Savior or Helper?

       Many years ago, my husband, who is a mechanic, had a to replace a horn on a car - the thing had quit working.  He did that at the end of the day - the customer was in no hurry - and felt the problem was solved.  Unfortunately, when he went back to the shop the next morning, the new horn was defunct as well.  It seemed like a weird coincidence to him but he ordered another horn and replaced it that evening.  The next morning, that horn was also defunct!

        At that point, he knew there was another problem, something other than the horn itself and after some searching, he found a weird electrical problem.  Apparently, the electrical snafu triggered the horn after the shop was closed and caused the thing to honk all night long until the new part was worn out!

      Years ago I read something that has stayed with me: what we see as the cause of our problem - that determines what solution we choose in order to fix the problem.  At first, Phil thought the cause of the problem was one bad part on the car - a horn that had quit working.  So that determined how he chose to fix it: he simply replaced that part.   But when two more, brand-new parts failed in rapid succession, he knew he had to look deeper and find the real problem.  Once he found the real problem, he opted for a different solution.

     So this morning I'm wondering: do you see yourself as essentially a good, strong, capable person who just makes mistakes now and then or who just needs a little divine boost now and then when overwhelmed by life?  If so, then you don't need a Savior, you need a divine helper.

    If, however, you see yourself as a sinner, one who has a tendency to fall short of perfection in word, thought, and deed, then you'll recognize your need for a Savior - you will realize that that tendency to "mess up" is indicative of a deeper problem, one that you cannot "fix".  And so you'll turn to someone who can.

    Jesus is a Savior, not a helper.  He can fix the "short circuits" in our internal wiring and do so much more even than that.

    Until you see yourself as a sinner, you cannot know Jesus as a Savior.

   Below is the plan of salvation as it is given in the book of Romans in the New Testament.

 

Roman Road to Salvation

1. Everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned.
   Romans 3:10-12, and 23
   As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” ... For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)
2. The price (or consequence) of sin is death.
   Romans 6:23
   For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)
3. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He paid the price for our death.
   Romans 5:8
   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (NLT)
4. We receive salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
   Romans 10:9-10, and 13
   If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved ... For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(NLT)
5. Salvation through Jesus Christ brings us into a relationship of peace with God.
   Romans 5:1
   Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. (NLT)
   Romans 8:1
   So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (NLT)
   Romans 8:38-39
   And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)

Responding to Romans Road.  If you believe Romans Road leads to the path of truth, you can respond by receiving God's free gift of salvation today. Here's how to take a personal journey down Romans Road:

1. Admit you are a sinner.
2. Understand that as a sinner, you deserve death.
3. Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from sin and death.
4. Repent by turning from your old life of sin to a new life in Christ.
5. Receive, through faith in Jesus Christ, his free gift of salvation.