2 Corinthians 11:1-3 (KJV)
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to 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.
In order to help us jump into this chapter, allow me to remind you of the context of the last chapter.
2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
There was a “number” a segment of people in the church in Corinth who had developed this “priority people” mentality.
Remember in the first Letter to the Corinthians he wrote,
1 Corinthians 1:12 (KJV)
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
They had decided certain preachers were better than other preachers and they were measuring themselves based upon which preacher was their favorite.
Paul concluded 2 Corinthians 10 by writing,
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (KJV)
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
We do not want to glory in men, but in the Lord.
Now Apostle Paul shifts right from that to, “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.”
He says, two times, bear with me.
He had just told them it is not wise for these ministers to measure themselves by themselves.
He had just told them that the only approval they needed was from the Lord.
It might seem a bit foolish after that, but bear with him, He needed to correct this “number”.
No one needs anyone’s approval but the Lord, but sometimes we do need to point out error and sometimes we do need to approve what is excellent.[1]
He asked them to be patient with him a little bit because e wanted to see them more than just saved and serving the Lord.
· He wanted to see them chaste
· He wanted to see them pure
He wanted to see them single-mindedly belong to Christ.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
As risky as it might have been for him to engage in a conflict with this number in the church there in Corinth, it was necessary.
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.
I want to break this verse down with three words.
*I. SERPENT
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.
Let me remind you that there is a serpent.
Satan is more than a figure.
He is more than a type for all of the bad in this world.
Satan is an actual being.
· He has followers, both in the angelic world and the earthly one.
· He actively recruits other followers.
He takes captive some at his will.
· He gets wrathful.
· He can follow Christ and his followers, harassing them.
There is every reason in the world for a pastor to want to see his congregation, chaste, pure and single mindedly dedicated to Christ.
Because there is another cause in this world that is not of Christ.
*II. SUBTILTY
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.
I actually want us to look at two words here:
A. Beguile
This means to lie and deceive.
Jesus said that the devil is the father of lies.
He said of the Jews that they believed lies and told lies because they were “of their father, the devil.”[2]
Here’s the thing, do you think that those who are deceived, and then deceiving others, realize they are doing it?
Of course not.
Compound that with the next word,
B. Subtilty
This word means trickery or, sophistication.
Sophisticated.
It reminds me of one of the characters in the Anne of Green Gables series.
He was a suitor after Anne once she became a teacher.
· He was rich
· He was charming
· He was handsome
· He was soft spoken and
· He was generous
But he was also an adulterer.
I’m getting ahead of myself but look at,
2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
The devil is a smooth operator.
Those who are deceived don’t know they are deceived.
His ministers can look like they are the ones on the right path.
Paul asked the Christians there to bear with him in this folly.
It was going to be uncomfortable to correct this type of error.
Notice finally
*III. SIMPLICITY
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.
I am reminded of, Galatians 1:6-7 (KJV)
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Satan spoils simplicity.
A. He perverts the Gospel
By pointing the eyes of the lost away from the Cross of Christ.
Salvation is all of Christ.
· It is not of baptism
· It is not of church membership
· It is not of good deeds
When it comes to salvation, if your eyes are anywhere other than on Jesus, I am afraid you are destined to an eternal hell.
B. He poisons service
By making it something we are not able to bear.[3]
We, who are saved, ought to be careful to maintain good works.
But it ought to be a joy to us and not a burden.[4]
C. He putrefies worship
Consider what most people think of as necessary for worship these days:
· Large beautiful buildings
· Soft and comfortable furniture
· Professional, entertainment quality music
· Relevant motivational type messages
I’ve taught a lesson on this before on historic Baptists.[5]
Historically Baptists have prized,
The serpent has corrupted that so that we have instead,
· A production rather than worship
· A professional rather than a Bible and
· A pat on the back rather than a convicting work of the Holy Spirit
Paul feared it.
He looked for something other than influence, numbers and popularity.
He looked to see believers who were
· pure,
· single minded and
· sold out to Jesus Christ.
[1] Philippians 1:10 (KJV)
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
[2] John 8:44 (KJV)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
[3] Acts 15:8-10 (KJV)
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
[4] 1 John 5:3 (KJV)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
[5] https://www.slideshare.net/MarvinMcKenzie/06-apostolic-baptists
