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Mar 22, 2024 18:00pm

Simple Faith

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Pickleball, it’s all the rage.

When my friend first told me she was playing, I was like, “Pickleball? What in the world is that?!”

She was an avid tennis player and explained some of the setup and rules to me. She said it’s really a simple game, and you’d catch on quickly. But it seemed overwhelming, and I thought it was probably not for me.

I’m good.

Then, a friend invited me to play at a local community center just up the road from where I live. To be honest, I was intimidated the moment I pulled in the parking lot.

I’ll watch for a while to try to get the hang of it and see how things work, and I might play at some point.

But that’s not quite how it works there. The players began to show up and introduce themselves; one man even gave me one of his paddles to use and said, the best way to learn is just to get out there and play.

It wasn’t that hard at all. I realized I didn’t have to know it all initially; I would learn along the way. And if I made a mistake, they were very forgiving. They would say, “learn from it,” and move on to the next play.

And that was it. It was that simple.

John 5:24
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” – KJV

Let me share with you the NLT version-
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

Want to know how to be saved? That’s it. It’s that simple.

These are the words of Jesus, the Son of God, the One equal with God, our Lord, our Savior. If He said it, I will believe it!

Not what others have said, not what tradition or religion teaches, but what Jesus said.

When we use the word saved, the context is essential. It’s a verb and a noun. What’s the action taking place? If we are saved, what danger are we saved from?

Gods wrath.

God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. – Nahum 1:2

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. – Eph. 5:6

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; – Romans 1:18

God is righteous and must judge sin. All of it. From the most minor white lie to the murderers who commit mass genocide. The Bible tells us that ALL are sinners. We will ALL face the righteous judgment of God. We are ALL deserving of God’s judgment.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. – Romans 5:8-9

God made a way for man to be saved from His wrath. It had to be a sinless, perfect blood sacrifice. Nothing on earth could do it. There was no man worthy.

So, rich in mercy, God sent us His Son Jesus to be that perfect sacrifice. Believing in Jesus is the ONLY way to be saved.

If we try to add anything to it, it is a false religion.

So, the question this morning is, do you believe? Do you believe in the words of Jesus?

It really is that simple.