Larry Jones/Church of Christ Minister
When we look at all the varying groups which in some way claim Christ as their Savior we see great confusion, competition and even conflict. The Apostle Paul states that, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Who is right in religion? The concepts of finding the faith of our choice or the church of our choice are alien to the scriptures which teach there is one faith and one body which is the church (Ephesians 4:4-6; 1:22-23).
Because of the conflicts and contradictions in the various religious groups’ teachings, not to mention the conflicts with the God-breathed scriptures themselves confusion is inevitable. What can we do to eliminate this great problem? There is a verse that I want us to look at for the answer. “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” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Let’s break this verse down and look at what it tells us.
Satan is the church’s enemy and of all mankind. His deception caused Eve, then Adam, to sin. The Devil created the first false doctrine by the addition of one word ““You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). God had told Adam, ““but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).
And Satan continues to produce false doctrines which separate us from our God. Paul admonishes the Galatians that they had turned away to other gospels and in doing this turned from Christ (Galatians 1:6-10). The Apostle states that any which teach/preach another gospel but Christ’s should be accursed. One gospel, one church, one faith taught by the Bible, but Satan attempts to confuse by giving us more than one choice where God gives us but one.
Since the serpent, men have sadly become both corrupters and sadly the corrupted. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14).
Satan targets both those in the Church and those seeking the path to salvation not yet converted. Using the three avenues of temptation – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, Satan convinces many of their saved state, but not according to Christ’s commandments. Can we be lost, but think we are saved?
In Acts 19, Paul comes upon twelve men who were disciples. They had been immersed but with John the Baptist’s immersion.
By this time only Christ’s baptism/immersion had power to save. Paul commands them to immerse again that their sins might be remitted and washed away (Acts 19:1-7 2:28; 3:19; 22:16). Some teach error because they have not learned the truth, but some have no concern for truth but merely wish to make disciple for themselves (Acts 20:30).
Simplicity in Christ: where do we find this? Many claim they teach and even speak for Christ. Can we know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning Christ’s simplicity? David states, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160). Christ say in His prayer to he Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17). “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).
The New Testament scriptures contain the words, doctrines, and commands of Christ. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Earlier in the epistle, Paul charges Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
We find one example of the simplicity of Christ in Christ’s organization of His Spiritual body, the Church. In the beginnings of the Church, the Apostles acted as overseers. But God had designed this role of Apostle to terminate when the last person who had been with Christ from the beginning died (Acts 1:21-26). Paul set up elders in each congregation he established (Acts 14:23).
Paul tells those who work with him to do the same (Titus 1:5). The Apostle gives requirements for men ho sere as elders to meet. (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). Each congregation was and should be autonomous with its on leaders.
As Christians and Christians only we can have the simplicity of Christ. But it requires us to have the New Testament as our only standard of authority. Keep It Scripturally Simple.