Do you remember when your elementary textbooks made the answers clear? Your assignment would be to read the section on, let’s say, The Boston Tea Party. Throughout the section, key words would be bolded, so you knew they were important and would be the ultimate answers to the review questions at the end of the chapter. 

For example, while reading the details, you would see the date bolded, December 16, 1773. The reasons for the event would also be bolded. The colonists were frustrated for being taxed without representation. The events and characters would be spelled out in neat, elementary-level language; easy for the average child to comprehend.

Certainly a college – level text book on the same event would prove much more complex. Historical writings from various perspectives would be included. Cultural norms and diversities would be explained to help the reader understand the event more deeply in order to comprehend its impact in our world today. The bold simplicity would be replaced with a myriad of writings, research, and philosophies on the matter.

I think many of us expect the Bible to explain faith in the elementary format. Bold headings on each topic would be nice. 
Who is God

What is the meaning of life?

What is Sin?

How to be Saved:

Simple outlines and action steps would certainly be helpful.
“To know God, do x,y, and z.” “Then to be sure you are saved, say this and do that…”

While the Bible is not this straightforward, and many struggle to understand its many complexities, it is for our good that it is not so simply written. Why?

Because the Bible isn’t merely a historical book full of facts and characters for us to memorize. It is a living-breathing story of the One True God who created our entire Universe for His delight. Who formed us from the dust of the earth, gave His divine breath as our life, and loved us so deeply He initiated covenant with us forever.

God loves the World.

Let’s add some context to our understanding. It will help us put the pieces of faith together.

Throughout the Old Testament, Genesis to Malachi, we read a story of God and mankind. God establishes covenant with all life on the earth.

“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come.””  Genesis 9:12

God created man for relationship. He didn’t create us and sit back and watch history unfold. He’s not observing us from afar. 

Now, only God knows why He delights in us. We are frail, prone to selfishness, and tend toward evil. From the fall of Adam and Eve, to the idolatry of the Israelites, to the selfishness of every soul in modern day, all of mankind falls short of being worthy to call God our Friend.

But we are also in His image. (Genesis 1:27) We are capable of goodness, creativity, beauty and so much more. In His great love for us, God didn’t just become our friends. He made a God-sized oath of deep connection to us all that He knew only He would be able to keep. It’s as if God married the world,  knowing we would all cheat on Him with ourselves. So He made a way for us to be forever restored as if we had never faltered.

“For your maker is your husband – the LORD Almighty is His name – the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”  Isaiah 54:5

Yes, God began His covenant of deep relationship with Israel, His chosen people. Through them, He revealed His Law, His Name, and His promise of Redemption. 

Through Jesus, we are all heirs of this promise. Israel and Gentiles are now one Body of Believers in the family of God. The New Testament introduces Jesus as a Jew with the genealogy to prove it. He spends his life in ministry to the children of Israel. Then, after His death and resurrection, Jesus tells His followers to “Go into ALL the world and make disciples!” His promise is for us all!!

He Gave His Son

God always knew we would fail Him. 

Doesn’t that sting? 

We want to be good people. Most of us try our very best. We hope to balance our actions with more selfless than selfish. In the end, we each know we could never claim absolute perfection.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  Romans 3:23

Why must we be perfect? Great question. It has everything to do with Justice.

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”  Isaiah 30:18

Because God is a God of Justice, He must punish every act of disobedience. Otherwise, justice would not be served. The punishment for acting against God’s ways? Death…which is simply a withdrawal of connection to Him. He is life itself. 

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned -” Romans 5:12

There’s the word that makes humanity cringe. sin. 

Sin is any act of disobedience against God’s ways. It’s rooted in selfishness. The Bible gives plenty of examples for us to learn God’s ways and how to follow them. Yet in our humanity, we can never obey perfectly…so we all deserve death.

Enter Christmas and Easter!

Remember the covenant. God loves the world. He is just, so the courts of heaven forever stand. AND He is mercy.

In the New Testament, we see this merciful God fulfill our requirements of the Old Testament covenant. He came Himself and DIED FOR US. His death fulfilled all the requirements for us to partake in full covenant with Him…forever.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:6-8

Whoever Believes in Him

This part is so simple. Yet, we complicate it so much! I think we confuse the Christian faith with all other religions on the earth.

Religious systems are all about earning divine blessings, rewards, and supernatural ascension. Rituals abound for cleansing the soul, bringing peace, and protecting from evil. Even Christians can hold this transactional view of humanity’s relationship with God. Do good things and be blessed. Do bad things and be cursed.

But following Jesus isn’t transactional. Yes, He takes our sin and gives us His life. But we didn’t pay for it! He did!! Why? Because of His great mercy. Sin separated us from Him and He died to reconcile us to Himself forever. Our faith is about an eternal relationship of love.

Our one requirement? Believe. 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”  Romans 5:1-2

Believe God loves you. Even when life hurts and people show hate.

Believe you need saving. Even thought you’re a good person, God’s justice requires perfection. His mercy made the way. Confess you need His provision to make you pure again.

Believe Jesus is God. His death as a man and as God fully paid your debt before the court of heaven. 

Believe you can live a new life without sin in covenant with God. 

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6