OCTOBER 13

SIMPLICITY IN 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.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

It was Paul’s desire that he might present those to whom he ministered, “as a chaste virgin to Christ.” He did not want them to become corrupted, that is, to lose their virginity of spirit, that pureness and oneness of belonging only to Christ.

This is in harmony with Malachi 2:15, where we are admonished to “take heed to your spirit,” because God would join Himself to our spirit in oneness, and thus produce a HOLY SEED, an encrusted (anointed) company of which He is the Head. Therefore He is doing a purifying, cleansing work within, that we might become “vessels meet for the Master’s use.” (2 Tim. 2:21).

Rev. 14:3-5 speaks of this company as being “redeemed from the earth. These are they which are not defiled with women (religious systems); for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersover he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

That it is possible to bring forth just such a firstfruits company is assured, for it is HIS WORK WITHIN US, and HE “is able to keep you from falling (stumbling), and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” (Jude 24).

Paul went on to explain what he meant by being a “chaste virgin.” As one that had not been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. We note that the word “simplicity” is actually a Greek word that means “SINGLENESS. “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light.” (Luke 11:34). The eye is symbolic of our spirit, may we ever be “joined to the Lord in one Spirit.”

Ray Prinzing