The Simplicity and Beauty of the Gospel Message

We may begin to think life and creation is complicated, and perhaps from our standpoint it is. However, there is simplicity and beauty in God’s creation. God intends that all His creation is to be perfect, including life.  Perfection presumes no issues or problems to resolve.

Sin however is a complicated matter. It wreaks havoc in minor and major ways, subtle or obvious, seen and unseen. Sin cloaks itself in deception, and results in destroyed relationships, pain or a liturgy of other maladies. So complicated is sin that only God can comprehend it and provide a solution for it.

The Bible may seem like a complicated book, and indeed it is, as it is dealing with a complicated subject. One of the Bible’s principle teachings demonstrates the complicated matter of sin, it is a witness to what it is, and how to mitigate its effects on life. It deals with life in a fallen world that needs a remedy. When Jesus Christ entered the world John reported that:

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (overcome) it (John 1:5). 

The Light was foreign to the world. The world could neither withstand nor integrate it into its corruption, but not for the lack of trying, and with efforts that continue to this day.

The Gospel message of faith in Jesus Christ is not complicated. Jesus Himself does not present Himself as a complicated Savior (Matt. 11:29). If we are to understand the Gospel message, God must give us the opportunity. This is not an indication that the gospel is complicated, and you need to be very intelligent to figure it out; it is a testimony to the darkened state of the world. In this article we will look at the intended simplicity of the Gospel message. We will do so without an exhaustive proof, which is not necessary, and would be even contradictory.

It appears that we like to complicate things, and as recent and past history teaches us, the temptation to complicate the Gospel message is no exception. I think this has existed with all who have made efforts to minister to others. Succumbed purveyors and listeners of a complicated gospel have made the gospel less effective, perhaps even unrecognizable. Institutionalized presentations of God’s will, which the Pharisees cultured in the time of Christ, and the modern day variety, pervert the gospel to such an extent that the Word has no effect (Mark 7:13). The Gospel message as presented by the Christ and the Apostles continually point to the simplicity in our calling, and this is consistent with God’s will in creation.

In past issues of SVM we have touched on some of the complications introduced by men (see Kingdom Misconceptions, and To the Angel of the Scattered Churches and we will touch on a few more in this article. We will also examine the perils that may await those who complicate the message, and those who believe them. Indeed the road to perdition is paved with good intentions and this is most applicable to teachers, and we are well to take heed.

PAUL’S WARNING TO TIMOTHY

Paul in his letter to Timothy warned him of teachers that were to come that complicated the gospel such as those who perverted the truth for selfish gain (1Timothy 6:3-5). It may seem improbable but the reasons typically revolve around seeking recognition by men, or recognition by God. All the corruption seems to follow suit.

As I urged you when I departed for Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, (1 Timothy 1:4-5).

Love from a pure heart, from a good conscience and sincere faith will not complicate the gospel. The efforts of such a person will glorify God and edify others.

… from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the thing which they affirm (1 Timothy 1:6-7).

Here we pause to consider the ideas and teachings that Paul recognizes as causing disputes and complications. Speculative fables and genealogies are catchy and attractive and are able to gain traction, particularly if they emanate from confident teachers. Today there are some genealogical teachings that some insist are Biblical, which include claiming their church organization has a lineage of some kind that goes back to the first century church. These kinds of claims are placed in the forefront to compete for converts. They are not necessary or Biblically warranted. Paul further portrays individuals who begin to affirm (that is, having great confidence in their teaching) irrelevant material that does not accompany sound doctrine matching the Law Giver’s intent.

The Law Giver’s intent Paul then goes on to emphasize:  But we know the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and or sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man-slayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, …

 And take note of this:

…and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:8-10).

Those who claim to be proliferators of the gospel should take sober notice of Paul’s assertion of the law’s application here. Most would not identify with murderers and other acts of hatred, but a common transgression is false ideas that complicate the gospel (see text box inset) that have caused division and confusion. The law has an answer to those who, in Paul’s words, affirm these ideas on other brethren (v 7).

Unhealthy teaching leads to controversies, arrogance, abusiveness, and strife. When presenting scripture, it should be presented with the original intent of its divine Author. There appears to be room for speculation, so long as it is understood to be speculation, but Paul’s point here is that abuses of the gospel message are a serious offense and can lead to judgment.

Paul later identifies two such individuals, Hymenaeus and Alexander, who strayed from a sincere faith that resulted in a shipwrecked faith (v 19-20). They suffered shipwreck not because the faith was too complicated, but because they complicated the faith. We are not to do the same.

SINCERITY AND SIMPLICITY

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (2 Corinthians 1:12, 13).

Sincerity and simplicity go together. Simplicity in gospel terms is purity and liberal bestowal of the truth. This can only  be done with faithful sincerity, as Paul explains, because there can be no agendas (competition for members, concern over perception more than the truth, competing against another feast site, decisions based on financial concerns instead of Christian truth, denigration of other churches etc., ad nauseam), no coded message and nothing between the lines. With agendas such as these, the gospel message becomes complicated to the hearer and the faith of many has become sidetracked and shipwrecked, and judgment of the law becomes increasingly inevitable on those who have any such agendas as Paul told Timothy.

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).

We are tempted by a desire to be “in the know”, that there must be something more we need to be getting, and there are heresies since the early days of the Church of God such as Gnosticism and Asceticism that try to inject other requirements, creating insecurities in the believer. Satan made this same suggestion to Eve and she partook of the forbidden tree. This same temptation, an appeal to an ego or our natural insecurities, is the genesis of corruption. The darkness has always used this in an attempt to stop the truth. The work behind this publication and, I am sure, other ministries have been subjected to those with perverted ideas of the Word of God looking for a launching pad to purvey their ideas. Some hope to make themselves look and feel credible by discrediting what is the genuine work of others, something Paul experienced in Corinth. Some think they are too advanced in their studies to be taught or corrected by anyone, and become disconnected from others, having a shipwrecked faith, yet still always affirming their “advanced” ideas.  But an exhaustive study of Paul’s epistles should always leave us with a strong sense of the sincerity in the man. He does not come across as pretentious, worried about image or perceptions. We want a sincere faith, which takes effort and sound doctrinal teaching. A sincere faith has spontaneity and other positive attributes, all coming from a good conscience and exceptional self- awareness.

“FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN LIGHT”

The Pharisaical message was “do” followed by a long and growing list. The message Jesus brought was an invitation that said “Come!” with a short list. Today, there may be a number of church goers who have spent years receiving a gospel delivered in a series of “do” messages. “Do” belong to this group, and “do” believe that this is the group to be in. The “do” message will eventually leave the hearer with the uneasy underlying feeling of inadequacy and dependence, resulting in a bondage.

The message Jesus brought was not “do”, but “Come!” followed by belief in Him and true repentance. The “Come” messages combats the “do” message and all the complications that come along with a “do” message so that the believer has a full chance of being successful in the faith.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

When the Lord asks for you to take something from Him, what is implied here is that it will be well fitting and tailored to the taker. What He then wants us to learn is the deeper peace with God, and the peace of God which brings us rest. He is offering each of us the power to repent and overcome our sins, not to do a long list of works. Life unified with Christ is simplified essentially, as rest is simple, not needing to contend with the beggarly elements that seek to bring us into the bondage of slavery.

The above was given in the context of Jesus praising the Father, hiding the Truth from the wise and prudent, but revealing them unto babes (v 25). The wise and prudent would be tempted to incorporate the gospel into their own understanding which is, in reality, an attempt to master the Truth, instead of surrendering and letting the Truth master them. Conversely, the babes Jesus Christ has in mind are the types who instinctively accept what is given to them, which transforms them according to the Father’s will, not their own.

THE MINISTRY OF SELF PROMOTION

At the time when Jesus’ disciples concerned themselves with who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus taught them a fundamental lesson about conversion and greatness.

“Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

“Become” implies a process. For Christians, the way down is the way up. And His words are consistent with the Father’s wishes of revealing Himself to babes.

There then comes a warning:

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin (stumble, be offended), it would be better for him if a millstone where hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

Complicate the faith of a child of God, who has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, then judgment is pending on the offender. This is commonly done when a person places themselves between a believer and Jesus Christ. We need to get out of His way, as we are only going to complicate things.

“Take head you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

Brethren are not a statistic, where a leader of a group or organization can claim growth, in particular, percentage growth. Only God can claim growth (Acts 2:47). There is an arena of competing ministries where each has claimed preeminence, and like to report statistical growth. The Internet is full of their claims. To promote a ministry, the person(s) or the work, the volume of literature, the buildings, ahead of the gospel message, is to despise the little ones, for it is the offerings of these that finance such goals. Paul, in his defense to the Corinthians, demonstrated the proper service to little ones:

For we did not preach ourselves (promotion of their own ministry), but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Promoting the ministry for the ministry’s sake lacks sincerity and credibility. That message says if you are good with us, or we find you good for us, then you are good for the kingdom. This error complicates the message for the hearer. Promoting the ministry for Christ’s sake is the answer, which is subjecting oneself for the hearer’s needs, not for the needs of the ministry (see also Ezekiel 34:4, 10).

WHAT IS SOPHISTICATED

We have a garden at the side of our house where our favorite vegetables are growing. I know enough to water it and give it occasional fertilizer. If I take the time I can read about how some of the plant’s specific mechanisms might work in how it may grow. Perhaps I can hire a Ph.D in the field that studied these plants in particular who could educate me further. However, I don’t think we truly now understand the miracle behind the life of the plant, and how it knows to flourish. It is too sophisticated at the molecular and genetic level for our complete comprehension.

Such is the growth of the kingdom. We see the stages, but the process is too complicated, and is in the hands of the Creator.

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

This should bring the calling of a Christian perspective.  That is, how much do we even think or know or understand amounts to little compared to what is most important to the Father: that we bear fruit to His glory (John 15:8). What are we going to impress Him with in knowledge of something we deem a sophisticated understanding? What are we going to impress each other with?

I believe we find an example of what makes a great impression in Romans 12. It is interesting after 12 Chapters of what some may consider a sophisticated discourse in theology, most of it is written to encourage a paradigm shift away from the complicated reality of life under the law, from concerns over national heritage, to a new and simple reality of life and oneness in Christ. It would appear that undoing past ideas and perceptions takes some work, but out of it comes the conclusion of it all which is relatively a simple request:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

What follows in Romans 13 is a call to transformation, community thinking, kindness, service and other Christian attributes. These things do not appeal to carnal and vain aspirations.

SOLID FOOD BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ARE OF FULL AGE

I recall a time in a congregation where some claimed that they were not learning from the elders’ sermons. Apparently, according to them, they needed solid food and not the milk, which was a reference to Hebrews 5:14.

The question of “milk” messages for the new believers, versus “meat” teachings for mature believers has existed ever since there have been religious services. In general, it is much better to reach the new believers who may be struggling in the faith. The mature believer can always view these messages as instruction on how to reach new believers.

It is said that gratitude is an attitude, and this also applies for the lack of gratitude.  Mature believers should be grateful to be around new believers and hearing the basics or the “milk” of the Word therefore supporting their needs. If I start to vainly entertain the idea, and let others know that I am worthy of a more sophisticated Biblical learning, I can cause others and in particular new converts to stumble and will undoubtedly stumble myself.

Before we look at what the writer of Hebrews might mean by this, are we to first suppose that Peter was writing to less mature Christians than ourselves?

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tasted the Lord is gracious (1Peter 2:1,2).

The kind of enlightenment that the writer of Hebrews refers to is a gift from God to be used for His purposes (Hebrews 6:1-4).  This gift reveals the power of Christ’s resurrection, which then becomes the thrust behind the message for the writer of Hebrews, and those worthy of it will not use it for vain reasons, but digest it for the right reasons.

Things that are contrary to sound doctrine (1Timothy 1:10) that some affirm on others and have been widely accepted or tolerated:

Introducing various government models to describe the Kingdom of God—The Kingdom of God is not of this world (John 18:36), and man’s vision of government will fail to resemble the Kingdom. This kind of thinking gives birth to the idea the church should be governed in a central manner. The familial understanding with elders in local congregations is Biblical. Beyond this, a hierarchal or head office control of congregations goes beyond scriptural boundaries.

That the Seven churches of Revelation are Church Eras– this has brought only division, and is often used for ministry self-promotion. This often entails presenting the group as legitimate for having some kind of lineage from a previous group leader, or from the first century Church, or being a remnant of a Philadelphian “era”. It is also used to criticize others who may be deemed as Laodicean. There are few places in the Bible where a sentence is repeated seven times for emphasis, but in Revelation 2-3, seven times the Bible repeats the message “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Christ tells everyone with ears to listen to every message to every church. Why should we listen to men who tell us that there are “church eras”, a phrase never found in the Bible?

12 Hour Sabbaths: This writer disagrees with those who have written hundreds of pages in an effort to contradict clear Scriptures like Leviticus 23:32, “…from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath”. But rather than discuss those arguments let us suppose for a moment that they are right, that the Sabbath should only be kept for the daylight portion of the day. What are we arguing about? Most people sleep eight hours in the night, so we are only talking about four hours per week that may or may not need to be kept as a Sabbath. Do we believe Christ will hand out a big reward to those who saved the rest of his brethren from keeping too much of a Sabbath? Why do they not simply keep it as they see best, and try to avoid offending their brothers over a minor point of doctrine as Paul taught in Romans 14?

Jesus is not God: The nature of Christ, whether He existed before His human birth, and to what degree He is God has been argued for 2000 years. The Bible says that believers will all stand before Christ’s judgment seat some day (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). We will be judged by the work we let Him do in our lives. It is a terrible mistake to think we will be there, judging Him, explaining His nature to Him. Christ prayed that He, the Father and all of us would be “One” someday (John 17:11, 21). We can trust Them to get it right.

Lunar Sabbaths: (see Scribes Square, SVM Winter 2010)

Calendar Debates: (see Ask Norm)

Sacred Names: While one can appreciate the respectful attitude of wanting to pronounce what one considers God’s name as It was spoken to ancient Israel, the New Testament writers do not find this necessary. Even though many New Testament believers were Gentiles who did not know the Name, the New Testament contains no attempt to transliterate it–represent the sound of the Hebrew in Greek letters. However, this is done in numerous places with other Hebrew words (Mark 15:34; John 5:2; 19:13, 17; Acts 1:19; Rom 8:15; 11:4; Gal 4:6; Rev 9:11; 16:16). Mark records our Messiah addressing his prayer to “Abba, Father.” The Greek has Abba (Hebrew for “father”) and Pater (Greek for “father”). If our Messiah prayed using our Father’s name or mentioned it at any other time, it would have been easy for these authors to include it in their manuscripts–but they did not. The claim that all the New Testament manuscripts originally contained the divine name, but that it has been removed in the copying process is indeed dangerous. If that much alteration could be done to the scriptures without detection, how can anyone trust the New Testament at all?

In General: We must be very careful with doctrines that are not clearly commanded by Scripture, that may cause brethren to  cease  worshipping  and  working  together.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

It may seem naive to write of the simplicity of the Gospel message; how we are saved through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One can be accused of apostasy in some circles. However, when we read an epistle like Hebrews, how the writer routes the reader through a sophisticated presentation, from the past intercessory work through the fathers and the prophets, to the superior order of Melchizedek, and of faith in Jesus Christ as High Priest of a New Covenant, he actually takes us back where we started but with even greater confidence.  That confidence is the solid food.

I believe when a person comes of full age in the faith, with love in his/her heart, they will look at the truth of God and see the beauty and simplicity of the calling and, with some reflection, wonder why they did not see it so clearly in the first place.  This beauty pervades all of creation that has been unmarred by sin.  The day is coming when there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth and oneness with God.  One day soon all the complications and toil that we are accustomed to now will be gone, and that is simply, if we can get our minds to receive it Good News.