To Cut off the Sinner from All Hope in Himself

by John Hendryx

One of the most prevalent motifs that runs through the whole Bible is its constant reminder of the insufficiency of man. While this may seem all too obvious, we need constant reminding of this critical truth in our everyday lives. This truth may be self-evident when we consider the non-Christian, because we know he or she has no hope apart from Christ's mercy. But perhaps less obvious, is recognizing how this truth is so critical for the regenerate Christian who must continually be aware that apart from Christ we can do nothing; we can neither grow in grace nor have anything to offer to God. (John 15:5) This is not only clear in those parts of the Scripture which are propositional but are also quite pervasive in the gospel narratives. If you read closely about the events associated with Christ's earthly ministry, it becomes obvious that deliverance occurred in individuals only when they exhauted their own resources, were so desperate that they came to an end of themselves and were reduced to begging, if you will. Grace works salvation in us, not as we are, but first humbles our pride, revealing our spiritual bankruptcy, moral impotence, causing us to have a broken spirit - things which none of us naturally (apart from grace) are ready to recognize and confess. For our true condition before God is that we cannot even lift a finger toward our salvation, and can bring nothing to God except that which He first grants us in Christ, which includes both the humility to acknowledge our captivity to the yoke of sin and our desperate need of the Savior Jesus Christ (including a new heart which trusts in Him). The same dependent disposition must continue throughout the Christian life.