“Simplicity That Is In Christ”

July-August 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

“Simplicity That Is In Christ”

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. —2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV

It is good to be reminded when considering a Bible passage that this is what “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). The things we read in the Word of God “were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:11).

About the verse in 2 Corinthians 11, Bible expositor Hamilton Smith (1862–1943) wrote:

The apostle ... longed that the saints should be found in holy separation from this defiling world, walking in simple-hearted devotedness to Christ. He foresaw that the enemy was making a subtle attempt to draw them away from Christ, even as in the garden of Eden he beguiled Eve from her allegiance to God. We know that Satan tempted Eve with the acquisition of knowledge. He said, “Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Again, he sought to steal the hearts of the ... saints from Christ – the Tree of Life – by tempting them with the tree of knowledge ... As of old, the enemy approached Eve with the question, “Hath God said?” thus calling in question the Word of God; so today he has sought to undermine God’s Word by substituting human reason for divine revelation, and has thus corrupted the great Christian profession ... Thus souls have been drawn away from the truth that is presented in Christ. This surely is the evil root that will lead to the great apostasy.

While this may come as a warning, let it also be seen as an expression of God’s love. The world seeks to draw believers away from their relationships with Him through Christ. Some who claim to be Christians teach things that are not according to Scripture, placing burdens on individuals who have been freed by the Lord to love and serve Him in all simplicity. Like the wise builder in Matthew 7, we need to listen to what the Lord says and do those things. The storms are strong and getting worse; our faith must be in Him alone.

By Paul Alberts