Why You Need a Savior

Intro:

Good evening.

Tonight I want to answer a simple but profoundly important question, and that is, “Why do you need a Savior?”

Now, the truth is that we could spend months worth of sermons going through and answering this profoundly important question, but tonight I want to boil this down into 3 simple main points.

And number one is that …

You are Not Enough:

I’ll repeat that again … You … are not … enough.

Now, this is contrary to popular opinion and catchphrases.

It is contrary to contemporary focus, and it’s contrary to much of what is taught in the religious world around us.

What do I mean by that?

Well, example number one:

Consider much of the popular “contemporary Christian” music, so-called.

One of the problems that I have noticed with (not all, but) a lot of contemporary Christian music (even laying aside the instrumental music problem for a moment) is that a lot of it is focused too much on US and too little on GOD.

Now don’t get me wrong — We ARE a part of the Biblical picture!

When you read your Bible, you should be inserting yourself into that Biblical picture, because the whole theme of the Bible is that Jesus, the Son of God, came to save sinners, as Paul summarized it by saying: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim. 1:15)

You are a part of that Biblical picture, then!

And so am I!

That said …

What is the biggest part of the Biblical picture?

Or I should say, WHO is the biggest part of the Biblical picture?

GOD is! JESUS is! By far!

Jesus is greater! Our emphasis on HIM should be greater!

Like John the Baptist in John 3:30, our motto should be, “HE must increase, but I must decrease!”

The apostle John goes on to say about that: John 3:31-35

John 3:31–35 NKJV

He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

Do you see how important Jesus is?!

Back to this idea of contemporary Christian music and the wrong emphasis it often gives in my opinion:

At risk of making somebody mad who likes this song, I do think it’s important to at least give this a ponder:

But one of the most popular contemporary Christian songs to come out in the last few years teaches a dangerous message if you really think about it (and there are many other songs similar to it).

But it’s the song, “You say,” by Lauren Daigle.

(Very talented young lady, beautiful voice, and I’m sure she means well, but) …

Here are some of the lyrics:

“I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough, every single lie that tells me I will never measure up.”

Now, let’s ask ourselves this honestly - Lauren Daigle sings, “I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough,” (in other words, she’s trying to convince herself in the song that she IS enough) …

And I’m saying the Bible says that you are NOT enough!

If you ARE enough, then please tell me why Jesus had to come down from heaven above to save us?!

She goes on and sings, “Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?”

Every high being her moral successes, while every low being her moral failings (sin).

What’s the problem?

The problem is that even if our calculated sum was only our moral HIGHS, we still wouldn’t measure up to GOD’s holiness!

God’s holiness is infinite!

God is so much BIGGER in holiness (if we can say it that way) than we will EVER be!

Thus, even if our moral “highs” are the only variable in the equation, we still don’t measure up to God … And now, think about all your moral “lows” (sins) you have to add into your equation?!!

The song is Biblically inaccurate, and contemporary worship music is replete with other such songs.

Alright, are you ready for point number two?

You are Not Enough:

We’re answering the question, “Why Do You Need a Savior?”

Turn with me to the book of Romans if you will.

Let’s do just a brief overview of the first several chapters of Romans.

Romans chapter 1 - Theme? God created the world, humanity tends to serve the creature rather than the Creator, thus there’s a problem called sin, but Paul is not shamed to declare the Gospel (Good News). Also, the Gentiles are guilty of sin.

Romans chapter 2 - Not so fast, Jews, because they were guilty of sin, too!

Romans chapter 3 - ALL are guilty of sin and falling short of the glory of God!

Romans chapter 4 - Justification by the faith/the Gospel (which Paul refers to as the “obedience to the faith” in Rom. 1:5 and Rom. 16:26).

And then we come to Romans chapter 5.

We’re about to look at that a little more closely.

Bearing in mind that eventually Paul is going to make the statement in Romans 12:3 -

Romans 12:3 NKJV

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Humility is the often overlooked step, if you will, in the plan of salvation!

Why?

Because will a man unwilling to humble himself discover a need to believe in a HIGHER power? (no)

Will a man unwilling to humble himself be willing to admit he is wrong, confess JESUS as the Savior, and be willing to repent (change his sinful ways)? (No)

And will a man unwilling to humble himself obey the Gospel? (Again, no!)

So bearing all of that in mind, read with me beginning in Romans 5:6.

(Read Romans 5:6-11).

With that view of the need for a Savior in view, now go back with me and read Romans 3:9-18 (Read it).

As you look through that list, be honest with yourself (and I must be honest with myself), how many of those things are you guilty of?!

Probably a lot!

So tell me again that you ARE enough? (Because you’re not).

Much of the religious world around us is caught up, really, with inflating the human ego, rather than glorifying God in heaven above …

Well, finally point number three … And our third and final point is …

You are Not Enough:

So by now I’m sure you’ve caught on that these three main points are a bit “tongue in cheek.”

That is, I’ve designed this sermon deliberately with the same three main points for sake of emphasis.

Repetition is the key to all learning!

So say it with me in your mind again: “I am not enough.” “I am not enough.” “I am not enough!”

You’ve GOT to humble yourself! (And so do I!)

You’ve GOT to realize how great God is, and how low we are because of sin!

If you were to describe it mathematically, it would be:

God … Greater Than Sign … Great Than Sign … Greater Than Sign (ad infinitum) … and then us!

God > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Us.

This was said in a recent episode of the Authentic Christian podcast with Aaron Gallagher and Scott Ingram (great podcast, Aaron will be with us for our lectureship next year) …

“The 3 main idols in society today are: Satan, Sin, and Self!”

Isn’t that true?!

Satan - Obviously, he is the originator of sin, we might say — He is the adversary, the accuser, and the roaring lion that walks about seeking whom he may devour.

Sin - That’s what he devours us with.

And Self - That’s Satan’s approach — That’s the trajectory of his missiles — And it’s simply this: If he can get you so involved and so focused on SELF, he’s got you!

Because that means that he’s going to influence you to do whatever makes YOU happy rather than whatever glorifies GOD!

Conclusion:

As we draw to a close on the last sermon of 2023, and we get ready to go have some fun with a chili cookoff, I want you to take with you tonight that …

You are NOT enough — You need Jesus!

He is the only way (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12)!

He is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5)!

Don’t get caught up in SELF, and the self-esteem movement and all of this stuff that puts the focus on the wrong things.

Self-WORTH? (Absolutely, because your soul is worth so much that Jesus died for it!)

But self-ESTEEM?

No, let’s esteem GOD more than self, because He is infinitely greater than we ever were or will ever be!

Why do you need a Savior?

Because you’re not enough — You need the blood of Jesus Christ to wash you and to cleanse you from all your scarlet sins!

If you need to respond tonight in obedience to the Gospel or to ask for prayers we ask you to come.