How simple it all is!
But so much has been added to the simplicity of Christ and as a result, that simplicity has disappeared.
In robbing us of that simplicity and embracing instead the religious ideas of human thinking, what has not been given to us, we have lost just about all.
I invite you to consider with me the utter simplicity of what was revealed to the first communities of Jesus.
For starters, consider these words from the mouth of Jesus to believers recorded for us in the book, Revelation.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus . . . . . ‘You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.’” Rev 2:4-5.
“I say to the rest of you in Thyatira ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’” Rev 2:24-25
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write . . . . . . ‘I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.’” Rev 3:1-3.
And “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia . . . . ‘I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.’” Rev 3:1, 11
Consider also these words from the pen of apostle John . . .
Let what you have heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you will abide in the Son and the Father. 1 John 2:24
Need I comment?
Dare I comment?
If you have ears to hear, then please join me in hearing, that is, obeying.
Ian Thomson 
Ian, I have found too much “bible teaching” consists of explaining what scripture “really” means as opposed to what it actually says.
It gives the impression that the average Christian is unable to understand scripture unless they have it interpreted for them. And that seems a perfect way to keep those “average” believers dependent on those seen to be above them in the religious hierarchy.
However it’s not only a matter of teachers exploiting others. Scripture tells us about those who gather the kind of teachers around them who say what pleases their itching ears. There is a two way dependency that I think can only be broken through a love of the truth.
2 Thess speaks of those who refuse to love the truth – to me that suggests that the reverse can apply: that we can choose to love it.
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Thank you Onesimus. I liked your comment. There seems to be so much blunt refusal to simply do what we have received from the beginning, to remain true in our hearts to what the Lord has revealed to us and to not only love the truth but to put it into action. I cannot say I love the truth if I am not practicing it. So I need help from the Holy Spirit and from my fellow believers to take me back to what Jesus started.
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Though we must aim at simplicity, so much truth has been lost that must be recovered and proclaimed fully. To do this it is often necessary to rigorously correct bad teaching. Some leaders resist this and often say, as someone replied to me recently, defending his ‘position’ : “I think I would rather just let scripture speak for itself”. We have to point out things like faulty translations from the Greek original e.g., ekklesia and also just plain loving our neighbour whoever he might be, as you, Onesimus, you have been pointing out recently so consistently and inconveniently and truthfully in your posts.
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