True Faith Cannot Be in Our Sinful Human Effort, Only in CHRIST

My faith rests not in what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in what CHRIST is, in what he has done, and in what he is doing for me. Charles H. Spurgeon.

Every true child of GOD must share Mr. Spurgeon’s sentiments, true faith can only be in what CHRIST has done and is doing for us and nothings of ourselves.

That the SON of GOD left His Father in Heaven and the glory that was His as part of the Godhead to take the form of weak humanity for our sake ought to be more than enough reason.

• Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2: 6-8
• For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

CHRIST JESUS did all this to ransom our sick souls back to GOD our Father because we were incapable of doing so for ourselves and no one else in heaven or on earth could either. …the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Scottish Evangelist and Missionary William Chalmers Burns (1815–1868) put it this way: The wrath of God was suspended over us all, and though all creatures in heaven and earth would have tried, even by their own death, to save us from it — they could no more have done so, than the least worm could support the mighty globe! But when all hope was at an end, Emmanuel interposed Himself in human nature, between the wrath of Almighty God above — and us, poor guilty perishing sinners, below! That wrath descended on Him — it mangled His body, it pierced and tortured His soul, until He, “the Prince of life,” “the Lord of glory, died!”

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived describes all of human achievement, effort and desire as useless “vanity” and all human beings as evil –

• “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.” Ecclesiastes 7:20,
• “Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” Ecclesiastes 9:3

….we are incapable of saving ourselves through our own efforts and our only hope is to, “Fear God and keep His commandments…” Ecclesiastes 12:13. If we are to keep the Father's commandments, we must have faith in the SON alone, and His finished work on the cross. He is enough!

As children of GOD, our faith and hope for this life and beyond must be fixed firmly and completely on CHRIST alone. Nothing of “what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know,” will have one jot of influence now or for eternity. A faith built on our own efforts instead of one that is “Looking to JESUS, the founder and perfecter of our faith,”(Hebrews 12:2) is empty and futile.

Our only hope is to consider only CHRIST, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD and Father, YOUR goodness and mercy endure forever to all generations and YOUR love never fails. We could never thank YOU enough for leaving the dignity, authority and glory YOU enjoyed in heaven to take on the weakness of humanity and save sinful mankind from eternal damnation. Father, please remind each of us daily that we have nothing good in ourselves apart from CHRIST, that our faith and trust for life and godliness can only be in Him and what HE has done and continues to do for us. Forgive us for every prideful moment and our vain imaginations that cause us to believe that we could work to atone for our sin-sick and broken souls. Let us not forget that, as sinful creatures apart from YOUR righteousness that CHRIST ransomed for us, our faith can only be in HIM and never in ourselves. To YOU belong all dominion, all power and all glory, for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile