The Gospel is simple and uncomplicated. If we were to encapsulate the whole gospel into one brief sentence it could go like this: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). The same explanation of the gospel is beautifully captured in the frequently quoted, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
The Gospel of God through Jesus Christ is often referred to as ‘Good News’. The good news of God to mankind is truly simple. If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved. Period! No frills, no hidden agendas, no fine print and no “*T&C Apply” tags.
However this word, ‘believe’ is probably the most misunderstood word in the Bible. In an attempt to preach the gospel to the lost, it has been used so casually; to the point of watering down the entire gospel. The quality of faith in Christians today because of the frivolous use of the word, ‘believe’ is now seen everywhere.
What then is it to ‘believe’? The Amplified New Testament very aptly amplifies this word with three terms: trust; cling to; rely on. The more we meditate on each term, the more we would begin to realise what the gospel is all about. And herein lies the crux of how something simple can be made difficult.
Evangelicals have made the word believe to mean “accept” or “receive”. The logic is that salvation is a free gift of God and if we accept or receive this gift, we are saved. Now there is truth in this but it is not the whole truth and this is where the new believing heart has been left with the assuring words, “Congratulations brother! You are now saved.” Another true statement which is seldom fully understood is, “Receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and you will be saved.” Very few leave with the clear understanding of what it means to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of one’s life. The terms “Lord” and “Saviour” are often seen as no more than titles.
I do not demean the saving grace of God and the genuineness of the heart that has “accepted” Jesus Christ into their lives for there are thousands who will testify how that moment was a turning point in their life. Yet there are many more thousands who will tell you that they believe in Jesus without actually knowing what it truly means to “believe”.
The term “trust” is to hope with confidence and confident expectation. Hebrews 11:1 defines this for us by using terms such as, “assurance” and “being fully convinced”. The author then goes on to describe heroes of faith who trusted in God whom they could not see, yet believed with full assurance, confidence and hope that bubbled with life. Trust is being fully assured in God, convinced that He is true and faithful and ever present and in total control. Trust is not leaning on one’s own understanding but practically acknowledging Him who is never failing.
The term, “cling to” is to grasp in such a way so as to never let go. It is to lay hold of tightly as one would a buoy or a raft on a stormy sea. It is like grasping a rope and holding on to it for dear life because such a one knows that letting go would be disastrous. The Psalms are filled with terms like refuge, shelter, hiding place and the likes. In “clinging” to God, there is safety. Being “anchored” in God’s love is another shade of the term, ‘cling to’. The Lord desires that in our relationship with Him, we cling to Him with a hold that will never let go.
The third term, “rely on” can also mean to “depend on”. Can we in our walk with God, through the journey of life, rely on Him and depend on Him as the One who is fully trustworthy and dependable? As the One who cares for us and will never fail when we have put our trust in Him? Did not Christ show His love for us by dying for us while we were still sinners? Does not Scripture tell us that they that put their trust in God will never be disappointed?
The problem with us is that we are too afraid to trust in, cling to and rely on Him who is unseen. We would rather trust in what we can relate to; what is known and tested by the world as the “logical way”. We would rather cling to things that have earthly value, such as wealth or property or a source of revenue we can rely on because we can depend on that source at some point or another. We would rather lean on what our senses make us believe is reliable and dependable.
Here lies the difficulty in keeping the gospel simple. Instead of trusting in, clinging to and leaning on God we relegate God to the peripheral aspects of our life—aspects that do not interfere with our decisions. We are content with fellowship and prayer and reading of the Bible as long as it does not come in the way of our choices.
Someone once said to me, “I cannot take the chance.” This brief yet honest confession is the underlining reason why we would rather trust our wisdom than God’s wisdom. It is the reason why would rather rely on our plans than God’s plans. We know in our hearts that God is all-wise; that He never makes a mistake; and that His plans are eternal and always for our welfare. Yet because we cannot see the Almighty Creator, we are satisfied to rely on and trust in that which we can see and relate to.
We are willing to cling to the truth that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. We are willing to believe that through Jesus we are redeemed from the kingdom of sin; and that through Him we have the assurance of eternal life. We believe in our sonship. We believe in all the promises that God has given. We believe and sing, “There is none like You.” But look closely! The belief is on what Christ has done or doing for us; not on what we need to do. This is also one of the reasons we are selective when we read promises like those in Deuteronomy 28. We remember and proclaim and even remind God verses 3 to 13(a), but conveniently forget or pay no attention to verse 1, 2 and 13 (b).
Is not a covenant between two people? When Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood it wasn’t that He would be the only party to honour the covenant and we would be merely recipients, was it? Is there no “loving God”, “obeying God” or “faith in God”? Are we not expected to please God? If we reflect on the terms, “love God”, “obey God” or “faith in God”—all three mandatory commands as our part of the covenant—we will soon understand that they find purpose only in the person of God and all that He is. How then can we do this if we do not trust in, cling to and lean on the person of God?
What a pity that Christians settle down for something mediocre when God desires for us the best—all because we “cannot take the chance.” What a shame that the Church that is expected to proclaim the glory of the gospel; and display the power that is in it; while shining forth the light which is ‘Christ in us’; finds herself a poor witness and powerless. A ‘witness’ is one that testifies what he has actually experienced. Such a testimony is then considered true. Peter, John and the other Apostles spoke as witnesses because they saw and tasted and experienced Jesus. How sad that we testify about Jesus Christ because of what we read and hear.
I recognise that none of what I have written is easy. This is why I said that we make that which is simple, difficult. It requires total surrender. It demands 100% faith and obedience. There are no half-ways. God in His mercy accepts the littleness of our faith but He also expects it to grow. We must move from children to young men to fathers (1Jn. 2:12-14). Note how the Apostle John describes both the children and the fathers. They both know God yet there is a big, big difference in the knowledge of each.
May God stir our hearts to repentance. May He spur within us a resolute commitment that we would enter this New Year with the earnest, longing and sincere heart to ‘believe’ in Him completely, not selectively. May He be glorified in us as we trust in, cling to and rely on Him, for this is what the gospel demands.
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