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Daily Scripture
 
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH … WORKS?

Sabe and other Inanbimalis are clinging to their own good works for salvation.

March 17, 2008

by Patrick Hatcher

After teaching chronologically through the Passover story, NTM missionaries are preparing for a two-week break so the village can finally bury a tribal chief who died several weeks ago.

The Inanbimali people of Papua New Guinea continue to hear Bible lessons, but many are clinging to their own good works for salvation.

One tribal man considers himself to be very religious, and feels that his good works will get him to Heaven. Talking to missionary Tim Shontere, Sabe said, "It is the good character that saves you. If you live a good life … then I think God will let you in."

"You have to follow the Ten Commandments, right? That's good -- God would like that, right? I have been doing the religious thing and attending each service," Sabe said.

"I am a good man."

Sabe made these statements on the day of the Passover teaching. After the lesson, Tim answered him with these questions:

"What if a family was a good, nice family? What if the family went to the weekly religious meetings, gave to the poor, sold all they had and lived for God but they didn't sacrifice the lamb and put it on the door posts as God said?

"Would the firstborn still die when the angel of death came around that night?"

Sabe paused and then slowly said "Yes, because they didn't follow God's talk."

Then Tim said, "But they were good people. Their whole lives they did nice things, they followed the religion pretty well, but their firstborn would still die?

"Is that what you are telling me? Why would God do that to such nice people?"

Sabe's answer was classic: "Because they didn't come to God his way, and besides that they still had Adam's sin from birth."

"WOW!" Tim said. "What a rush to see for the first time one of the guys who thought he was perfect and acceptable to God finally admit that … goodness and kindness don't save a person."

Many Inanbimalis are interested in showing what they know instead of listening.

Please pray for the Holy Spirit's conviction on the village and wisdom for the missionaries to respond and help the Inanbimalis see their need for the ultimate cure.