The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a very simple message. It is so simple that even a small child can understand it.
Paul wrote, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" 2 Corinthians 11:3.
What is complicated and confusing is religion. In the Gospel, Jesus comes into the world as humanities representative. His mission is to do for fallen humanity what fallen humanity cannot do for itself. In our name and on our behalf, Jesus offers to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes" Romans 10:4.
In our name and on our behalf, Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, "And he is a propitiation for our sins: and not ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" 1 John 2:2. That's it. That is all that anyone needs to know to be saved. That is the Gospel in two scriptures. No, you don't need to go to Catholic school to be saved. All that you need to do is to believe in Jesus, John 3:16.
Religion says, "You must confess, you must repent, you must be baptized, you must, you must, you must and if you don't you will be anathema". The Gospel is so simple that many find it to be offensive. "You mean to say that all that I have to do to be saved is to believe in Jesus?" That's right. Jesus has done it all and he did it perfectly. This is why Paul said, "You are complete in him" Colossians 2:10.
Jesus said, "Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, didn't I" Matthew 7:21-23. These are the religious people that believe that you must, you must, you must, or you will not be saved. Religion is not an indication of faith. Religion is an indication of the absence of faith.
Paul wrote, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" 2 Corinthians 11:3.
What is complicated and confusing is religion. In the Gospel, Jesus comes into the world as humanities representative. His mission is to do for fallen humanity what fallen humanity cannot do for itself. In our name and on our behalf, Jesus offers to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes" Romans 10:4.
In our name and on our behalf, Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, "And he is a propitiation for our sins: and not ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" 1 John 2:2. That's it. That is all that anyone needs to know to be saved. That is the Gospel in two scriptures. No, you don't need to go to Catholic school to be saved. All that you need to do is to believe in Jesus, John 3:16.
Religion says, "You must confess, you must repent, you must be baptized, you must, you must, you must and if you don't you will be anathema". The Gospel is so simple that many find it to be offensive. "You mean to say that all that I have to do to be saved is to believe in Jesus?" That's right. Jesus has done it all and he did it perfectly. This is why Paul said, "You are complete in him" Colossians 2:10.
Jesus said, "Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, didn't I" Matthew 7:21-23. These are the religious people that believe that you must, you must, you must, or you will not be saved. Religion is not an indication of faith. Religion is an indication of the absence of faith.