No One Can Save Themselves

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Noblemen

Senior Member
Jan 14, 2018
498
149
43
#1
No one can save themselves


Since God has fixed the creature so that he cannot save himself and needs another to save him, it is obvious that the Christ-Life in that creature could never be withheld because of the creatures failure or sin. So also Christ finds His greatest triumph and glory in the sphere of human helplessness. This is the great difference between the Christ Life and religion. Religion means in its simplest definition, "man doing something to please God." On the other hand, the issue of Satan being the sinner in the creature must be confronted.

Satan, as the sinner, must be disposed of forever. 1st John 3:8 tells us that it was Satan who was the sinner from the beginning.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

When Adam and Eve believed what Satan said in the Garden of Eden, there was birthed in them the Satan nature.
At the time, they, being without any nature at all, awaiting the moment that their minds came to believe what truth they were to be identified with, were subtly and deceitfully taken over by Satan's nature.
Christ, the Lamb of God, came into the world and took away the sin of the world by His vicarious work at Calvary, John 1:29

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The "sin of the world" is the sin nature; dead as Jesus was on calvary, killed out by the cross. When he laid a dead head on a dead shoulder, you died, all in Adam. Paul would say in 1 Cor. 2:2,

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

It is not talking about the sins you commit after being born again, those are sins of the flesh.

It's the oldest law in God is; "life comes out of death," John 12:24

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,002
13,010
113
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#2
No one can save themselves indeed. Yet some would appeal to 1 Timothy 4:16 to teach otherwise:

1 Timothy 4:16 - Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

We are not passive in continuing in sound doctrine, but it's not simply in our own power that we continue. God alone saves, but in a sense we save ourselves and others through perserverance in sound doctrine, as we continue to believe the gospel and are used as God's instruments to bring about the salvation of others through preaching the truth of the gospel/sound doctrine to them as well.

If you fell into a well with no way out and someone came along and threw down a rope to pull you out, in a "sense" you might say that you "saved yourself" by choosing to grab onto the rope and hold on while you allow the person with the rope to pull you out of the well, but ULTIMATELY, the person who pulled you out of the well saved you.
 

LibrarianLeo

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
191
2
0
#3
No one can save themselves
Since God has fixed the creature so that he cannot save himself and needs another to save him, it is obvious that the Christ-Life in that creature could never be withheld because of the creatures failure or sin.
Romans 10:9
Because, 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.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16:31
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Hebrews 13:6
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

[h=3]What Does the Bible Say About Being Saved? - OpenBible.info[/h]
 
R

Ralph-

Guest
#4
If you fell into a well with no way out and someone came along and threw down a rope to pull you out, in a "sense" you might say that you "saved yourself" by choosing to grab onto the rope and hold on while you allow the person with the rope to pull you out of the well, but ULTIMATELY, the person who pulled you out of the well saved you.
We know that this person trusted in the rope and in the one who saved him by the simple fact that he is no longer in the well.

It is absolutely necessary that this person not be in the well anymore for him to be saved. He can not be at the bottom of the well and be saved at the same time. But many people think he can, or else there can be no other conclusion to draw except that he saved himself.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#5
No one can save themselves...
As Scripture says "Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9 and many other passages). Since the New Birth is supernatural, and without the New Birth there is no salvation, and only God can regenerate a soul, no one can save themselves. But contrary to what Calvinists teach, the New Birth is the RESULT of obedience to the Gospel, not the other way around. Thus "Repent... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" and "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out".
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#6
When Adam and Eve believed what Satan said in the Garden of Eden, there was birthed in them the Satan nature.
At the time, they, being without any nature at all, awaiting the moment that their minds came to believe what truth they were to be identified with, were subtly and deceitfully taken over by Satan's nature.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
(1 Timothy 2:14)
 

Noblemen

Senior Member
Jan 14, 2018
498
149
43
#7

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
(1 Timothy 2:14)
I dont see any difference, sin entered into the world regardless.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
16,252
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Tennessee
#8
Trying to save yourself is a fool's errand.
 

JoshMal

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2018
142
6
0
24
#9
Only Jesus saves.
It's us that confess Him as our Saviour. He is the One that has the authority to save. No one else has d power 2 save.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
#10
Romans 5:12 (NIV)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--



I dont see any difference, sin entered into the world regardless.
 

LibrarianLeo

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
191
2
0
#11
Trying to save yourself is a fool's errand.
Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 22:16
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

James 2:18
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

John 8:24
I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Revelation 14:12
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

John 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Hebrews 10:26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Luke 13:3
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

https://www.openbible.info/topics/being_saved
 

Bladerunner

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2016
3,076
59
48
#12
No one can save themselves indeed. Yet some would appeal to 1 Timothy 4:16 to teach otherwise:

1 Timothy 4:16 - Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

We are not passive in continuing in sound doctrine, but it's not simply in our own power that we continue. God alone saves, but in a sense we save ourselves and others through perserverance in sound doctrine, as we continue to believe the gospel and are used as God's instruments to bring about the salvation of others through preaching the truth of the gospel/sound doctrine to them as well.

If you fell into a well with no way out and someone came along and threw down a rope to pull you out, in a "sense" you might say that you "saved yourself" by choosing to grab onto the rope and hold on while you allow the person with the rope to pull you out of the well, but ULTIMATELY, the person who pulled you out of the well saved you.
WRONG...GOD Elects US, Calls US, Saves US, Justifies US and Sanctifies US.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#13
Romans 5:12 (NIV)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
Isn't it interesting that it doesn't say 'through one woman'?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#14
I dont see any difference, sin entered into the world regardless.
The difference is that you've got him believing Satans lie, and lost in deception, but scripture has him undeceived, yet still a sinner.

It changes how we comprehend what exactly happened here if we think Adam was an idiot or that he didn't realize what he was doing.

Still can't save ourselves though, yes on that account
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#15
The difference is that you've got him believing Satans lie, and lost in deception, but scripture has him undeceived, yet still a sinner.

It changes how we comprehend what exactly happened here if we think Adam was an idiot or that he didn't realize what he was doing.

Still can't save ourselves though, yes on that account
In fact a right understanding of Adam and the details of the fall strengthens the position that we are incapable of redeeming ourselves, doesn't it?

What did you mean by saying 'they had no nature' ?
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,002
13,010
113
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#16
WRONG...GOD Elects US, Calls US, Saves US, Justifies US and Sanctifies US.
Yes He does, but that does not mean man has no part in choosing to believe the Gospel and hold fast to the word and not believe in vain/without cause or without effect, to no purpose (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
 

Bladerunner

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2016
3,076
59
48
#20
Yes He does, but that does not mean man has no part in choosing to believe the Gospel and hold fast to the word and not believe in vain/without cause or without effect, to no purpose (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
When God calls us, He has conditioned our heart to accept Him...He has seen this eons before and knows who will and who will not accept him. Yes it is by a known outcome of a Free-Will action on man's part.

I wrote an article on this on another thread..(http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/140980-predestination-vs-freewill-7.html#post3460659)

Hope you have a blessed evening!

Blade