Coming to God Empty-handed
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” – Jonathan Edwards
“God writes good material!”
That’s often the reply I give to someone who compliments me on a good sermon. After all, I figure, all I did was share with my congregation what the Bible says, adding a few personal or historical illustrations along the way to provide some context.
The same goes with the various ministries I have been involved with over the years, such as The Saints Prison Ministry (1987-2011) and Risk Takers for Christ (2011-2025). God founded both of them, and God has blessed and sustained them. Me? I’m just along for the ride.
And so, when it comes to my salvation, there is not a single thing that I can add or contribute to make it happen. Nor do I have the power to preserve it or to bring it to full fruition. Jesus and Jesus alone is the Author and Finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).
My life verse is Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” That singular and very powerful verse assures me that it was God who began a work in me, that He declares it to be good, and that the responsibility for completing it is His and His alone. In other words, I can relax, obey Him, and let God be God.
Of course, the most famous Bible passage that ties in with today’s quote is Ephesians 2:8-9…
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” (BSB) Yes, it was God who saved me by His grace and even the faith that it took to recognize and accept that fact was a gift from Him as well.
Since we have already quoted three Bible passages, how about if we end with an excerpt from a famous hymn?
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
