(This concludes a series on simplicity that we started a few weeks ago.  The first two segments are on our website under Simplicity Part 1  and Simplicity Part 2 )

“Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to 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!”  (2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

As a bride is set apart exclusively for intimate relationship with her groom, so also we are set apart for intimacy with Him.  In other words we are holy.  But we are not just made holy for Him; we are created to be wholly for Him.  Remember that relying on the efforts of our own work for survival is the result of choosing our own glory over His (see Genesis 1-3).  He created us for relationship – and from the beginning He has desired to come to us and walk with us. 

The thing that sets Christianity apart from every other religion is that it is NOT man having hold of God but is God having hold of us.  If we believe that having the correct doctrine, theology, beliefs, structures or authorities are what keeps us safe (Isaiah 33:22), then we are trying to hold on to God and allowing our minds to be corrupted from the simplicity that is ours in Christ.  These things are all based in man’s efforts to stay near to God.  But God is the one Who reaches out to us, and all that He asks is that we receive.  This is the gospel we first believed.  Jesus does it ALL.  A lesser truth must always give way to a greater truth.  If we chase after a different gospel than the one we first believed, we may well indeed put up with it because it won’t save us from anything and life here on earth will be miserable.  But thanks be to God for the TRUE gospel where Jesus is our righteousness, our salvation, our sanctification, and our very life. 

Verses for Reflection:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”  Galatians 1:6-8

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  Colossians 2:6-10