In his message based on Romans 3:9-20, Pastor
Nicky Joya talked about the impossibility of gaining salvation through
our own efforts. All men, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under sin.
Moreover, the impossibility of saving ourselves stems from seven
human weaknesses.
1. Man is sinful.
10As it is written: There is no one righteous, not
even one
2. Man's mind is darkened by sin.
11there is no one who understands,
3. Man's tendencies are sinful.
...no one who seeks God.
4. Man's actions are sinful.
12All have turned away, they have together
become worthless, there is no one who does good, not even one.
5. Man's words are sinful.
13Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their
lips. 14Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
6. Man's motives are sinful.
15Their feet are swift to
shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and
the way of peace they do not know.
7. Man's attitude is full of sin.
18There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
The good news, Pastor Nicky said, is that despite
our sins, God initiated His offer of salvation, not because of man's
prodding but because of His great love for us. "Salvation is
God's initiative, not man's."
"Man did not cry out for salvation, but God
gave it anyway," Pastor Nicky said.
Amidst the impossibility of man's endeavor to save
himself from the consequence of his sin, God gave him a reason to
become righteous through Jesus Christ.
Once saved, man is empowered by the Holy Spirit
to live a righteous life. The question is: "Are Christians
today living the life lived by Jesus?"
Do their lives give evidence to the fact that they
have been saved? Are they sharing the Gospel through their lives?
If not, they must be reminded that as Christians, they should be
the proof of God's transforming power.
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