Resources/Articles
Can You Save Yourself?
Peter and the apostles exhorted the multitude in Acts 2:40 to “save yourselves from this crooked and perverse generation”. There is a part each one of us has in our salvation.
You cannot devise a plan to save yourself. The Bible is very clear in stating that an individual is not at liberty to work out his own scheme of redemption. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto men, but the end thereof are the ways of death”.
God gave man freedom to make his own choice, but the choice of salvation is not one of them. The reasons are easy to understand. Man is the creature and is dependent on the Creator. The sinner is in bondage and does not know how to loose himself from sin. Without revelation from God, man would never know God or what his purpose in life is.
There is something to be done by you regarding your salvation. Although some would have you believe there is an “elected” body of people predestined to be saved, God has a plan for all men to be saved who would come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). The reason for this is God so loved the world (John 3:16) and “...there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). To save himself, man can…
(A) Read, Believe, and Apply God’s Word. Paul exhorted those in Philippi regarding the things they “learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:9). Prior to this, they were told to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). It is God’s good pleasure for each of us to seriously consider the scriptures. Within the words God has given contain the power to save (Romans 1:16; James 1:21).
(B) Give Attention to Faithfulness. Christians written to in the book of Jude were told to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). There is no relaxation in being saved. Christians are saved by grace through faith as the “workmanship” of God (Ephesians 2:10). We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. Therefore, the attitudes Christians should acquire are diligence, steadfastness, abiding, continuing, perseverance, endurance, etc. “In your patience ye shall win your souls” (Luke 21:19). Attention to what needs to be done as Christians is our service to God which proves our salvation was not a pretense or gimmick.
(C) Take Heed to Your Surroundings. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine: continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16). Guard your salvation from those things which would take it away from you. People who say, “It will not happen to me” are often the ones who fail to hold on to their salvation. Be careful. Always act upon what is right. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil…” (1 Thessalonians 5:21,22).
