1
Man’s need for a Saviour
(By Jay Yeager)
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
Friends, I have little doubt that if the Bible was the production of human invention; man would be depicted in a vastly different light. However, since the Bible is inspired of God (II Timothy 3:16-17), the picture God paints of man, while not pleasant to see, is absolutely honest. Therefore, every accountable soul needs to see themselves through the eyes of God.
The introductory verses serve as an accurate, howbeit, bleak assessment of man. Every accountable soul has sinned (I John 3:4). Now, what does that mean? That means separation from God and spiritual death (Isaiah 59:1-2; Ephesians 2:1).
“Well,” says one, “there must be some way I can merit my own salvation”. Others have tried to be sure. The Jews thought they could merit heaven by strictly keeping the Old Testament Law. And while the Law was perfect (Psalms 19:7), they found they were not, and the Law made no allowance for failure (Hebrews 7:19; Galatians 2:21). Others have reasoned that if they worked hard enough they could earn salvation by themselves, but they were mistaken (Ephesians 2:8-9). Still others have attempted by their own moral goodness to serve God acceptably, and found that they too were lost (Acts 10:2; 22; 11:4).
Beloved, such is the horribleness of sin. Regardless of how strict, how moral we may live or how hard we may work, sin stains a soul beyond the ability of man to cure himself. The piercing words of Romans 7:24 certainly apply here. “O wretched man that I am! Who shall save me from this body of this death?”
Every soul must see the depth of that despair, separated from God by sin and unable to bring about their own redemption. Then, and only then, will men recognize how desperately they are in need of a Saviour. “Because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (II Corinthians 5:14).
Now, out of that gloom there shines the light of life (John 1:4), as God responds to man’s need and a Saviour comes into the world. The apostle John penned, “…we have seen with our eyes …and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (I John 1:1). “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (I John 4:14).
Those verses reveal that the Father sent His Son into the world to save man, because man was unable to save himself, but it makes no mention of the cost. Recognizing our need for a Saviour is a must, but we would be shallow if we failed to inquire just what saving us involved. And there was a price, a price beyond all this world could offer.
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18-19).
In language that is unmistakable, Peter declares the purpose behind the death of Christ – Jesus died for the redemption of man. “..The just for the unjust that He might bring us to God” (I Peter 3:18). The price of that atonement is likewise stated – the precious blood of Christ. Nothing less could free man from the bondage of sin. “And He is the propitiation (payment for penalty) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).
Little wonder Paul said, “For I determine not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2). Man is in need of a Saviour, but he needs to look no further than Calvary. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15).