We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort.

Here is the crucial problem of life: We are sinners and we need to be saved. We are sinners and we need to be righteous before God. How shall this issue be resolved?

Our verse for today mentions two possible ways to resolve the issue. You can rely on what Jesus Christ has done or you can rely on human ability and effort. The latter way assumes that it is possible for human beings to do the things that are required for righteousness.

The former way, in contrast, maintains that the only way to attain salvation is to believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Although those who truly believe in Jesus Christ start to live a holy life, there is nothing they can do by human effort to make themselves righteous before God. Only the blood of Jesus can save and make righteous.

The Apostle Paul rejects the latter way and embraces the former. He says that he and the Philippian church “put no confidence in human effort.” Paul knew from scripture and his own experience that mere human effort can never attain salvation and righteousness. Paul testifies that human effort is a worthless substitute for Christ.

The unbelieving world places a lot of confidence in human ability and effort. We live in a world that teaches people how to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, and self-confident. Paul’s confession, in contrast, places no confidence in the abilities and efforts of human beings. We don’t need self-reliance, we need Christ-reliance. We don’t need self-sufficiency, we need Christ-sufficiency. We don’t need self-confidence, we need Christ-confidence. Instead of learning how to rely on ourselves and believe in ourselves, we need to learn how to rely on Jesus and believe in Jesus.

The crucial issue of life will not be properly resolved until we realize that we can do nothing apart from Jesus Christ (John 15:5).

By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International