The only way to real lasting success, happiness, and eternal life is through Jesus. Anything except putting faith in Jesus makes the cross of none effect. Whether we are a teacher like Paul or a lay member of the Church we cannot add anything to the work of Jesus on the cross. There is nothing that we can provide to help us gain salvation or the abundant life in this age or eternal life in the age to come.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Especially in our modern world we have become self-reliant and we want to do it ourselves. We want to be able to claim that, "I did it my way!". But, for a Christian there is only one way and Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

In fact as Paul points out our human efforts only make the cross of Jesus of no effect in our lives.

Galatians 5:4 If you are justified by law the cross is made of none effect.

Having come to the Father via Jesus, our lives are to be lived entirely in Him and with Him living His life through us. It seems at first too easy, but for us today sometimes the hardest thing to do is to submit to be led by God. When we do though we will live in all the blessings of God; in this age and in the age to come.