As a child
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 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. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted–you may well put up with it!
As I watched our children’s Christmas play last night at church, the closing scene had a young man “get it”. He saw how his pride had blinded his eyes, and how the story of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was happening before him. He had complicated, even not believed, that God was at work. We can tend to do that today with the message of the Gospel that came that Christmas morn. That was the day that God sent His only Son to save you from your sins eternally. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Pride tends to make us believe that we must do something. It is true, we must do something; swallow our pride and humble ourselves with the understanding that we must do nothing but that. The simplicity of the Gospel is where pride builds that wall. Christ told the disciples of how to come to him as a child in Luke 18:17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Paul is stressing the the Corinth church against the false teachers of the day, and their systems of religion that required duties. There are no works that will gain you favor with God to earn your salvation. Work does not produce faith, but faith produces good works. The good works come as a result of your Salvation, not a means to earn it.
The Gospel, or Good News of Jesus Christ is simple; we complicate it. The Gospel is that God gave His only son, Jesus, to come to this earth for you. He lived as fully God, and fully man, a perfect life. He paid the perfect sacrifice for your sin debt. He died on the Cross to pay for your sin, and your humble, repentant heart can accept this free gift as the only way to heaven. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. You can’t earn it, but you can humbly accept it. Take away the years of pride that has grown in you, and approach Christ with the innocence of a child.
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