Simple Gospel or Secret Mysteries?

Tony Cooke

There has always been, I suppose, a human tendency to want something deeper or more profound than simply appreciating and growing in what we already have. Instead of a consistent focus on Jesus and developing in sound doctrine, some people fall prey to and end up chasing tantalizing offers of secret mysteries, hidden truths, unraveled codes, cryptic messages, and sensational prophecies that only a specially anointed revelator can bring or interpret.

This tendency certainly existed in New Testament times. Consider these examples:

The apostle Paul expressed concern that Corinthian believers would be corrupted and led astray “from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor 11:3 NKJV). Various translations also refer here to “sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

“…all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21 NKJV).

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).

The Colossian church also had a problem with this, and Paul confronted it head-on. Consider how he addressed those who were looking outside of Christ for deeper truth.

“I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3 NLT).

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority” (Colossians 2:8-10 NLT).

Consider the terminology contained in Paul’s exhortations to Timothy. What was Paul telling Timothy to emphasize? What was to be the outcome of Timothy’s teaching?

• Godly edification which is in faith (1 Tim 1:4)
• Sound doctrine (1 Tim 1:10; 2 Tim 4:3)
• Words of faith and of the good doctrine (1 Tim 4:6)
• Wholesome words (1 Tim 6:3)
• Doctrine which accords with godliness (1 Tim 6:3)
• Sound words (2 Tim 1:13)
• Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15)
• Preach the word! (2 Tim 4:2)

As a believer, do these kinds of statements reflect what you desire to feed on? If you are a preacher, are those the things you focus on from the pulpit? Allow me to share with you some modernized excerpts from Charles Spurgeon’s teaching to his ministerial students.

My brothers, the essence of all I wish to say is this: Preach Christ, always and forever. He is the whole gospel. His person, position, and work must be our one great all-encompassing theme. We are not called to proclaim philosophy and abstract theories; we are called to proclaim the simple gospel. Humanity’s fall, people’s need for a new birth, forgiveness through an atonement, and salvation as a result of faith are our battle-axes and weapons of war. People are dying and hell is filling. I would rather rescue one burning stick from the fire than explain all mysteries. Blessed is that ministry of which Christ is everything.

In my book, Qualified, I wrote the following. A Christ-centered approach does not mean that we do not teach other biblical truths; it means that we keep Jesus central and supreme in our teaching. For example:

• It is great to teach faith, but we need to remember that Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
• It is important to teach grace, but we must remember that the grace we proclaim is nothing less than the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:11 and thirteen similar references).
• It is outstanding to teach eschatology, but it is Christ’s coming that we anticipate.
• Worship is wonderful, but we don’t worship the act of worship; we worship Jesus.
• Leadership is great, but only if we are leading people into a closer relationship with Jesus and more effective service for Him.
• It is tremendous to teach holiness, but we must remember that Jesus is the basis and source of our holiness.
• We want to proclaim and see the gifts of the Spirit in operation, but they are to glorify Christ.

When I stand before the Lord, I am not interested in my teaching having been the most flashy or catchy. I’m not interested in it having communicated thrilling, never-before-heard revelation. I do pray that it revealed Jesus, exalted Him, and drew people closer to Him. I pray it helped people to allow the Holy Spirit to develop godliness and Christ-like character, that it made them better husbands and wives, and that it encouraged them to serve others more effectively both inside and outside of church.

May God help us all enjoy the simplicity that is in Christ, exercising sincere and pure devotion toward Him.