Is Pleasing God Really That Complicated?
Finding Freedom in the Simplicity of the Gospel
Have you ever felt like trying to be "right with God" is impossibly complicated? That connecting with God and securing your eternal destiny requires jumping through an endless series of hoops, following a long list of rules, and completing a complex spiritual checklist? If so, you're not alone.
People have struggled with overcomplicating faith since the very beginning of the Jesus movement. The early Christian church in the ancient city of Colossae, for example, found itself facing a "theological crisis" - a mish-mash of spiritual practices and requirements all mixed together. They had heard the truth about Jesus - the simple, crystally-clear Gospel - but it was too simple. And they began implementing some of their own “religious” practices into it.
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
People were bringing different ideas about their faith and what it meant to be right with God and mixing it in with this pure, unadulterated message about Jesus and the gospel, because it was just too simple. There needed to be more to it than that, because every religious system and every faith system in the world was much more complex and had many more boxes to check.
Sound familiar? Fast forward 2000 years and we face the same temptations today. We have a hard time accepting that getting right with God could really be as simple as putting our faith in Jesus. Surely we have to add our own rules, our own experiences, our own preferred path to the straightforward message of the gospel?
But here's the truly good news that Paul shared with those early Colossian Christians: the path to peace with God is refreshingly and profoundly uncomplicated. It's not about what rules we follow or spiritual boxes we check, it's about putting our hope and trust in Jesus alone. Paul put it this way:
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9
You didn't earn it. You can’t buy it. This is not something you did. It is God's gift. Not from works. Not based on the stuff that you did, not based on the boxes that you check, so that no one can boast. No one should be going around and saying,” I've earned my way to God, because that's not the way it works. Jesus earned the way to God for us.
Did you catch that? Securing an eternal relationship with God isn't based on following the rules or completing a checklist. You can't earn it or achieve it through your own efforts. It's a free gift, made possible by Jesus. Obedience to God is a good thing. But that’s not what makes you right with God. It’s the obedience of Jesus that gives us a chance to be forgiven and redeemed.
When Jesus was asked to clarify exactly how a person can connect with God, he made a bold and astounding claim: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) His message was clear - put your trust in me, and me alone, and you can experience forgiveness, purpose and eternal life with God.
While some consider this to be an exclusive statement, in reality it is profoundly inclusive. John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross, that whoever believes in him can have eternal life. It's all inclusive, it's not exclusive. But Jesus made it clear that there is only one way to God.
This simple gospel message is truly good news for everyone, regardless of your religious background. You don't need to follow an elaborate set of rules. You don't have to complete a long list of religious rituals. You don't need an advanced degree in theology. As Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So what does this mean for you today? If you've been on a spiritual search, trying to figure out how to make things right with God, you can stop overcomplicating it. The message of Jesus is astoundingly simple: put your trust in him, accept his free gift of forgiveness and grace, and discover the joy and freedom of a relationship with God.
As you place your faith in Jesus, you can experience the truth Paul wrote about: "[God] has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." That's the simple, powerful, life-changing reality at the very heart of the Christian faith.
If you're ready to embrace this uncomplicated, hope-filled gospel message, the next step is simple. Invite Jesus to lead and forgive you. If you'd like to talk more about what this means or have any questions, I'd be honored to connect with you. You can listen to the full teaching or join us for one of our upcoming services to explore this good news further.
Don't spend another day weighed down by the impossible burden of trying to follow elaborate religious rules. Discover the freedom and joy that comes from putting your trust in Jesus and Jesus alone as you walk with him day by day. That's the simple, powerful truth that changes everything.
Read more about how you can cultivate good, healthy relationships for your life.