An incident was told of a young fisherman, who with two companions, went in a boat to a certain fishing place for a day's fishing. They had in their vessel a rather heavy anchor attached to a long coil of rope, for the purpose of anchoring their boat, and preventing the wind and tide from causing them to drift away from the fishing area.
Upon arrival at the location, the young man dropped the anchor overboard and watched the rope run out as the heavy weight sank, but just then the boat gave a lurch and he stepped back directly into the coil of rope running out, and in a moment the fast moving rope twisted around his leg and drew him overboard and down under the water. Fortunately he was not taken down very far, and he could be seen by his astonished companions, frantically struggling to get free from the ensnaring coil, but without avail—he was held fast and securely.
There was only one thing to do, and without loss of time his companions did it, and that was, to haul in the rope with the anchor, until the young man could be reached, when he was dragged back into the boat, by his friends, half drowned, and somewhat bruised by the rope. If he had been alone, or if his friends had not been able to draw him back as they did, he would surely have lost his life, for, struggle as he would, he was unable to free himself, and he needed a power outside of himself to draw him back to safety.
Here is an excellent illustration of your position and mine, in regard to our soul's welfare, for every man, woman or child is held in bondage by sin under the "waters” of death, and none can by any means redeem his life, or set himself free by his own efforts, from the deadly bondage in which he is held. Many may, and do, try their best, to free themselves, but all without avail, sin holds them, and the "wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
Some lay great stress upon the law, holding that as the law was God-given, it must of necessity be the correct manner by which man might be justified before God, and find pardon and life.
It is true, that under the old dispensation, the law was given to God's chosen people Israel, and they were told, "This do and thou shalt live,"' but did man keep the law? We know he did not, for with the exception of the Lord Jesus, not one was able to do so, and as we read in James 2:1010For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10), "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all," so all the world has become guilty before God. But we also read, "Christ is the end of the law,... to every one that believeth." Rom. 10:44For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4).
If man had been able to keep the law, and so earn the right to life as long as he continued keeping it, there would have been no necessity for Christ to have come into this world to die for mankind, indeed, Galatians 2:2121I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21), tells us very plainly, "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Now, the young man, held by the anchor rope underwater, in the place of death, needed a power other than his own to take him out of that place. Do what he would, he was unable to free himself, and could only struggle helplessly and hopelessly, but when a power other than his own, drew him up into the boat, he was safe.
So it is with you, my friend, you are in the place of death—death all around you,—death before you, and do what you may, you cannot escape it. But there is One, who once went into that place of death and conquered it, who is able and willing to save you from it, and who is ready to heed any cry to Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, gave Himself for you and me, and by the shedding of His own blood on Calvary's Cross, has established a sure way of escape by which we may come into the very presence of God, "cleansed from all sin." All may come, none are denied, from the highest to the lowest, the invitation being to "whosoever will," and that includes you and me.
You cannot do anything for yourself; your salvation consists in simply trusting yourself to Him who is able and willing to save you. Never mind the law, or the works of the law, when your salvation is in question, for it is entirely a matter of faith.
After you have been justified by faith in the risen, living, Savior, then will be the time to show your faith by your works, quite apart from any question of your salvation, for when you are justified before God, and accepted in the person of His beloved Son, your sins and iniquities have gone, and will be "remembered no more" (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)), and we become "debtors" to cease from "living after the flesh" (Rom. 8:12,1312Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:12‑13)), and in chapter 6:14; addressing those who have been saved by grace, the apostle says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
"I beseech you therefore... that you present your bodies a living, sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:11I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1).
To sum the whole matter up, First; you are held in sin's bondage.
Second; you cannot free yourself.
Third; someone outside of yourself must intervene, who is able to save.
Fourth; in the person of the Lord Jesus, One has intervened.
Fifth; by ceasing all your doings, and leaving your case entirely to Him, you can be saved.
Sixth; the salvation which He gives, is yours forever. He never has and never will, lose any who have entrusted themselves to Him.
Seventh; being thus saved, your reasonable service is to serve Him, who has saved you.