SAVED OR DECEIVED-WHICH?
II Cor. 11:3

Henry Mahan


"But I fear, least by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity of Christ"

This godley jealousy in Paul was a mixture of love and fear. He loved them, deeply desired their eternal good, and feared lest they should be corrupted by these deceivers. Satan used the serpent to seduce Eve from her obedience to God (Gen. 3:1-6). He was crafty, skillful, and deceptive, as are those men who do his bidding under the guise of righteousness (vs. 13-15). Believers are complete in Christ, who, of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Satan's one goal is to corrupt the mind and turn the heart away from this singleness or simplicity of Christ. It matters not to him if it be law, morality, tradition, ceremony, or whatever (good or bad), just so there is a rival for Christ's pre-eminence and his sufficiency. Christ plus anything in redemption is not the gospel of God's glory and grace (Col. 2:9-10) but is another gospel (Gal. 1:6-7). The foundation of the great Reformation was the scriptures alone, grace alone, and Christ alone. Nothing needs to nor should be added to these (Rom. 5:1-21; II Cor. 5:21). In Christ believers are perfectly justified and righteous before the Father.


Henry Mahan, Pastor
Thirteenth Street Baptist Church
Ashland, Ky.



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