Sermon Outline
July 15, 2007 AM
THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL
INTRODUCTION:
1. 2 Corinthians 11:3 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. Paul was concerned that the minds of the Corinthians may be corrupted or turned
away from the purity and simplicity of being in Christ.
3. This is a real possibility and one that we should all be concerned with.
4. Many minds have been corrupted and turned away.
5. Most people think that the Gospel is so complicated that only scholars can understand.
a. That is why they follow religious leaders without investigation.
b. When one thinks this way, it is easy to corrupt his mind.
I. GOSPEL IS FOR EVERY RESPONSIBLE PERSON (Mark 16:15)
A. It is not reasonable to think that God gave it to us and that it is the power of God
unto salvation, but it is in such a mystical form that we cannot understand it!
1. We are commanded to understand it Eph.5:17 Therefore, do not be unwise,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
2. If you don't you can't blame the Gospel!
B. Perversions of the Gospel is condemned:
1. Gal 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before,
so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have
received, let him be accursed.
2. God would not curse one for perverting a Gospel that was so mystical and
complicated that it was beyond human understanding.
C. There are penalties for failure to obey the Gospel: 2Thess.1:7-9; Matt.7:21-23
D. The way of salvation is plainly stated in the Bible:
1. Isaiah 35:8 A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the
Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.
2. Matt.7:7 Ask, seek & knock;
3. John 7:17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine,
whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
II. EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE SHOW HOW PLAIN THE GOSPEL IS:
A. On the day of Pentecost, they heard one sermon, understood and obeyed.
1. No indication that they failed to understand.
2. Peter didn't need to explain or interpret his answer in Acts 2:38
3. Men have worked hard over the years to explain away Peter's simple answer.
B. As far as we know, the Eunuch heard one Gospel sermon Acts 8:36ff.
C. Saul of Tarsus clearly understood what he must do Acts 22:16
D. The Phillipian jailor was taught in a matter of hours, from complete unbelief to
obedience Acts 16:24-40.
E. The command to believe is clear: Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
you will be saved." (Also Mark 16:16)
1. What to believe is clear Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9 That Jesus is the Christ & that
God raised Him from the dead.
2. Where the faith comes from is clear Rom.10:17; John 20:31 And truly Jesus did
many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this
book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
F. The command to be baptized is clear: Mk.16:16
1. What baptism is is clear Col.2:12 In Him you were also circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh,
by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also
were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from
the dead.
2. Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life.
3. Acts 8: 38 Went down into the water and he baptized him.
4. The purpose of baptism is as clearly stated as the English can make it:
a. Mk. 16:16 salvation
b. Acts 2:38 For the remission of sins
c. Acts 22:16 Wash away sins
d. 1Peter 3:21 Saves us
III. WHICH CHURCH TO JOIN IS NOT COMPLICATED
A. N.T. Christians were church members Acts 2:41
B. But were never told which one to join.
C. They were added to the Lord's church by the Lord, Himself when they became
Christians Acts 2:47.
D. One becomes a member of the church by the same process He becomes a Christian!
IV. FOR SOME WORSHIP IS COMPLICATED
A. Very simple when done God's way.
B. It is not difficult to determine what the first church did in worship:
C. The problems come when people start adding their own special, unauthorized
touches:
1. Burning incense - No command or example
2. Counting beads - No command or example
3. Turning worship into a concert for the entertainment of the people - No command
or example.
D. What is authorized in Worship is perfectly clear:
1. Prayer, Lord's Supper, Singing, Giving, Teaching were all practiced by the first
church and we have clear examples of them in the N. T.
2. If we do those and leave everything else out, then it's not so complicated!
CONCLUSION:
1. We are neither divided or confused over what the Bible says.
2. Trouble comes with things for which there is no Bible authority.
3. Serpent beguiled Eve causing her to believe what God did not say.
4. She understood God's command, He just made it more complicated and convinced
her to do what God did not say.
5. When we start dissecting what God did say and substituting for it what God did not
Say then it gets complicated and confusing.
6. The gospel is simple, we make it complicated.