Have you ever heard or perhaps used the phrase,
"God helps those who help themselves"?
Yeah. | | | I've heard it many times and in many different contexts; the thing is, this isn't a biblical concept or teaching. It sounds good, it's great for justifying our actions and behaviors or second portions of mashed potatoes but it's not biblical.
One of my favorite biblical phrases comes from the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. In chapter 2, Paul reminds the Ephesians of the reality of personal sin and like them, we must remember the condition from which Jesus saved us. | | Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins...
3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. | | | | Paul explains that all of us, without exception, are lost in our sins and cannot help ourselves. Many are moral, kind, good and law abiding but on God's absolute scale, no one is good enough to earn salvation. If we stopped reading now, it would seem quite hopeless; however, this is where my favorite phrase and teaching comes!! "But God…" | | | 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)... 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. | | | We were dead in our sins, but God…
We were rebels against him, but God…
We were enslaved by the devil, but God…
We were controlled by our sinful natures, but God…
God could have left us spiritually dead, in rebellion against him and in bondage to our sins; But God… didn't.
God did not save us because of, but rather, in spite of, what he saw in us.
By his grace we are saved, so that none may boast. We cannot help ourselves, only God can. We were dead, but because of Christ's resurrection we are also now alive in Him!
We live because He lives! | |  | | Onnemi is a Nahuatl word that means "He Lives" | | Onnemi International Ministries is dedicated to church planting on the US-Mexico border. Our mission is to make disciples by preaching, teaching, and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ on the US-Mexico border.
Onnemi, a Nahuatl word meaning "he lives", exists to show how Christ can live in and through each of us in every area of our lives.
We proclaim "Onnemi" so..."that by believing you may have life in His name!" (John 20:31c ESV). | HOW TO GIVE:
Onnemi is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.
To make a one-time or a recurring contribution to our ministry please choose from the following: -
Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 220719
El Paso, TX 79913
Make check payable to Onnemi International Ministries - Go to http://www.onnemi.org/donate.html
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