Why is the condition of salvation simply “believe in Jesus' death & resurrection"?

It's not as easy as it sounds.

3/31/20245 min read

a sign that says do not be afraid just believe

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

While it sounds easy to do, it’s one of the hardest decision of your life as it comes with a change in lifestyle.

Persecution from the world is one struggle in itself but the greater war is to do with the constant friction between your fleshly desires & the desire to follow Jesus.

When you believe in Jesus’ crucifixion, you are accepting the fact that He loves you so much that He died for u.

He died so you won't be a slave to sin anymore, He died so that you can be HOLY in the eyes of God and be able to stay in the presence of God in Heaven, a place of no suffering, no evil and no sorrow; only the goodness and glory of God for eternity.

With the knowledge and understanding of this truth, is it really right to continue doing evil and what not only displeases God but also separates us from Him?

The very God who sacrificed His only son for us so we can be reunited with Him and enter into a personal relationship with Him without feeling the guilt, shame and unworthiness.

Every sin we do has not only consequences for us but also is like a spit on Jesus' face, a piercing from the crown of thorns or a stroke from that scourge. Or sometimes even like hammering a nail through His hands and feet.

Our sins are imputed onto Him. He paid the cost for ALL our sins that very day. That's precisely why it was such a painful and excruciating sentence for Him. He could see all that we did on that day, all the wrong we would do and did and yet what was His response?

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:34

Christianity is not about following the law and God's commandments and so keeping away from sin to our own best abilities and on our own willpower and dedication.

Christianity is about Loving God MORE than our love for sin- our own desires, our own will to be rich or successful in the world or to have laid with many women.

It's not religion God wanted to make. It's a connection. A relationship with Him.

It was a way to express His love for us. Our job is simply to accept His great love and love Him back. But we fail at doing that daily whenever we sin or neglect God or disobey His will for us.

Why do we keep failing?

Because it means sacrificing the temporary pleasure we get from sins, pleasure we get from being successful in this world, satisfaction from worldly acceptance, our love for the things of this World.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

LUKE 9:23

How can we change this seemingly hopeless problem?

We need to give up our desires for worldly success and sins and CHOOSE HIM every time, all the time. Doesn't sound easy does it?

The good news is that we are not alone in our walk to follow Him AND that whenever we get lost, Jesus said He is the kind of Good Shepherd who will leave the 99 to save the lost 1, that can be you at times. (that's a blog for another time ;)

God provides us with support from Godly brothers and sisters who will encourage us to keep up our journey following Jesus and more often than not, God Himself protects us from temptations and battles we may not be ready for yet as He continues to strengthen our faith.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Below are three verses that we must remind ourselves of daily in order to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2) and truly adopt a Christian lifestyle that will result in our love for God being greater than our love for sin. If you're observant, you may notice that Jesus applied all three of these in His daily life when He was walking on this very earth, in the presence of wickedness and evil and whilst being susceptible to that evil. He did not waver even once despite Him taking on human flesh and having human relations.

Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Be Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Here's an encouragement that Jesus gave His precious disciples before He left them physically in this world:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

John 15:5-11

And right after verse 11 He commands His disciples to "Love each other as I have loved you."

The lesson here is to abide in Him and follow His commands, then you shall have joy and wholeness in your heart.(purpose) And the encouragement is that though He is not here with us physically, He is always here in our hearts spiritually, always working in us even when we don't realize it and providing life to us.

And a quick way to test whether we are abiding in Him is to ask others if we are loving to them just like Jesus loves others. For Love is the product of abiding in Him. This is why Jesus goes on to say,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35