Simple Religion?

I enjoy taking my tea break with my colleague at about 3pm everyday. People from different department, background and religion would come together and chat about anything interesting. Religion is often the most interesting topic. In the midst of majority unbelievers, the presence of Christians in our group is somehow very well established. They grew particularly interested when among them came an Intern who is a Christian.

And so today I excitedly joined the tea time and one of us brought a box of butter cookies. It was a really good snack, until Mr. Lee kindly reminded me that the box of cookies was offered to the idol. I thanked him for warning me and I explained that it is completely fine for me. After I explained that, one of them added in fluent Hokkien :"For the Christians are simple, when they sin, they just have to sincerely confess their sin."

One of the Christian colleague tried to protest. Well, because he kinda made Christianity sounds so easy. I was struck by the statement, trying to form theologically correct explanation for that, only to realise: Christianity can be so simple in the eyes of the unbelievers, it seems too good to be true. Oh yes, I would have to agree with him. To a certain extend.

If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9

The Bible puts it simply: Confess your sins, and you shall be forgiven, simply because God is faithful and just.

Question is, is it really that simple? I believe the answer is yes! But the statement seems to have hidden something that is far more important than the forgiveness of sin. Jesus Christ Himself.

We often talk about religion but we tend to forget the most important Person who made the religion possible. 1 John 1:9 says God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess our sins. Well, how is that even "just" when sins go unpunished and debts unpaid for? Well then of course, the reason why Christianity is so simple is because Someone made it simple and attainable for us: Jesus Christ.

if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt;...when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. 

Leviticus 5:3,5-6

If you read the Book of Leviticus, you would understand that there THREE basic steps of forgiveness: 1. Realization of sins 2. Confession of sins 3. Atonement for sins. Clearly, the Old Covenant requires another step beyond confession, that is sacrifice. In the Old Covenant, Jewish Law requires sacrificial animal without blemish or defect (or lower requirement for the poor). Then, what makes Christianity so different? Again, Jesus Christ.

[Jesus] does away with the [Old Covenant] in order to establish the [New Covenant]. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

Hebrews 10:9-10

The way forgiveness of sins works did not change a bit. What makes the difference is that the sacrificial lamb is now eternally replaced by the Lamb of God.

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 

Hebrews 10:11-14

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 

Hebrews 9:11-14

Christianity is simple because Jesus Christ made it simple for us.

In simple Christianity, there is something far more precious than salvation itself. He is the Son of the Most High God, the Precious One, God's Very Own. The simplicity of Christianity that we now enjoy, is build upon the very suffering of Christ and His unconditional sacrifice on the cross. Christianity requires no payment from us at all, but it cost the most precious Life the world can ever have.

In the simplicity of Christianity, I urge you, brothers and sisters, to enjoy it. In our joy, remember our Cornerstone, who willing took our place and bore our sins. And for this, our Lord God raised Him up and exalts Him to the highest.

Simple Religion, Inexplicable Love.