Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

This is as plain and simple as it gets. This verse appeared as quote of the day yesterday on Biblegateway. Today as we finished up our studies on the writings of Luke, I saw relevance within the scriptures and this verse came to mind.

Acts 28:24-26 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

For some plain and simple isn’t enough. They have to learn the hard way. If they are going to receive eyes to see and ears to hear, they are going to have to be broken first.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

That too is plain and simple and it will need to be a reality in their lives before they receive and believe. None of us want that for unbelievers so we make the gospel plain, simple and easy for those who are ready to believe. The rest will have to hear the warnings and we hope that when their breaking point is reached, they will remember what was spoken to them plain and simple.

Simply put, God loves you and wants a close personal relationship with you. You have to want it too.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By faith, it is just that simple.

Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Here we have three verses related to saving faith. What is this salvation and how does it work? In the first case this woman’s faith saved her from a life of prostitution and all the abuses that came with that life. In the second case the man is saved from a life of blindness where he was a beggar and dependent on others for life.

The third example is a little more complicated because there is no attachment of condition except one, grace, salvation and faith are gifts from God. In all cases we are helpless to help ourselves regardless of the condition of our souls.

Over the years I have struggled earnestly with those that believe salvation has to be earned. They take the scriptures and bend them to their liking and teachings to bind themselves and others to a doctrine that is not the freedom upon which Christ died for our sins. Cross plus teachings insult the sacrifice of Christ because it says it is not enough. Cross plus teaching binds men to religious theologies that are controlling and manipulative. Freedom escapes them because they all preach “if you leave us you are damned forever.”

Jeremiah 22:22 The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

The warnings of the prophets are not enough if you cannot see these behaviors in yourself or those around you.