The Simplicity of Christ
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING:- When we look around and see the asinine events that are taking place we realize our world of today is in utter turmoil as people strive for preeminence and superior individuality, we can quickly become overwhelmed with all the difficult complexities and confusing decisions that are being played out rather in the political arena and the so-called upper echelon of society that affect all of us in some way or another.
The Constitution of the United States of America whose chief aim and purpose was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without so much power that the fundamental rights of the people would be at risk, is being twisted and manipulated to benefit a certain select group or individual(s) and is faced with the threating reality of being abolished all together.
Criminals are being heralded as champions of society, right is being called wrong, Democracy is being dismantled, unity is a curse word nothing makes sense anymore. A man can legitimately loose an election, refuse to submit to the voice of the democracy, call for the Vice President to go against all things ethical and deny an election, insight a riot causing thousands to storm the Nations Capital, be found guilty of over 30 felony charges, have top secret classified documents stored in a bathroom of his home, and still be the nominee for President of the United States, while a person having a tin full of CBD pills to help them sleep is arrested by TSA agents and is facing years in prison, something is wrong!
The combination of moral, spiritual, ethical, political, economic, and social corruption has caused great complexities and demands in our society. It’s no longer what is good for the well-being of mankind but what is convenient for certain individuals. Understand carnal efforts are not going to solve the complexities we are facing, the government is unable to help us survive or capable of bringing a change because it is too morally, ethically, and spiritually corrupt. However, I am reminded of a song that says, “In Times Like These We Need a Savior, In Times Like These We Need an Achor, Be Very Sure, Be Very Sure Your Anchor Holds and Grips the Solid Rock – That Rock is Jesus”.
Rest assured that God in Heaven, the One who sits high and looks low is seeing the moral mayhem, the economic emasculation, the political corruption, and the spiritual decline that is running rampant in the world today and I know He will not let it go on too much longer.
So, as we strive to deal with the complexities of this corrupt world, we must remember that Christianity was birthed and flourished under an empire that was corrupt and hostile against it much like what we are seeing and dealing with today. The spiritual leaders had a form of godliness but no power, they were more concerned about the high seat, the titles, the garb, and rubbing elbows with the political elites trying to be politically correct and neglecting the spiritual when Jesus came with simplicity and offered salvation and life more abundantly.
THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRIST.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE: - 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But 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”.
2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward”.
Romans 12:1-21 FOCUS ON VERSE 8 “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness”.
DEFINITION: - Complexities refer to a multitude of parts, layers, or intricacies that make something harder to understand or deal with. Example: - The complexities of the political system.
Simplicity refers to the state of being simple, uncomplicated, or straightforward, there’s no layers, stumbling blocks, or intricacies that need to be experienced. Example: - the simplicity that is in Christ”.
Our Focus verse says, “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness”. These verses of scripture were all written by Paul and he is warning the preachers not to become corrupted with hard sayings, enticing words, and a bunch of nonsensical garbage that causes people to become lost and confused but as the old adage says K-I-S-S keep it simple stupid or keep it short and simple, now you can pick which adage you like the best.
BACKGROUND: - Paul is writing here and he is warning those that preach the gospel to make sure they are not corrupted with making the gospel complex, don’t make Jesus Christ something complicated, don’t cause people stumble and reject giving their lives to Christ with religiosity, traditions, and unnecessary rituals.
Jesus Christ, His message, following Him, Worshipping Him, and Living a Godly life is simple and when we present the gospel to those that are lost, we must make sure we present it in a simple manner. I have a saying in the front of my Bible that says, “If a child can’t understand your message, then your message is to complicated”.
C. H. Spurgeon is quoted as saying upon his death bed “As time has passed on, my theology has grown more and more simple – it is simply this Jesus Loves Me”. With so many complexities in life people are searching for and need to understand the simplicity in Christ Jesus. They don’t need to be told the propagated promises of name it and claim it, sold the hope of prosperity that if you sow a certain amount of money that you will receive a hundred fold blessing, chasing after false hopes and promises that don’t come true and then are told the lie that their faith wasn’t strong enough or because there is some unconfessed sin in their lives that they haven’t released and that is the reason why they have not received that which they were seeking.
Jesus Christ is simple, understand simple does not refer to slow, ignorant, mentally inept, but means singleness, exclusiveness, in other words Jesus is not a complex entity. The unadulterated truth about Jesus is He is God manifested in the flesh, born of a virgin, lived a Holy life, crucified on Calvary’s cross for our sins, died and was buried in a borrowed tomb, and 3 days later rose again, and He is coming back again to receive unto Himself a glorious church not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it/we should be holy and without blemish”.
SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST.
WATCH THIS: - Many people think the Bible is hard to understand; however, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the Bible, the good news and the way of Salvation is simple. Paul summed it up as simply has possible in 1 Corinthians 15:3-9 when he wrote these words “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain until this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”.
JESUS PRESENTED A SIMPLE GOSPEL: - that is based in Him, His death, burial, and resurrection as 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 said. He said in John 14:1-17 but verse 6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I’m the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. WATCH THS: - SIMPLICITY - Those that believed in Him are baptized and saved Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damed”. John 3:15-17 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”. That is the simplicity of the gospel, and it is only made complicated by the religiosity of manmade traditions and rituals or when we try to interpret, rationalize, find escape hatches or loopholes or make certain exceptions for certain people trying to pick and choose what Jesus really meant when something was said. Many people try to say well if Jesus was here today, He would mean it this way because times have changed and that is a lie breathed in the depths of hell because times changes Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forevermore.
When we give the gospel we must give it with simplicity like Jesus did, when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray He gave them a simple and direct answer in Luke 11:1-4 “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil”. When the question rose from the spiritual leaders of the time that were making things very complex asked about what is the greatest commandment, Jesus simply summed up everything with simplicity in Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord the God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”. Then when we find ourselves struggling with complexities, anxieties, worry, stresses, and doubt Jesus gave us simplicity in His direction in Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”.
JESUS PRESENTED SIMPLICITY IN WORSHIP: - So often we complicate worship telling people to stand up, clap your hands, tell your neighbor, and a cornucopia of other antics and think that is all part of worship but listen what Jesus said with simplicity in John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” – that simply goes back to the greatest commandment Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all the heart, and soul and mind.. Our worship should be simple, sincere, and without repetition and vain words like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulteres, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I posses”, but should be like the leper that Jesus healed in Luke 17:15-19 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face as his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine. There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”.
Our worship is simply centered on Jesus Christ like Simeon did in Luke 2:25-35 his worship was heart felt and sincere centered on Jesus Christ not on man or some ritual. I have been in services where they would stop the worship and have everyone stand because Bishop AllaboutMe just walked in. Nothing takes precedence over worship! LISTEN not even the preach word. Preaching is secondary to the consequence of sin because man sinned is why there is preaching today if man had never sinned, we are still created to worship; therefore, we must worship Jesus and nothing else is centered in place or in performance but Jesus Christ.
A STORY: - I am reminded of a story of a great orator & motivational speaker who was able to speak so eloquently and have people captivated with his delivery style and inflections of his voice. One day when he was getting ready to deliver a speech to a great multitude of people, he was in a room practicing his speech with the door open when the janitor of the building stood by the door and listened. When the man realized the janitor was standing there, he asked the janitor could he help him. The janitor replied, the sound of your voice is wonderful, the way fluctuate at certain points is truly awesome if you would I would love to hear you say the 23rd Psalm. The man said I will say it but when I am finished you must say it to me in return and the janitor agreed, so the man cleared his throat and began to recite the 23rd Psalms, he said it with such great style and inflection in his voice and when he was done, he said to the janitor now it is your turn. The janitor took off his hat, folded his hands, bowed his head and in a simple and humble voice said the 23rd Psalms. When he had finished, he opened his eyes and saw the orator crying with tears pouring down his face. The janitor said sir why are you crying, the orator said because I know the verse, but you know the man. It is not about performance but about Jesus.
THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRIST LEADS TO A SIMPLE LIFE. Titus 2 lays out the pattern of a simple life, but verse 11&12 states “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. Living soberly this is being of a clear and unconfused mind, not inundated with a bunch of confusion, anxiety, strife, mental anguish and such. Righteously this is not being so focused on things such as happiness, pleasures, wealth which are all temporal and are not able to fully satisfy you apart from Christ, but living with the expectation of an eternal and glorious reward that cannot be destroyed by moths, rust or thieves Matthew 6:19-20. Righteous living is morally acceptable behavior to God, it is justice, justness, and holiness. A godly life is much like a righteous life, but it also involves Romans 12:1-2 be not conformed to this world but being transformed by the renewing of the mind, presenting your body a living sacrifice. 2 Timothy 2:15 study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth avoiding godless speech.
CLOSING: - The Simplicity of Christ causes us to understand that we don’t have to be consumed by the complexities of our world today with all its turmoil, individualism, political uncertainty, economic emasculation, social anxiety, and utter division. People are inundated with enough mess without having Christianity or a so-called form of it piling more complex standards, rituals, and obligations upon them.
Jesus said it so simple and plain in Matthew 11:27-30 “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. He simply says come unto me. He didn’t say take this off, put that on, pay a ridiculous amount of money, sow into that ministry, climb a thousand steps on your hands and knees, or run after that so-called prophet, He simply said come.
When you come then 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”. To cast means to throw down, fall, let go of all the complexities, anxieties, stresses and give them all to Him because He careth for you.
Then once you have cast all your cares upon Him, He promises you and me in John 15:7 says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”. We can ask Him anything, He is not intimidated by our questions and wants us to ask Him.
WHY because Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. This abundant life does not mean riches, fine houses, fancy cars, popularity and fame that’s the complexity of the world and a fleshly carnal mindset. However, we are free from complexities that draw us away from God and are drawn closer to Him, walking having our steps ordered by the Lord, being full of joy unspeakable, having our minds stayed on Him in perfect peace, doing the work of the Lord building up the Kingdom of God.
We understand that Jesus is the source and strength of our life and the simplicity in Christ is Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is Love joy peace longsuffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance”. These qualities of a simple life in Christ are received when we heed to Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. The Holy Ghost which is the comforter it will never leave you John 14:16 and the spirit of truth John 16:13 will guide you into all truth.
THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRIST IS THIS: - As the Sunday School song says Jesus Loves me this, I know for the bible tells me so. It’s just that simple.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
