Introduction: Jesus Christ—The Savior, Not A Coach
Most people don’t mind Jesus the teacher. They admire Jesus the martyr. They even respect Jesus the example.
But Jesus the Savior? That’s where they draw the line. Because the idea of a Savior means you can’t do it. It means you’re helpless, hopeless, and headed for destruction unless someone else steps in.
And that someone is not you. Let me repeat that. The Savior of the world is not YOU in any way, shape, or form.
We’re living in a self-help generation. People want Jesus to be their coach—not their Christ. and their Savior. This would be them admitting they are weak and can’t save themselves.
They want Him to give tips, encouragement, and life advice—but not to bleed, die, and save them from the judgment they deserve.
Jesus didn’t come to coach you into heaven—He came to carry you out of hell. He’s not a coach.
He didn’t come to help you save yourself—He came because you couldn’t. I want to repeat that again. You cannot save yourself from death. You can’t stop death from taking you one day. And you can’t stop yourself from being thrown into hell. But Jesus can.
If you think you’re strong enough to earn heaven, obey enough to deserve heaven, or grow enough to achieve salvation from hell—then you’ve made yourself the savior, and Jesus just a sidekick.
But Jesus Christ is not your assistant. He is the only Savior.
1 John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
That’s not just theology. That’s eternity. The entire Bible teaches this same thing from front to back. You don’t save yourself by doing this or that. You trust IN JESUS ALONE to save you. And in the moment you do that, Jesus saves you.
Point 1: Only The Lost Need A Savior—That’s Why Many Don’t Want One
Luke 19:10
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus didn’t come looking for the found. He came for the lost. The problem is, most people don’t think they’re lost—they think they’re improving. They think they are good. They don’t believe they are lost.
They don’t see their sin as a death sentence—they see it as a setback. Many people are doing okay. They have good jobs, make good money, and have a comfortable life. They don’t need a Savior. They think they are doing okay without Jesus.
A coach is for the capable. A coach assumes you just need training, structure, or discipline to get where you’re trying to go.
But a Savior is for the helpless—those who have no way forward, no hope, and no strength to get up again.
Luke 5:31-32
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Most people don’t feel like they need to be rescued. They don’t someone to save them from ALL their sins. Repentance for salvation is changing your mind about that and believing in THE SAVIOR, Jesus Christ.
But people won’t do that. They feel like they just need a little direction. They don’t think they’re dying in sin—they think they’re just underperforming in life. They think they can be good and do good with just a little help from Jesus. This is what’s happening in all these churches out there.
That’s why they don’t want a Christ who saves. They want a coach who inspires.
But here’s the truth:
The man drowning cries out for help. The man doing laps in the shallow end doesn’t. He’s making it just fine. He doesn’t need any help.
If you think you’re swimming fine on your own, you’ll never grab the life preserver. You won’t cling to Jesus Christ until you realize you’re going under—not improving.
Salvation only makes sense to the lost. Grace only matters to the guilty. And a Savior only matters to those who know they’re sinking.
Until a man sees he’s drowning, he’ll keep smiling, swimming, and showing off his form.
Point 2: You Can’t Be Your Own Savior—Because You’re the One Who Needs Saving
Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
It’s not just your sins that condemn you. It’s your best efforts.
Trying to be your own savior through good works is like trying to scrub yourself clean with dirty rags.
No matter how hard you work, you only spread the stain. You only spread more dirt. You aren’t clean. The Bible says you aren’t clean. “We are ALL as an unclean thing.”
Saving yourself by obedience is like trying to climb out of quicksand by pulling on your own shirt. You aren’t going up. You’re going under.
Trusting your righteousness to get to heaven is like mailing an empty envelope and hoping it arrives full. No matter how sincere you are, there’s still nothing inside. Within you, in your own power, you don’t have what it takes.
Depending on your own goodness to be saved is like putting cologne on a corpse. It might smell better—but it’s still dead.
Trying to fix your sin problem with your own good works is like painting over mold. It looks fine for a moment—but the rot is still there, growing beneath the surface.
Thinking God will accept your good outweighing your bad is like trying to bribe a judge with counterfeit money. Not only does it fail—it adds another crime. It is sin to believe in anyone else but Jesus Christ to save you from all your sins.
Trying to be your own savior is like building a lifeboat out of paper. It may float for a second, but it won’t make it through the storm. Never will you make it to heaven. Never will you be saved unless you give it all up and put all your trust IN the Lord Jesus Christ. He is your Creator. He is God. He can do anything. He can save you right now and forever.
A drowning man doesn’t need swimming lessons. It’s too late. He’s drowning already. He needs a lifeguard. He needs someone who can save him. That’s only Jesus.
You don’t need improvement—you need a Savior who died, was buried, and arose from the dead. You need a Savior that has already conquered death and hell.
Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus has the keys of death and hell. You don’t. You won’t ever have them. Jesus has them. You will never save yourself. You need a Savior. There’s only one Savior.
Point 3: Salvation Is Locked to All but One Name
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Salvation is not open access. People won’t be saved through many different paths, many different religions, or many different names. There’s only one name that opens the gates of Heaven: Jesus Christ.
For example, Billy Graham said this in 1997:
“I think that everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they’re conscious of it or not, they’re members of the Body of Christ.”
He continued in the interview:
“He’s calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world. They are members of the Body of Christ because they’ve been called by God.”
That is lie. People who never believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will go to hell. That’s the truth.
One name: Jesus Christ. Not Mary. Not Moses. Not your pastor, priest, or personal performance. Not your life of greatness. Because you don’t have a life of greatness. You haven’t been perfect. Not even close.
If you’re trusting in your own name, you’re locked out of heaven. And if you never change your mind and believe in Jesus as THE SAVIOR, you will go to hell. It’s that simple.
There’s not a spare key. There’s only one name on the cross—and it wasn’t yours.
John 19:19
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
There’s only ONE who died for your sins. There’s only ONE who paid the penalty for you sin. His name is Jesus of Nazareth.
Point 4: Only Jesus Paid the Price—That’s Why Only He Can Redeem
Colossians 1:14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
No one else shed blood for you. No one else bore the wrath of God for you. No one else conquered death for you. Good works didn’t die. Obedience wasn’t crucified. Your effort wasn’t buried and risen. Your water baptism didn’t die on the cross for you.
Only Jesus can redeem—because only Jesus paid.
If your salvation plan isn’t the blood of Jesus Christ, his sacrifice, then your plan of salvation doesn’t work. If you want to add something else to the amazing sacrifice that Jesus made, you spit in the face of Jesus.
Imagine trying to pay a $1,000,000 fine in monopoly money. It doesn’t matter how much of it you have—it’s worthless in that courtroom. The only acceptable payment is real currency.
When it comes to sin, your good works are monopoly money. Let me say that again, your good works are monopoly money. Imagine trying to pay God for your sins with monopoly money. He doesn’t accept your monopoly money. He ONLY accepts Jesus Christ as payment.
Only the blood of Jesus is accepted in Heaven’s court.
1 Peter 1:18-19
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
You are not redeemed or saved with corruptible things like money, good works, or anything else. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags because they are always tainted by pride, selfish motives, or imperfection. Silver and gold, very precious things, are corruptible and insufficient. Our good works are of the flesh and the flesh is corruptible.
Building your salvation on good works that you do is building your foundation on a decaying foundation. You cannot pay for salvation by doing good works.
Point 5: A Savior Finishes the Job—He Doesn’t Just Start It
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith. Jesus is the one who began our faith—He’s the one who made a way for us to believe and be saved. And He’s the one who keeps us saved and brings us all the way to Heaven.
Jesus saves and keeps you saved. It’s like this:
Jesus is the One who writes the story of our faith from beginning to end. You didn’t start it by yourself, and you don’t finish it by yourself. It is finished. Jesus did all the work. Jesus lived the perfect life. Jesus finished salvation for you.
If salvation starts with Jesus but ends with you, then you’re the finisher. But the Bible says Jesus authored it and finished it. Make sure you see this Scripture clearly today.
Hebrews 10:12-14
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
He’s not waiting for you to complete His work. Are you saying Jesus didn’t finish the work? Are you saying more work has to be done, and you’re going to be the one who finishes the work He already finished. Think about it.
He made the ONE OFFERING. He’s calling you to believe it’s done. IT IS FINISHED. Faith doesn’t make you the co-savior. There is no co-savior! Faith means you believe the real Savior already took care of it. It’s faith IN Jesus. Not faith in you.
Faith IN Jesus is not asking Jesus to assist you. Instead, it’s admitting you’re hopeless without Him and believing that He already took your place. Faith in Jesus isn’t you getting some help from Him. It’s you putting trust in a full substitute who paid the full price for you.
Point 6: Faith in Jesus Isn’t Asking Him to Help You Save Yourself
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Believing in Jesus doesn’t mean just believing He exists. It means trusting that He took your place. You owe God the penalty for sin. The penalty is death and hell. Jesus took your place and paid your penalty.
You’re not asking Him to help you climb the ladder to heaven. You’re trusting that He already took the fall for you—and rose again.
Not “Jesus and me.” Not “Jesus helps me.” Just “Jesus paid it all.”
Many people think faith in Jesus means He does His part, and you do your part. They picture salvation like a team project: Jesus helps by dying on the cross, and they help by being good, getting baptized, repenting from sin, or obeying commandments.
But that’s not faith—that’s a partnership. And Jesus isn’t your co-savior, and He doesn’t save you by being in a partnership with you. He’s the only Savior, and you must believe that.
Faith Isn’t Saying: “Jesus, I’ll do my best—can You make up the rest? Jesus, I’ll obey—You just help me when I fall. Jesus, I know I can’t do it alone—so I need Your power to finish it.”
That’s still trusting in yourself, with Jesus as a backup plan. If you have a backup plan, this isn’t faith in Jesus.
Real Faith Says: “I have no part in saving myself. If Jesus didn’t die in my place, I would be in Hell. “I’m trusting completely in what Jesus already did, not in what I do now.”
Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
The person who is saved is the one who does not work, but believes. Faith means stopping your efforts and trusting His finished work.
You’re not asking Jesus to help you climb the mountain—You’re believing He already carried you to the top, bled for your sin, and sat down—because it’s finished.
Point 7: You Either Wear His Righteousness or Your Own—Only One Gets In
Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
When you stand before God, you’ll be wearing one of two things: 1) Your own righteousness—filthy rags, stained with pride, sin, and self-righteousness OR 2) Christ’s righteousness—white, pure, sinless, and fully accepted by God.
There is no middle outfit. No spiritual mixing and matching. You don’t get to wear Jesus’ robe on Sunday and your own good works the rest of the week.
God doesn’t accept half you and half Him. It’s either all Christ or all you. And only one outfit will be accepted into Heaven.
Heaven isn’t impressed by well-behaved sinners. God isn’t handing out awards for effort because Heaven isn’t earned, it’s given. Your best day still falls short. Heaven doesn’t accept well-dressed sinners—it only welcomes those who are fully clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
If you’re trusting in anything other than His finished work, you’ll be turned away—no matter how clean you thought you looked.
Point 8: He Doesn’t Share the Glory—Because He Did All the Work
Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
If you had even 1% part in saving yourself, you’d have 1% reason to boast. But salvation is 100% Jesus. And that means He gets 100% of the glory.
Salvation or being saved from hell isn’t a group project. If you try to take credit, you haven’t believed the Gospel AT ALL.
Salvation isn’t a team effort. Jesus didn’t say, “It is started.” He said, “It is finished.” Trying to help Jesus save you is like grabbing the pen out of His hand and saying, “Let me rewrite the ending.” But salvation isn’t your story—it’s His.
Grace doesn’t share a room with pride. You are only saved by God’s grace meaning you don’t deserve it. You don’t earn it. If you want to be saved, you have to get out of the way. The Gospel, or Good News, doesn’t say “Do better.” It says “Done forever.” That’s why it’s good news.
Conclusion: Stop Being Your Own Savior—Bow to the Only One Who Can Save
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
The world says, “I’m doing my best.” God says, “I gave you My best—My Son.” And He is THE BEST. He is the PERFECT Savior of the world who got the job done perfectly. He is THE SAVIOR of the world and nothing else.
The world says, “I’m changing my ways. I’m changing this. I’m changing that” God says, “You must be born again.” You changing your ways doesn’t work because you’re already corrupted. You need a completely new man or new woman. You need to be born again. NEW. Not changing your old man. You need a new man.
The world says, “I’m trying to make it.” God says, “I already made the way—believe IN Jesus.”
Call To Action:
Jesus Christ is not your coach. He’s not your cheerleader. He’s not your consultant.
He is your Savior.
And you don’t need to improve yourself. You need to die to self and trust the One who already died for you.
Acts 16:30-31
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Let’s pray.
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