The Simple Gospel

Sometimes we can think that what God expects of us is a very elaborate, burdensome task list of hoops we must jump through to be one of His children and enter the kingdom of heaven.  When I was reading th passage below from the Apostle Paul this morning I was reminded that it is when you hear the message of truth and believe…that you are marked with a seal…the Holy Spirit.  It isn’t when you give a large sum of money to the church or attend the church Christmas Program that you become a Christian.  It is when you and I respond to the message of truth…the gospel and believe that we are saved.  Our salvation doesn’t rest in our efforts to be good enough but rather in our ability to be humble enough and recognize we need Jesus.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14

“For it is by grace you have been gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

“Lord, we can’t thank you enough for your kindness to us.  Thank you that your plan for us to draw closer to you was never based on our own efforts to work harder or work faster to earn our way into your good graces.  Your plan is that we just come to you, knowing we can’t do this life on our own.  We need your help.  We need your forgiveness for trying to do things on our own.  We need you Jesus to guide us, forgive us and strengthen.  We love you Lord.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.”