Definition: In the context used here, simplicity is the state or quality of being free from complications, especially in regards to thoughts, motives, and personal conduct. This section does not refer to the other Biblical meaning of being simple-minded or dull.
1. The Lord has given us a simple plan for living right.
* Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?
* Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
* Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
* Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
* James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the World.
2. It is folly to be “wise” when worldly wisdom only complicates matters.
* Ecclesiastes 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
* Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
* Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
* 1 Corinthians 3:19,20 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
* Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
* 1 Timothy 6:20b,21a Avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21a Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.
* 2 Peter 3:16b,17 In which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [distort or twist], as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
3. Trying to reason things out in our carnal minds invites disaster.
* Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
* Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
* Romans 8:6,7 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
* Ephesians 4:17,18 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
* 2 Timothy 3:1-4 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be… 4 …heady, highminded.
4. Simplicity is a key to faith and things of the Spirit.
* Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
* Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.
* Luke 18:16,17 But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
* 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
* Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.
5. It’s wise to be simple.
* Psalm 131:1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
* Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
* Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. [See also Mark 10:15.]
* Romans 16:19b I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
* 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
* 1 Corinthians 8:1b Knowledge puffeth up, but [love] edifieth.
* 2 Corinthians 11:3 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.
6. Stick to the simple rock-solid basics of the Word; avoid theological hair-splitting.
* 1 Timothy 4:6b,7 Nourished up in the Words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
* 2 Timothy 2:14-16,23 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
* Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
* Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats [ceremonial rules about eating certain foods], which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
7. Simplicity is an important part of our sample to others.
* 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
* 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. [See also Titus 2:7.]
8. We also need to keep our witness simple.
* John 12:32 [Just tell the world about Jesus, and you can’t go wrong.] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
* 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
* 1 Corinthians 2:1,2,4,5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
* 1 Corinthians 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air.
* 2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness [simplicity] of speech.
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