DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it!" (II Corinthians 11:3-4).

It seems that human nature is always looking for something new and different – something that will titillate the ear. We are no different than the early believers. In the quest for spirituality, we can be deceived to go beyond the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ – that Jesus died for our sin, rose again for our justification, and ever lives to make intercession for us. The old, old, story can become boring and we look for something fresh and exciting. In another place, the Apostle Paul said that people would have "itching ears" – itching for something new and exciting.

The phrase, "you may well put up with it," seems a little strange. But we understand from later in the chapter that this is a rather sarcastic statement – "You put up with anything!" They were gullible to follow other doctrines. He says in verses 14 and 15 that Satan can come as an angel of light and his followers can also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness – appearing to be something that they are not. In verse 19, he said, "You put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! (More sarcasm.) For you put with up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you…."

We need to be careful that we do not fall for any old fishing bait that drifts our way, and go beyond what the Bible teaches, or accept less than the Bible teaches. Wisdom says, "Stick with the plain truth of the Scriptures, and don't be lured away from the simplicity of the Gospel – saved by grace through faith." That is the simplicity of the Gospel.

Love, Dad