But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
This one verse reveals a great truth: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple! Now this may sound so simple that it doesn't offer much great revelation or insight. But I disagree. Over the years, religion has complicated the simplicity of the Gospel. Primarily, this has been done by adding more and more requirements, rules, and regulations to walking in relationship with the Father. The focus shifts from what Christ HAS DONE to all that we NEED TO DO. Once this happens, the purity of the Gospel is tainted by unhealthy additives!
The Apostle Paul was concerned that "the simplicity that is in Christ" would be complicated by the strategy of the serpent, the devil. Just like the devil tempted Eve, he would tempt us to complicate the Gospel to the point where it is unrecognizable. Of course, the enemy wants to do this because the Gospel is the "power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). The devil fears the simple Gospel! He fears a people who will live their lives in the simplicity that is in Christ! True power to live an overcoming successful life is found only in the Gospel.
Notice that the serpent will try to complicate the simplicity that is in Christ "by any means." Also notice that his target is our minds and thoughts. This indicates that his tools will be teachings, philosophies, and ideas. We don't like to admit it, but the church has been one of the primary perpetrators of corrupting people's minds from the simplicity that is in Christ! That may be hard to swallow, but it is the truth. Think of all the teachings and messages you have heard that added more requirements to the Gospel than was necessary. The messages implied that its Jesus and this or that. It's Jesus and your ability to live holy. It's Jesus and your faithfulness. This is not the Gospel! The Gospel is Jesus plus nothing equals everything!
Many will agree that the Gospel is simple in its presentation for salvation: Jesus died, he rose again, and salvation is dependent on you believing and receiving Jesus as Lord (Romans 10).But once we do that, the Christian life becomes more and more complicated. In other words, we started out simple, but now the journey becomes more difficult and elaborate. Religion urges us, "You can't stay with such a simple message, grow up! Get deeper!" But this kid of thinking is a great deception and exactly the kind of mentality the serpent wants us to have.
Colossians 2:6 says, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." Now think about how you "received Christ." Did you work your way into receiving Christ? Did you live a holy life to receive Christ? Did you serve God to receive Christ? Absolutely not! You received Christ by hearing truth and believing it! The same way you received Christ is the same way you are going to grow in Christ. You hear the truth of the good news and you believe it!
I know this goes against much of what we have been taught because it's too simple! But its the simplicity of Christ that will work wonders in your life! Come out of the confusion, the complexities, and the entanglements of religion. Choose to keep it simple!
Thought for the Day
The simplicity of Christ is enough to confuse the serpent and work the miraculous in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment