A DECISION, NOT A TRANSACTION A Devotional on the Simplicity of Salvation
Some people try to make salvation sound like a technical exchange—an almost mechanical process where you understand a set of doctrines, check a few boxes, and somehow that produces a saved soul. But nothing in the New Testament reads like that. Every person who found salvation in Jesus made a decision—a heart–choice of trust, a personal turning toward Him.
Salvation is not a cold transaction; it is a living response. It is a soul saying, “I need You,” and finding Him already leaning in with grace. Christianity cannot be reduced to concepts, formulas, or intellectual precision. It has to be about trusting Christ Himself.
Look at the woman who touched the hem of His garment (Matthew 9:20–22). She did not submit a doctrinal statement; she reached out with trembling faith. She had one simple thought in her heart—“If I can just touch Him…” She decided to come to Jesus, even though she was afraid, even though she felt unworthy, even though she didn’t understand everything. And Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” Not your comprehension. Not your theological accuracy. Your faith—your decision to trust Me.
Then there was the woman who anointed His feet with her tears (Luke 7:36–50). She came with a broken heart and a lifetime’s worth of regret. She said no words at first—just love, humility, repentance, and trust. Her actions were messy but sincere, and Jesus honored her decision to come. He said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Again, not her technical knowledge, not her moral résumé—her faith.
Consider the centurion in Matthew 8:5–13. He didn’t understand the covenant of Abraham, the temple system, or all the layers of Jewish expectation. But he knew this: Jesus had authority, and he trusted Him completely. He made a decision—“Lord, just say the word.” Jesus said He hadn’t found faith like that in all Israel. Not because the centurion mastered doctrine, but because he believed in Christ with a clear and simple trust.
And think of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–52). He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” People tried to silence him, but he kept calling. When Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” the man answered honestly—and Jesus healed him. Salvation began with a decision of the heart, not a lesson in theology. He believed, he asked, and Jesus answered.
Put all of this together and you see it plainly: salvation is always personal, always relational, always a matter of deciding to trust Jesus. You don’t get saved by taking a class. You don’t get saved by mastering doctrines that even the apostles spent years trying to understand. You don’t get saved by decoding mysteries, solving theological puzzles, or becoming the smartest person in the room.
You get saved the same way every soul in Scripture did—by deciding to come to Him, to trust Him, to reach out to Him. Christianity cannot possibly be a technical operation; the New Testament does not allow it. It must be a decision of the heart.
Doctrine helps you grow. Truth matters deeply. But the moment of salvation itself is beautifully simple: Jesus is willing, and the heart must decide.
BDD
