All the Gospel asks for is repentance and faith.

All the Gospel asks for is repentance and faith.

That’s it. Nothing more.

And yet, even such a simple truth often becomes twisted. Some people hear this and immediately say: “But what about obedience?”

Let’s go deeper.

What the Gospel Requires vs. What the Gospel Produces

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a barter. It is not a contract where we offer good works in exchange for salvation. It is a gift, rooted in grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it abundantly clear:"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Repentance and faith are not works we perform, but responses to the call of God. Obedience?

That comes later.

Obedience is the fruit, not the root.

If the Gospel demanded obedience as a prerequisite for salvation, then Jesus' sacrifice would become secondary.

We could boast in our own ability to obey. But we know that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Obedience cannot save.

Only Christ can.

When the Gospel is rightly understood, it does not call us to perform. It calls us to surrender.

To believe.

To repent.

And once our hearts are transformed by that grace... obedience follows. Not forced. Not guilt-driven. But joyful and Spirit-led.

Legalism and the Trap of Performance-Based Faith

When we confuse the order of Gospel transformation, we fall into dangerous territory.

First, we become legalists.

We start measuring everyone else by rules we can't even keep ourselves.

We start counting sins instead of seeing souls.

We become judges instead of witnesses.

Jesus confronted this constantly. He told the Pharisees:"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness." (Matthew 23:23)

Legalism masquerades as holiness but robs the Gospel of its joy. It turns Good News into bad news.

Into a burden.

Into a ladder we try to climb to heaven on our own.

But here's the truth: Obedience does not earn love.

It flows from love.

We don't obey to be saved.

We obey because we are saved.

Jesus said:"If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

See the order? Love comes first. Then obedience. Not the other way around.

Joyful Obedience, Not Religious Obligation

When someone truly meets Jesus, their life changes.

Their desires change.

They begin to love what He loves.

That’s the work of the Holy Spirit.

Obedience becomes an act of worship, not a religious obligation.

It becomes our response to grace, not our condition for receiving it.

Romans 12:1 says:"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

Because of God's mercy... because of His grace... we offer ourselves.

But notice, it’s all in response to what He’s done.

Never a requirement to earn it.

And when we understand this... the Gospel stays Good News.

It stays light.

It stays freeing.

It keeps pointing to Jesus.

But when we distort it, it becomes about us.Our performance. Our discipline. Our religious status.

Let us remember:

Christ alone saves.

Christ alone sanctifies.

Christ alone deserves glory.

And our job?

Repent.

Believe.

Receive.

And walk in joy.

Not to earn anything.

But because He already gave us everything.