“You Can’t Save Yourself”

Beloved, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “As long as a man thinks he can save himself, he remains lost.” Salvation is not achieved by effort—it’s received by grace. Pride says, “I can fix this.” Faith says, “Only God can.” Until we surrender, we remain bound by our own limitations. But when we come to the end of ourselves, that’s where God’s grace and mercy begins.

The Old Testament reminds us in Isaiah 64:6: “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” No matter how good we try to be, we cannot earn righteousness on our own. And the New Testament confirms this in Ephesians 2:8–9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Grace is not a reward for effort—it’s a rescue for the surrendered.

So Beloved, stop striving to save yourself. You can’t work your way into heaven or fix what only the blood of Jesus can redeem. The cross is proof that God knew we couldn’t do it on our own—and loved us anyway.

Pray with me:

Father God, thank You that I am saved not by my effort, but by Your grace. Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to control what only You can redeem. Help me to rest in the finished work of Jesus and to live each day in gratitude for Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, we pray, believe, receive, and praise.

Amen.

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