During a particular college class, we had been studying the “mini-course” in righteousness by faith in Christ alone. We had read the two texts, John 15:5 and Philippians 4:13, that without Him we can do nothing, but with Him we can do all things.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” - John 15:5

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13

In the process of the discussion, some students were uneasy about John 15:5. One asked, “If we can do nothing without Christ, then doesn’t that take away from our worth as human beings? Aren’t we created in God’s image? Didn’t He create us with free choice? It doesn’t sound like freedom of choice if we can’t accomplish anything without him.”

So we made sure to draw the line between worthless, and helpless. We talked about the fact that while we are helpless to produce righteousness, we are worth everything in the eyes of heaven.

At that point, a young man in the back of the classroom raised his hand. “Why is it then,” he asked, “that it’s so easy to feel worthless, but so hard to feel helpless?”

Which of the two do you most often feel? Helpless or worthless? The devil has taken every truth and somehow twisted it, hasn’t he? God says, “You are worth everything, but you are helpless apart from Me.” The devil says “You are worthless. But try hard to change, and maybe somehow, someday, you will be worth something.”

One of the most-often expressed fears about the subject of salvation through faith in Christ alone is the fear that it will result in a do-nothing religion. Many people worry about accepting a “passive” faith that results in complete inactivity. We can look at how little we have accomplished in all our years of trying hard to produce righteousness, and we can assume that if we cease to struggle, we would then accomplish nothing at all. But the reverse is true.

Instead of finding that growth stops when we stop trying to grow, we will find that it is only then that true growth can begin. Jesus didn’t stop with His statement in John 15:5, that without Him we can do nothing. He also gave us the good news that through Him we can do all things.

The Ministry of Healing puts it this way:

“There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” – Page 159.

The Bible is filled with the stories of people who lived in complete dependence upon God. Were they passive? They were when it came to relying upon their own strength. But never forget how active passive can be! For the one who acknowledges his own helplessness and accepts the control of God is the one He will use to do great works for Him.

For several years now I have been collecting stories of people in the Bible who did stupid things!

Remember Jonathan and his armorbearer taking on the entire Philistine army? What about Joshua going out to conquer Jericho by walking circles around it every day for a week? Or commanding the sun to stand still when he needed a few more hours to finish a particular battle? It wasn’t smart military strategy for Gideon to send home 99 percent of his army and then to attack with pitchers and torches. Elijah was foolish to pour barrels of water on his sacrifice up there on Mount Carmel, instead of making things as easy for God as possible. And then there was Jehosophat, going to battle at the head of the choir!

If any one of these Bible heroes had been depending upon his own strength, instead of God, he would have been either stupid or suicidal! But when human weakness was united to divine strength, God used these persons to accomplish impossible things for Him.

When God invites us to place complete dependence upon Him, when He asks us to acknowledge our helplessness apart from Him, He is not opening the door for inactivity. The life controlled by God is the life of highest uselfulness and service. And it is the life that gives evidence of growth and fruitfulness.

That life can be yours, if you remember that without Him you can do nothing, but that with Him you can do all things–and get with Him, in personal fellowship and communion.