Simply by Believing

Simply by Believing

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.”      (John 6:47)

Is there another statement in the Bible spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ that is more clear on the subject of salvation and eternal life than John 6:47? The only verse that even comes close are the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31; “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

   These two verses are so simple that even relatively young children are able to understand them. Certainly the average person on the street can understand them. I can find no other verses that are more direct or sublime.

   In fact, it is statements like these that reveal how anxious God is to make His plan of salvation clear, plain, and simple. Although there are subjects in the Bible that are very difficult to understand (according to the Apostle Peter (2 Peter 3:16), the way of salvation is not one of them.

   Multitudes of people all over the world, both young and old, from all walks of life have received the gift of salvation through these verses and others like them.

   Why then do preachers, teachers, and theologians distort them? Why can’t they accept the simple truth that faith alone plus nothing equals life eternal? Why are they so adamant in attaching conditions to the word “believe?”

   Those who would distort the simple truth of the word of God say that what Jesus really was saying was: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who repents, believes, and submits totally to My will, has everlasting life.”

   Some of these distorters of the truth must have belonged to the Galatian church. Paul said, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Gal.1:6-7)

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be faithful to your word of truth and not distort it.