When We Complicate Salvation

Daily Devotional – Monday, April 8, 2024
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)

We have a tendency to ignore simple concepts and embrace complicated ones. Take the example of the Bible’s most famous verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Whoever Believes in Him

Our role in salvation is to believe in Jesus. Don’t we need to be good enough to inherit eternal life? We wonder. Paul bursts our bubble when he states, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

Indeed, we do not deserve to be saved. Salvation is God’s initiative. Notice what else Paul says about salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When We Complicate Salvation

We complicate salvation when we imagine and act as if we can add anything to what happened on Calvary. There is nothing good we can do to earn eternal life. It is a gift we must accept and embrace (read Romans 6:23), not a reward for our supposedly good works.

Today, if you are tempted to think that you need to perform some good works or attain some level of righteousness to inherit eternal life, ask Jesus for forgiveness. Moreover, thank God that He simplified salvation so that no human being needs to get lost eternally.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I am forever grateful for loving and saving me in spite of my sinfulness.