The simplicity that is in Christ

2 Corinthians 11:3

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.

The one thing that the devil does very well is deceive. Was that not the very premise of his attack on the human race. He came to Eve with subtlety, not overtly. He did not come telling her to reject God, or to hate God, or even to disregard all of God’s commands, but that somehow God was keeping vital information from her, and that she would be better off disobeying God. Her mind was corrupted from the simplicity of what she had been commanded. God did not produce confusion. He was not vague, ambiguous, or obtuse in His command. He was clear, concise, and direct. He said, “You may not eat of this one tree.” But Satan came and brought complication, confusion, and distortion. Now, she was confused. “Did not God say I would die if I ate this?” she thought. “But now Satan says, “Eat it and you’ll be wiser than you ever could otherwise be!” Therefore, she took a chance and disobeyed God. You see, that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, does everything by deception, slyness, and subtlety. He seeks to confuse and cloud one’s mind so that they do not see clearly. And when someone is not seeing clearly, they are likely to stumble down the wrong way. They are likely to make destructive decisions.

But we praise God for the simplicity that is in Christ! He is simple! He does not complicate things! He does not confuse us, for He is not the author of such things! Listen not to those who make the gospel complicated. They say that we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and add a few things here and there to make sure all is well. They append things to the already finished and sufficient message. They want to make additions. We need no additions! It is true and perfect in its simplicity! Let not Satan beguile you as he did Eve from the great simplicity that is in Christ. Christ died, was buried, and rose again. He is soon coming again! It is simple! It is profound, yet simple. It is wonderful, yet easy to understand and believe. Be not moved away from this simplicity, and thank God for the simplicity that is in Christ!

“Dear Lord, how we praise you for the simplicity of Christ! May we never allow Satan’s subtlety to steal away the simplicity that Christ has given to us. May we never allow confusion that you did not intend. You have made all things clear. Let us live every day in the light of that glorious clarity. And we shall praise you for it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”