Can You Really Rely on God?

This expert summary synthesizes key theological concepts regarding the absolute dependence of believers on God’s grace, emphasizing that spiritual growth and perseverance are entirely God’s work, not human achievement. This framework is designed to lift the crushing weight of self-reliance and instill genuine humility and reliance on Christ.

I. The Reality of Total Dependence on God’s Grace

The core truth for every believer is the humbling and freeing realization that we do not get credit for our spiritual growth. Salvation and sustained spiritual life are gifts of God’s grace, not products of human strength or choice.

The Illusion of Independence

The sources describe the idea of being independently righteous as a “spiritual mirage in the desert”. Believers must resist the temptation to think, “I used to need God’s grace, but now I don’t,” as this is the “first step toward your next slow spiritual disaster”.

We often desire to be capable and strong, feeling like “I’ve got this,” but spiritually, we are not Navy Seals. The Bible compares believers to babies who cannot feed themselves, clothe themselves, or even roll over without help. This is precisely where God meets us, as we need His grace “every second of every day”.

Grace Sustains, It’s Not a Crutch

The necessity of grace is not temporary; even if a believer followed Jesus for a thousand years, they would still need His grace as desperately on day 1001 as they did on day one.

• God’s Promise: We do not have to pretend to be stronger than we actually are because God is stronger than you will ever need.
• The Entire Foundation: God’s grace isn’t a crutch; it’s the entire building we’re standing in.
• No Self-Supply: We cannot breathe air or keep our own hearts beating without God’s grace. Therefore, all spiritual hope depends on God’s patience, forgiveness, rescue, provision, transforming power, and deliverance.

II. The Essential Roles of Jesus Christ

Scripture defines Jesus Christ in many roles that are absolutely essential to the believer’s existence and growth, none of which are self-supplied.

He is defined as:

• The sun that gives us light.
• The refuge where we hide.
• The water that nourishes us and the bread that feeds us.
• The rock beneath our feet.
• The Captain who defends us from the enemy.
• The Lamb of God who carries away our sin.
• The High Priest who daily represents us before the Father.
• The faithful friend who won’t walk out even on our worst day.
• The Giver of every spiritual blessing.
• The one who convicts us when we wander away.
• The good shepherd who comes looking for us when we are lost.

Every one of these things is essential and comes by God’s grace; none are self-supplied.

III. The Source of Strength and Deliverance

The paradox of the Christian life is that dependence is actually the source of strength, not weakness.

Dependence Leads to Strength

We tend to think that dependence makes us weak, but God says dependence makes you strong. Similarly, while we think needing help means we are failing, God says needing help means you are human and God is there to help.

God confirms that grace means “I am carrying you. I always have and I always will, and that’s the only way you’ll ever get home”.

God Initiates, Sustains, and Completes

We have no reason to boast or be proud because we bring nothing to the table that God didn’t give first.

• God Sought Us: The Bible states that none seek after God, not even one; He sought us.
• God Sustains Us: He gave birth to us when we were born again, sustains us, and grows us.
• God Delivers Us: He is the one protecting us, and one day He will fully and finally deliver us from this body of flesh and sin.

Therefore, all the praise, all the glory, and all the credit belongs to God. Our salvation is totally in His hands, not in ours.

IV. The Mandate for Rest and Reliance

The ultimate truth that lifts the weight off the believer’s shoulders is that you don’t have to be your own savior. We do not have to manufacture our own spiritual strength to get through the day.

Instead of striving, the believer is called to:

• Rest and receive.
• Depend and trust.
• Rely and lean on.
• Obey and persevere.

The grace that saved us will empower us to do all these things and sustain us till the end. The constant prayer should be for God to keep us humble, keep us dependent, keep us grateful, and keep us till the end.