This is an excerpt from HomeLife Magazine.
Nobody wants to be described as a “chronically needy” friend. The world sees needy people as draining, burdensome, and heavily deficient on the give-and-take friendship scale.
This concept is the exact opposite of the gospel. When it comes to our salvation, we’re utterly needy before God. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We’re all born into sin, separated from our Creator. Not one of us could meet a single one of our spiritual needs in our own strength. Romans 3:10 confirms, “As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.”
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
God would have been justified to leave us in our sin, but He didn’t. John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus lived a perfect life, fully obeying the law. On the cross, Jesus took the full wrath of God on Himself for our sins. He was buried in a tomb and rose again on the third day. Romans 5:6 explains our spiritual condition when Jesus came: “For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.”
Scripture calls us helpless because there is nothing we could do to pay our own sin debt. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.” We can’t pray enough, go to church enough, give enough money, or avoid enough bad things to cleanse our own hearts. The only way we’re saved is through putting our trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. The only thing we can bring to Jesus is our own neediness. In fact, those who try to meet their own spiritual needs, who refuse to believe in Christ alone, continue to be separated from God. Do you feel spiritually needy? Do you feel helpless at conquering your sin and trying to be good enough to get to God? You’re at the exact place for salvation. Come to Jesus; trust in His work and His righteousness. He will meet “all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
"For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
If you choose to believe Jesus died for your sins and to receive a new life through Him, pray a prayer similar to this one: Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I believe Jesus died to forgive me of my sins. I now accept Your offer of eternal life. Thank You for forgiving me. From this day forward, I will choose to follow You.
If you’d like to speak with someone about how to have a new life in Christ, call 888.537.8720. If you prayed this prayer for the first time, please seek out a local church. You were never designed to live for Christ on your own. You were made for community with other believers. Just like you, the church isn’t perfect, but full of other believers seeking to live for God. Take a risk and find community in a church near you
