John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
As Simple as One
Maybe you’ve heard it said that the gospel, salvation, is as simple as A,B,C and 1,2,3. That is certainly true. In fact, I would say that salvation is as simple as One. Salvation is not in a plan; it’s in a Person. It’s not in a way; it is in the Way which, again, is a Person, the Lord Jesus.
In John 3 Jesus over and again tells us what is required to have peace with God and eternal life, salvation. In John 3:15 He says, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” So how does one not perish and have eternal life? By believing, depending on, or trusting in Jesus Christ. Verse 16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So, everlasting life comes from a person, Jesus Christ.
Verse 18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Verse 36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
The Bible speaks of the simplicity of the gospel as opposed to the subtly of falsehood. The word simplicity there means simply “singular,” or “one.” There are not 27 steps to salvation. Salvation is as simple as One. Well, what must a person do to be saved? Someone says, “Repent, receive, accept, trust, or believe.” The answer is “yes,” but these are not five or six different ways of salvation. It may be five or six different ways to express salvation, but there’s only one way, a Person, Jesus.
There is only one sin that can damn a person, and that is not believing on Jesus. He that believeth not is condemned. When? Already. Why? Because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. There is only one virtue that saves: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.