The old man Simeon held the Christ-child in his arms and joyfully proclaimed, "...mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." These few words form one of the most important phrases in the whole Bible, because they emphatically declare that Jesus Christ alone is the Savior.

The Bible calls Simeon a righteous and devout man. Did Simeon look to his personal holiness for acceptance with God? Not at all. He clearly saw salvation in Christ Jesus, not in himself. Think back to the baptism of Jesus and consider John the Baptist, the man who baptized Him. Christ once said of this man, "...among those born of women, there is no one greater than John" (Luke 7:28). Yet, after His Son had been baptized, God the Father said of Christ--not John the Baptist--"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). No matter how righteous, devout or great a man may be, he is never good enough to deserve God's unqualified commendation. Why? Because all men, from the least to the greatest, are sinful. Thus, they stand unrighteous before a holy God. Since Christ alone warrants the Father's approval, shouldn't we look to Him for acceptance by God, and not to ourselves?

When will sinners learn that all their righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of Jehovah? When will they understand that salvation cannot be found in what they feel, think, or do? When will they see Christ, not religion, as their only hope of salvation?

If you are trying to save yourself, or if you are trying to help God save you--stop, repent. Like Simeon, hold Jesus with the the arms of faith, lift your eyes toward heaven, and cry out, "Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation!"

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

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