Simple Faith

If the gospel is true, then why doesn't everyone believe in Christ? 

To put it simply, 

Predestination. 

It is the destiny of those who are chosen to believe. 

But, those who believe still have a job to do. To seek out the lost and to present the gospel to them.

Most people are visual learners. What we see is what we believe.

But, we can't see Christ. He is in heaven until He returns. Which may be soon.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV


How can we believe in Someone we cannot see? And, how can we expect others to believe in Him?

{Agape'}

Which means love in Greek. The kind of love expressed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

Love is invisible until it is expressed, with not just words but in deeds and in truth. The gospel must be lived out in love for people to see it.

That is when the unveiling happens. The revelation. The Divine moment of truth.

Words become reality. The Word becomes visible. Real. 

{Love in the flesh}

So many times, we make Christianity about politics, a cultural standard of morality or living the "American Dream," but it's not about that.

I struggle with this too. The gospel is simple. So simple a child could understand it.

When we stray from it's simplicity, we are going down the wrong path and steering others away from Christ.

The gospel is simple, yet crucial to salvation.

There is One God, One Word, One Faith, One Savior (1 Timothy 2:5).

God loves us and wants us to know Him. He wouldn't make Himself so elusive that we wouldn't know how to find Him.

What makes Jesus

The Christ, our Savior, the Son of the Living God?

No one else claimed to be Divine, did the miracles He did, lived a life of perfect love, and was willing to die for us.

For the bad things we have done.

This simple fact sets Christ apart from all other ways to transcend the earthly to the heavenly. To touch the Divine. The One who holds eternity in His hands came down, as a human, 

A defenseless, helpless baby

To live the perfect life we should have lived and die the death we all deserve to die for our sins (Romans 3:23, 6:23).

Once we place our faith in Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, we are no longer condemned (Rom. 8:1).

Not only that but we are given the righteous standing of Christ Himself. We are marked as a child of God and given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the things to come (Eph. 1:13,14).

It seems so simple. Enough for a little child to understand. But, the thing is, none of us would believe if God didn't reach out and give us faith.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Ephesians 2:8,9 NIV

We're too proud. Too attached to living life without Him.

Things would change if we made that commitment.

We would have to make choices.

And, some of them would hurt for a time.

But, all of them would be for our good. And for a greater good and purpose.

Believing in Jesus and following Him is simple, yet life changing. If you haven't made that commitment, I urge you to consider Christ and His salvation. 

There is no other like Him. And, for those who have made the commitment, continue to press on, making the hard choices that come with following Him. He has a plan and purpose in everything. 

One day we'll see.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes...

Romans 1:16 NIV