How do I know what's truly right?
The Bible tells me so!

by Larry C. Hamner

July 9, 2007

It's all very simple

Everything we need to know about living a good life here and how to gain eternal life in the world to come is in one place The Bible. No need to search and look in a million different places. God made the road to understanding a very clear and simple one. Through many years of observation I've noticed that when religion becomes complicated, it's always a sign that it has drifted away from the realities of faith in Jesus Christ. It's an unmistakable signal that we are adjusting the teachings of Jesus to fit us, instead of allowing the Spirit of Christ to adjust us to his teachings. We are deliberately refusing to believe the Bible because we think we know better. This is the corruption of the mind that Paul warned would lead us away from the simplicity that is in Christ.

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 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. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2Co. 11:2-4)

Serve God his way, not your way

Many Christians today don't have the backbone or the moral integrity to truly stand for anything. They read the Bible, bow their heads, close it, and then go right on in total disregard of it. Of course the engine that drives this is pride. It's me reserving the right to decide for myself. Don't make things complicated. God made them simple. When religion becomes complex, it is a sign that it is departing from Christ. The world tends to think complicated things are better, but they are not. We are all simple people, therefore we need things put as simply as possible. The Bible is a simple book. Men cannot understand the book because they do not think like God.

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isa 55:6-9 KJV)

We must be on guard

We must be content with the simplicity that is in Christ. We must never allow Satan to deceive us into believing a different Jesus or gospel. We must simply believe the word of God, and never think beyond what is written. No person has the right to analyze and interpret what God said. All interpretations must be a mirror image of what God has said and intended. We interpret scripture by scripture, not by what we think or feel is right. Not unlike the Christians and church goers of today the Pharisees and Sadducees had no difficulty in believing that Christ was the Messiah. The difficulty was in believing what he said. The same can be said for the Bible we as Christians have very little difficult believing that the Bible is the word of God but we find it extremely difficult to believe what it says.

“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.”(1Cor. 4:6 KJV)

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”(Psa 119:89)

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46 KJV)

Clarity of vision

One of our greatest needs in the Church today is for clarity of vision. Where the vision is not clear simplicity in Christ is lost. This need for clarity prompted Paul to write, ”How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (1Cor. 14:26 KJV) The simple truth is that any psalm, doctrine, revelation, or interpretation must point to Christ. Not only must it point to Christ but also reflect the truths that are set forth in the Bible. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20 KJV)

What did Jesus say or do?

Does your Christian walk reflect the beauty of simplicity? Are you overwhelmed with the complexity of present day Christianity? We're not talking computers and other technological advances. We're talking more of the complexity of thinking and ideas that is heard from the Christian community today. There are so many books, seminars, and programs that seem to turn the believer's life in to a very complex entanglement of do's, don'ts, and how-to's. One wonders if we've gotten so complex in our thinking that the result is a complex life. For example, I've baptized a great number of repentant individuals wanting to obey Christ and repent and be baptized. I've baptized in small streams, and was admonished for not baptizing in the church. I've baptized in swimming pools and was criticized for not baptizing in running water. Let's not mention what name to baptize in or whether to immerse or sprinkle. The results is a simple command of be baptized is analyzed and securitized to the point where an individual seeking to full fill Christ's command is often confused as what to do or believe. The result of this is they resort to acting out of loyalties and confidences. They then choose the methods and teachings of those they are loyal to and have confidence in. The bible clearly tells us to look to Jesus. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2 KJV) Not only that, Christ told us to learn from him. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt. 11:29 KJV) Paul makes it even plainer when he states; “be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1 KJV) The answer to this be-puzzlement is a simple one, find out the Bible's account of what Jesus said or did and act accordingly.

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