by this young man’s manner of approach to Jesus Christ: he addressed Jesus as “Good master” while seeking to reinforce the fact that it takes a man’s goodness to merit salvation as preached by all religions.  

         To all religions, Jesus is good enough to be called ‘good’ but not God. Meanwhile, a man’s salvation is only guaranteed by his acceptance of Jesus Christ as trustworthy enough to be his saviour, something only God can do. No one can save a man from the God’s wrath except God himself. In Matt 19:17 Jesus was indirectly saying: “If God is the only person qualified to be called good then I am He “. Jesus is the Word of God in human flesh (1Tim3:16)

      The account of Abraham’s encounter with God in Genesis 14:19 completely invalidate any religions claim to salvation by carnal works  . Abram was declared blessed by God before his circumcision (the symbol of righteousness with God) and since a man can’t be both blessed and a sinner at the same time, it then follows that his sins were not imputed. They were forgiven. He was saved by a saviour . He acknowledged this through his tithing to Melchizedek (Gen14:18-20, Heb7:15-17) an antitype of Jesus Christ.  Apostle Paul throws more light on this in Rom 4:4-6” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.  David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:”(Psalm32:2)

         This rich young ruler wasn't looking for a Savior. He was trying to be his own saviour like most religious folks: they’ll rather choose to obey all the commandments of Moses instead having a saviour. Failing in one of the laws is failing in all (James2:10). No one is saved by observing the laws (Gal2:16).

 Righteousness is demonstrated in benevolence: Abraham demonstrated this through his tithe and religious folks are too attached to the material world that’s why Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all his property and give to the poor in a bid to show him how selfish, ungodly and unloving religious folks are.

        No man could come unto the Father, but by Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6).” There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 NIV.Trust Jesus for your salvation. 
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