Good morning! I was thinking the other day about self-help books, and how sometimes people will refer to the Bible as a self-help book from God. As I was thinking about this, and I came to the conclusion that the Bible is actually the complete antithesis of a self-help book.  Because in a self-help book, or in self-help, we are doing for ourselves to gain something.  Scripture is very clear that we can gain nothing in the way of salvation for ourselves. We cannot gain our own righteousness by our efforts, but it is Christ and Christ alone who has gained our righteousness and freely gives it to us.  This couldn’t be stated more clearly than it is in Ephesians Chapter 2 starting in verse 4:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." 

 And then Paul repeats in verse 8:

 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."

I think about Martin Luther’s explanation of the third article of the Apostles Creed.  He writes: 

 "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith."

Even our faith is a gift of grace, a gift from God.  He calls us to believe. He justifies us through the blood of Christ. He gives us his triumph over death, and promised to resurrect us in the end time, through the victorious resurrection of Christ.   There's nothing we can do to help ourselves. The Bible is a complete anti self-help book. By God's grace, His Holy Spirit and His living Word can lead, guide, and direct us to live out our life of faith according to His holiness and righteousness. It is not to help ourselves to salvation.  Scripture is very clear that salvation is done for us, never by us. God alone can, and does save.

I want to close with a prayer that was found in the clothing of an unknown civil war soldier who had died.  I think this prayer gets at the heart of what God does, and wills for our lives. 

“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey ...

I asked for health, that I might do great things.

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things ...

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.

I was given poverty, that I might be wise ...

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God ...

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things ...

I got nothing I asked for—but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among men, most richly blessed”

God has given to us salvation through his son, Jesus Christ. Let this be a word of strength, assurance, and hope for you today.  God bless!

Pastor Malinak