What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Nothing blows my mind more than extremely complicated issues being broken down into simple truths.  As when a teacher enables his student to understand the complexities of his subject;  a tax advisor decodes volumes of tax code into your return; a scientist breaks down our complicated being into a genetic code; or a mediator negotiates amicable compromises.  None of these, however, compare to the disciple Paul summarizing salvation into one simple gospel.
1 Corinthians 15 presents these simple steps to salvation:

vs. 3:  Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
vs. 4:  He was buried
vs. 4:  He rose again the third day according to the scriptures
vs. 5:  He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve [witness]
vs. 6:  He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once [in case a jury doesn't convince you]
vs. 7:  He was seen of James; then the twelve apostles
vs. 8:  Last of all, seen of me [Paul]
vs. 11 therefore, so we preach and so ye believed.

This is the what and wherefore.  This is it; this is what we believe.  Because He lives, we live.  Because we believe, we preach.  This is the good news in a nutshell.

John 3:16 tells us why and how, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  We try so hard to say, "No, you must repent, you must be baptized, you must go to church on Saturday, you must go to confession every Saturday, you must, you must, you must."  But there is only one absolute must:  In John 11:25-26, Jesus says,  "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

All the other complicated issues unfold once you believe.  All the works that HE PREPARED for you become clear.  All the rituals that you thought were musts become inward compelling worship.

Satan holds a veil over the unbelievers' eyes, but as my wise mother said this morning:  the Cross rent the veil in two so that you might be witness to the glory of God.  Believe and see.