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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“Simplicity...In Christ” |
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I. Introduction.
A. Want to begin this lesson with a statement of fact: there is
no spiritually important question that the Bible does not
address, and answer, in a way that is understandable to us.
(Note what’s being said: “spiritually important question” –
one upon which our soul’s salvation depends. Many
questions Bible doesn’t answer – but none that we must
understand in order to have eternal life).B. That statement, then, is basis for title of this lesson:
“Simplicity . . . In Christ.”1. The message of God to humanity is that there is
salvation through Jesus Christ, to be received on
the basis of faith and obedience to His (Christ’s)
commands (Hebrews 5:9: “And having been
perfected, He [Christ] became the author [the cause
or reason for] eternal salvation to all who obey
Him.”).2. The message of God is that Christ died for our sins;
that He rose from the grave on the third day; that He
ascended back to His Father in Heaven and is King
of kings and Lord of lords.3. Our response to that message requires that we
believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, that we
confess our belief before others, that we repent, turn
from sin and turn to God, and that we be baptized
by immersion for the remission of our sins.C. Apostle Paul addresses the subjects of simplicity of the
message of God, and how people can be misled, in
II Corinthians 11:1-3.1. Are those who, for own reasons, complicate matter
of salvation in Christ. Paul had to deal with such
enemies of Christ at Corinth and elsewhere.2. All through this section of his letter to Corinth,
Paul had to speak of things distasteful to him. Had
to stress his own authority; had to make clear his
credentials as an apostle; had to talk about himself
in comparison with those who would deceive
people.3. It is evident Paul was somewhat embarrassed to
speak this way – asks his hearers to “. . . bear with
me in a little folly . . .” (v. 1). But, he knew more
was at stake than his dignity and feelings – it was
the truth itself that was at stake, and the souls of
Christians (and others) who would hear the message
of simplicity in Christ.4. He uses the metaphor of marriage, and the
Corinthian church as the “bride of Christ.” He is
doing what he can to keep that church pure and
uncorrupted, as a fit bride for the Master.5. There were those in Corinth who, obviously, for
whatever reasons, were preaching their own
message of salvation. They insisted that their
message was superior to Paul’s. It’s also clear
that they regarded themselves as very special
people – even apostles themselves.a. Even though they were a minority in the
church, they were causing problems and
doing harm.b. Paul is compelled to answer them on their
own terms to keep the whole church from
apostasy. As Eve was deceived by Satan,
so the church was being deceived by his
representatives. (READ verses 13-15).6. The result of this deception was to confuse people
regarding, “ . . . the simplicity that is in Christ.”
(verse 3).II. Why People Miss The Gospel’s Simplicity.
A. What, then, has caused people to miss the simplicity of the
Gospel, of salvation in Christ?B. One answer is people’s own willfulness – they reject the
message as foolishness. Paul also addressed this attitude:
I Corinthians 1:18: “. . . the message of the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are
being saved it is the power of God.”).1. (Illust.) A speaker came to a college and openly
ridiculed a group there that believed in the Bible
as the Word of God. He used example of Moses
leading Israelites through the Red Sea. Said,
Hebrew words for “red” and “reed” were alike, so
no great miracle occurred here. The Israelites
crossed the “reed” sea, a marsh covered with a few
inches of water. The wind blew, parted the reeds,
and the people waded through this shallow marsh.
When he finished, one in the audience shouted,
“Hallelujah! Another miracle!” Speaker asked
what he meant. Young man replied: “That means
God drowned all of the Egyptian army in a few
inches of water!”2. The power of God is, indeed, foolishness to those
who reject His word as truth.3. God meant for His message of salvation for all
people to be understandable. Many who came to
Jesus were not highly educated; but, they under-
stood and accepted what He taught. Many more
who obeyed gospel in the early years of the church
were not the intellectual elite of their time. They
rejoiced at the simple truth they found in the message of man’s redemption.C. Some other people miss the simplicity of obedience
because they’ve never been approached with it.1. In Jesus’ parable of the worker in the vineyard, in
Matthew 20, as day wears on, landowner goes out
to hire more laborers. Speaks to those who are “standing idle.” When eleventh hour comes,
“. . . he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ ” (Matthew 20:6-7).a. It is true that some do not heed God’s call to
salvation because of the influence of Satan,
or because, hearing they do not believe, or
because, believing they yield to those things
that lead them away from God.b. But, it’s also true that God commands His
church to tell people the good news, to share
the simple message with others, to “Go . . .
and make disciples . . .” (Matthew 28:19).2. Who can we approach with the gospel? Who can
we invite to worship and study with us? The
assembling of the church is here – the work of the
church is in the world.D. A third point, some miss the simplicity of the message
because they are confused. People are bombarded with so
many “truths”, so many messages, from so many sources,
that they wind up completely confused. What is right?
What does the Bible say? As in Paul’s day, there are those,
either deliberately or out of ignorance, who pervert the
simple message of salvation in Christ.E. Fourth, some people miss the simplicity of the message
because of a bad experience, sometimes even with well-
intentioned people.1. How we present ourselves to others, the attitude we
take toward others, is as important as the message
we carry.2. You also have those who’ve been victimized by
supposedly righteous people. Hard to overcome
such an experience. Can only hope time, and
good example of true Christianity, will soften their
attitude.III. Conclusion.
A. How simple is the gospel? How simple is salvation in
Christ? To the open mind, to the honest seeker of truth,
to receptive person it is very simple. And, we who teach
the gospel must keep it so, and present it as God intended:
“. . . speaking the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15).B. Let me conclude lesson with another statement of fact: If
we’ve been a Christian for any length of time we can and
should teach the gospel to someone else.1. Read I Corinthians 2:1-2.
2. Look at every sermon recorded in book of Acts.
All have one theme – death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ. If you know that, you can teach gospel,
God’s simple message of salvation in Christ.C. (Illust.) Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography, tells of
the man who bought an ax from the local blacksmith. The
purchaser wanted the whole of its surface as bright as its
edge, and this the smith consented to do, provided the man
would turn the wheel while he ground it. It was a hard,
wearisome job and often the man stopped to see how the ax
was getting on. “Turn on, turn on,” said the smith; “we
shall have it bright by and by; as yet it is only speckled.”
“Yes,” said the man, “but I think I like a speckled ax best.”Is this not the case with many of God’s children? Instead
of going all the way into the fully consecrated and
victorious Christian life, they become satisfied with a
“speckled ax” Christian experience. God’s second best for
them.