2 Corinthians 11:3… I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4For if he (any person) that comes (or has come) preaches another Jesus (Jesus being “the Way, the Truth and the Life”; the Living Word that dwells in man, the essence of all He said), whom we (the apostles) have not preached, or if you receive another spirit (familiar, Jezebel, unclean), which you have not received, or another gospel (good news), which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him (you may listen to and receive).
The “Simplicity” that is in “Christ”!
“Christ”, more correctly interpreted “the Anointed” or the “Simplicity” of the “Anointing”; the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is a simple truth. Anointing, a term used to describe the physical act of pouring the “anointing” oil over the head and beard, as Samuel; the Old Testament priest and prophet, “anointed” David, by God’s order, to be king. (It’s interesting that we are called kings and priests; anointed and anointers.) Anointing oil, is also referred to in the Old Testament as the “Oil of Gladness”; or the “Oil that makes Glad”; meaning the Holy Spirit as well. The apostles and disciples experienced this “anointing” or “gladness” on the day of Pentecost; onlookers thought that they were drunk. The apostles and disciples were eye witnesses, they knew the truth, they knew what they were talking about.
“Simplicity”, is simply simple! Not hard or difficult but taken for what it is.
The “Simplicity that is in Christ” is believing as a child or taking by faith what you receive by the Anointing; the Holy Spirit, that gives “all truth”.
Being “corrupted” from simple truth; Paul’s fear; by way of other men preaching who and what the essence of Jesus truly is has come to past. Anointing and Jesus, while should be preached as one, are now two separate issues (as Paul feared) in that the doctrine of one; Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is no longer contained in the other; Salvation. Hence, another person has come as a preacher and preached Jesus differently than the apostles. The truth about the “Simplicity that is in Christ/Anointing/Holy Spirit” (the power of God, all things are done by the Holy Spirit) has been corrupted in that Jesus/Salvation is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The power of God, the true Baptism of the Holy Spirit is denied.
Speaking in tongues? Denied! Prophecy by way of the Holy Spirit speaking today? Denied! Words proceeding out of the mouth of God today? Denied! Ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying? Denied! Can you see why five and a half of the seven churches of Revelation two and three are in trouble?
Believing God is “Righteousness”. If you only believe part, or every other word you are corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Knowing the Truth is experiencing the Truth and that truly sets you free. Subtlety, the slight twist of words, the putting evil for good is the work of the devil carried on by the teachings of man.
L,J,P&HG
Dave
Amen Dave!
I had been stirred to write a post concerning the same thing, The Simplicity of the Gospel.
Simple, right? In truth it surely is to those who have ears to hear. To the ignorant, blind, and corrupters it is a mystery beyond what “man could possibly understand.”
If it is so complex and hard to understand, why do the poor of the earth get it? Why do the rich (usually the learned, wise of this earth) have a hard time? Because it’s simple. It’s so simple that it confounds the wise because to them, something so profound couldn’t be so simple. To them the scriptures must be tediously read and studied, memorized, before one could be a minister or what have you.
The early church had stories of Jesus, possibly a gospel writing, and possibly an espistle. They had to believe the simplicity of Jesus’s teaching of the Kingdom of God WITHIN believers. There wasn’t a Bible or tens of thousands of other mens teachings in writing. People had to believe and be led by The Holy Spirit which they received.
Alex
Well put Alex!
If someone didn’t write all the twists and turns of the doctrines of man and devils I doubt that anyone would remember them all. If “Christians” would just read the Word and trust God the “Church” would be axactly like the Book of Acts Church, Holy Spirit and all. But then, there wouldn’t be the need for correction. It seems the destiny of the majority of men is to follow their own lusts. Narrow is the way and few find it.
L,J,P&HG
Dave
Amen to both of you!
Often times, those who love God are tempted to make things more complicated than they really are. The enemy causes many to turn to the left or right, following a path of darkness or confusion because, as Alex mentioned, it is the simple things that confound the wise. They rely on their own ability to reason within themselves rather than relying on the Holy Spirit to speak in their ear.
This is why casting down vain imagination is so important. Submitting ourselves to any thought that is contrary to God’s word and the leading of His Spirit forces us to lean to our own understanding to make sense of it….confusion. The scriptures are clear, God is not the author of confusion. Relying on the voice of God brings peace and knowing that the love of the truth is the only thing that can keep us (causing us to have faith and believe every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth) sets people free.
I thank God for these understandings and for the peace that comes in knowing that He is the only way, the truth and the life.
Love in Christ,
Ryan