In the first part of this article, we learned about our fallen state, and that we’re simply not able – on our own – to get back on our feet with respect to getting right with God. There is good news, though!
We can arrange to get help. The remedy for our condition is not just trying harder to get up. Ask anyone who has been injured beyond their own ability to administer their own first aid (or major surgery). Instead, God offers us salvation as a gift, accepted by believing in it, and followed up by living a life of love and gratitude to Him for that gift.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
To those who have accepted this salvation (which came at a great cost to God, but is offered freely to us), none of our praise to God, generosity to others, or following the Ten Commandments makes us any “more saved”. God took care of that, completely. Of course, a follower of Jesus is still expected to live as righteously as possible; after all, doing the right thing expected of every human being.
We can call for help, and our Savior will answer. Like any reasonable person who is in danger of perishing, and knows that there is someone who can help, the logical choice is to ask for help. It takes great, self-ruining pride (not that I haven’t been there!) to wallow in one’s wounds when someone else is right there to aid us, without cost to us.
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 NLT
This wasn’t necessarily new information to the original readers of the book of Romans (a letter written from Paul, a disciple of Jesus, to believers in Rome). For those having a Jewish upbringing, they would probably have recognized this as a quote from the prophet Joel (see Joel 2:32).
Anyone who needs salvation can call upon God and ask. This process is described in more detail in passages like Acts 2:36-41, but start by praying to Him and admitting that you need help. Accept His gift of salvation, and agree to let Him be in charge of your life (which, in fact, He already is). Then, find some followers of Jesus who can answer more questions and show you what it looks like to live in gratitude for His help. They can tell you more about baptism (mentioned in that passage above from Acts), and help you get started on the right path, as God has defined it. Or, if you’re in a part of the world where Christians are hard to find, study the Bible and continue talking with God to learn more about Him, and about His will for your life.
You may or may not have gotten reached a point in life where you need a service (or loved ones) to be ready to help you up when you fall physically. However, regardless of our age or physical condition, our spiritual conditions are all in need of rescue. I hope that you have called to Jesus for help. He doesn’t just offer to get us back up on our feet; instead, He offers a new life entirely!
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Those Who Sin Differently 
Love the title… never thought of it that way, but it’s so appropriate! We can’t get up on our own!
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