The Simplicity that is in Christ

“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.”

(II Corinthians 11:3)

In the verse above, the Apostle Paul was expressing his fear that the minds of the Christians in Corinth would be corrupted instead of holding on to the simplicity that is in Christ. Paul had good reason to fear because the church in Corinth was a very immature church that was easily led astray and “beguiled” (deceived or seduced) by false teaching. There is much false teaching in this world today and many have been turned aside from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The message of salvation is simple

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world,”

God loved all of us this much!

“That he gave his only begotten Son,”

Because God loved us, he gave us his one-of-a-kind Son who came directly from him.

“that whosoever believeth in him should not perish”

Anyone who believes in God’s Son will not perish (die and go to hell).

"but have everlasting life.”

If anyone believes in his Son, instead of dying and paying for their sins, they will have life that lasts forever.

We are simply sinners in God’s eyes

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

(Romans 3:23)

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

(Romans 3:10)

God loves us even when we are in this sinful state

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:7-8)

Every one of us will be judged one day by God: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

(Acts 17:30-31)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Romans 6:23)

There is only one way to get to God the Father:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

(John 14:6)

Salvation is by grace through faith and not of works.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Christian life is simple:

“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

(2 Corinthians 1:12)

“Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

(Romans 12:8)