I love the timing of this topic because it comes at a season when many believers have lost focus on what truly matters. It comes at a time when other things are given priority on the pulpit instead of the truth. The foundation of the Church is built on the gospel—the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose again for our justification, and ascended to the right hand of the Father (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:25).
The simplicity of this. The profoundness of this. The power of this.
Today’s blog post will focus on the simplicity of the gospel. Over the next two weeks, we will look at its profoundness and its power. To get the full message of this topic, I encourage you to follow through the series until the end. If you read only one part, the message may feel incomplete, biased even. Each part will focus on a different aspect, so that in the end, we can have a holistic and in-depth understanding of what the gospel truly is.
What is the gospel?
Gospel simply means good news. It is the good news that though we were doomed for destruction, we now have salvation (Eph. 2:1–5). It is the good news that, though the law could not offer salvation, the grace of God has appeared to all and teaches us to live godly lives (Tit. 2:11–12).
It is the good news that the penalty for our sins has been fully paid, and now we have been reconciled to God (Col. 1:21-22). The good news is that though we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23), by the righteousness of one Man, we have been made righteous (Rom. 5:18–19).
The good news is that Jesus died for our sins, rose again for our justification, and has gone to prepare a place for us—promising to return for us (Jn. 14:1–3).
We don’t need complex rituals, yearly sacrifices, or a rigid list of rules to attain salvation. Salvation is God’s gift to us, and we are called to believe in it (Eph. 2:8–9).
The gospel is simple…
When we say the gospel is simple, we speak of its requirements. The gospel requires only that you have faith and live it out (Rom. 10:9–10).
Many think this is too good to be true because they feel there should be more to do. The idea that the work has been fully completed and we are to simply believe in Christ’s finished work seems too simple.
In an attempt to appeal to such people, some preachers try to sound “deep” but end up complicating the gospel. They embellish it with extras that not only desecrate its purity but also suggest that it is not powerful enough unless it is padded with other unnecessary things. That is not the gospel, and such a message cannot save anyone (Gal. 1:6–9).
Don’t complicate it.
God made the gospel so simple that anyone, regardless of age, education, or status, can understand it. Jesus illustrated it often through parables: the prodigal son, the lost sheep, and the lost coin (Luke 15). Each one shows the Father’s love and His desire for us to be saved. From the beginning, it has always been a simple message for the simple-minded.
The simplicity of the gospel reveals the grace of God. It removes all grounds for human boasting, leveling every man—whether “sinner” or “saint” (Rom. 3:27). The gospel is grace; what we could not do for ourselves, Christ did for us. It exposes human weakness in the grand scheme of salvation and magnifies the strength of God, displayed in the blood of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:18–19).
The danger of undermining the gospel’s simplicity is that we remove grace from the equation. We unintentionally give credit to human effort or participation, allowing self-righteousness to thrive. And that in itself is a sin. (Php. 3:9)
The beauty of the gospel lies in its unshakable simplicity—Christ did it all, and we are called to believe and live in the reality of His finished work. When we strip it of this simplicity, we strip it of its essence. The gospel is not a puzzle to be solved but a gift to be received.
As we journey through this series, may our hearts be reminded that salvation is not about our merit but God’s mercy, not about our works but His grace.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV
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