I love the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. He has leprosy, so he goes to Elisha the man of God, and asks for healing from his disease. Elisha tells him to go wash seven times in the Jordan river. Naaman is angry about this command. But then Naamman's servants say (what wise servants he has surrounded himself with, by the way), "If he had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, that he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean.'?". So Naamman does go and wash, and after the seventh time, he is healed! Remember...in the Bible, seven indicates creation...so Naaman has been "recreated". What a beautiful picture of the simplicity of salvation! So often we want some great deed to perform to earn our cleansing/salvation. But great works will accomplish diddly....only faith can accomplish healing from our disease of sin. This faith obeys. And the cleansing waters of the Holy Spirit and baptism cleanse us from all sin!
If that were not enough, Naaman still doesn't get it though. After he has been cleansed of his leprosy, he goes back to Elisha and offers many riches and goods to Elisha, as if to pay for his healing. Elisha refuses. Salvation is simply God's gift, and can be bought with no amount of money or great works. It is by faith. How simple. How beautiful!
And that is Good News!
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