Nor is it easy to completely trust God and stop trying to add our own good works to the mix to impress Him, or please Him or to appease Him, or whatever.
We KNOW we’re sinners and that wrong doing deserves justice. That’s where guilt comes in. All our works are attempt to assuage our guilt, which they cannot do. But it sure feels good to think that we’ve done something to earn or deserve some forgiveness for the wrong we’ve done. Human nature just can’t seem t help trying anyway when all that’s required is to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court.
What adding works is like doing is insisting on paying the penalty for a crime that you’ve been pardoned for. If you got a speeding ticket which was then forgiven, would you still insist on paying it anyway and getting the points on your license and hiking up your insurance?
Or would you go do some unrelated to the crime volunteer work to pay it off which it wouldn’t because it’s not the appropriate penalty for the crime?
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18.
"the finished work of Christ? that's just too simple. It cannot POSSIBLY be. How can the cross possibly be enough to satisfy a just God? Justice demands penalty and payment. Therefore I MUST be penalized and pay my due...."
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased GOd by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Cor. 1:21.
"But why? why would God save someone with absolutely no strings attached?"
"That no flesh should glory in his presence." 1 Cor. 1:29.
That is why. If there is anything WE could do to save ourselves, then we would have reason to glory in his presence. It's not about us, it's about Him. His glory. His plan. His grace. His free gift. His Son. His finished work.
Thanks, I think you exemplified the thinking of ‘easy believerism’ in your post.
I don't know why it is so hard to accept that some people do things in order to say, "I love you" to Jesus our Savior. I cannot imagine trying to impress God, nor any need to appease Him, but I can identify with those who want to say "Thank You, I love You" for all His gifts by offering time and talent.