Officially, you’re helpless. You didn’t give birth to yourself or raise yourself, you can’t save yourself, and you can’t accomplish anything true and eternal unless you’re empowered.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s important to face a few other biblical facts—like the things scripture tells a powerless you to accomplish. Humble yourself (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10); purify yourself (Joshua 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22); be holy (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16); be an imitator of God (Ephesians 5:1); and much, much more. In spite of our alleged helplessness, we are given certain responsibilities. Big ones.
What are we to make of this? Obviously we need help; those who were dead in trespasses in sins can’t make themselves alive and accomplish eternal things. So the need for divine empowerment is implied. Even so, we have choices. We aren’t as helpless as we think we are, especially in light of the life, the gifts, and the divine nature we’ve been given. As much as we want to leave the ball in God’s court, he puts it back in ours.
Never let your fallen human nature become an excuse for remaining in fallenness. Don’t get caught saying, “It’s all on you, Lord,” when he has handed it to you. Granted, you need his power, but he has given it to you. His Spirit is within you. There’s nothing you can’t do through him.
