·The Simplicity of the Gospel of Truth·

“But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be
led astray from the ‘simplicity’ and purity of devotion to Christ.” II Corinthians 11:3
NASB

Άploόthj haplŏtēs, hap-loť-ace; Sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking),

“simplicity”, singleness. (1) “Simplicity”, purity, sincerity, faithfulness, plenitude. (6)

Foundation #1: The “Attributes” of God· #3- Characteristic qualities ascribed to a person
or thing. (2)
#1- A distinctive feature of or object associated with someone or
something. (3)
Foundation #2: The “Trinity”· #1- State of being three. #3- Christianity. The three persons
of the Christian ‘Godhead’ (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit).
“Godhead”· 1.A State of being God or a god. B Divine Nature. 2. Deity
(2)
3. God
The Doctrinal formalization of the Biblical data on the Trinity is satisfactorily
worded in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “There are three persons in the Godhead,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in
substance, equal in power and glory.” The data of revelation then, established in the
minds of N.T. Christians four convictions: 1. God is One 2. Jesus is God 3. The Holy
Spirit is God. 4. The Three Persons are Subject and Object, ‘I and thou’, each to the
others. (4)

Foundation #3: “God’s entire Word is Inspired”· ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every
good work.’ II Timothy 3:16-17
NASB

The Golden Rule of Interpretation of Scripture

“When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense;
therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts
of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and *axiomatic and
fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.”
*Axiomatic: means self-evident; based on established rule, principle or self-evident-truth.
1. Compare Scripture with Scripture.
2. Let the Bible be its own dictionary.
3. Don’t deviate from God’s redemptive plan.

Foundation #4: “Freewill”· #2- a) The freedom of the will to choose a course of action
without external coercion but in accordance with the ideals or moral
outlook of the individual. b) The doctrine that people have such freedom.
(2)

#1- Theability or discretion to choose. #2- The power to make choices that
are unconstrained, as by fate. (3)

Created 7.22.2003; Revised 9.6.2010

 2

Foundation #5: “Foreknowledge”· Knowledge of something before it happens or exists;

prescience. (2) ‘…this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and “foreknowledge”
of God…’ Acts 2:23 ‘…according to the “foreknowledge” of God the Father…’ I Peter 1:2

Foundation #6: “Predestination based on Foreknowledge”· #1- The doctrine that a) God
foreordained everything that would happen. b) God predestines certain souls to salvation
and, esp. in Calvinism, others to damnation. #2- A predestinating or being predestinated;
destiny; fate. (2)

Foundation #7: “Child-Like Faith”· “…Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and
become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever then humbles
himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 3

Foundation #1: “God is”…

Eternal: Timeless; Being eternal, ageless, immortal, or not affected by time. The
act of creation, the fall, the redemption, salvation itself, and literally any and every single
interaction between God and man has already come to pass. The very ‘act’ itself was
instantaneous. For God the past, present, and future are all the same. There is no
beginning and never will be an end. Deut. 32:40, 33:27; Ps. 135:13,145:13; II Peter 3:8; Rev. 1:8

Immutable: The perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change in

essence, ‘attributes’, consciousness, will, and promises. No change is possible in God,
because all change must be to better or worse, and God is absolute perfection. No cause
for change in God exists, either in Himself or outside of Him. The immutability of God is
clearly taught in scripture. Psalm 33:11; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:17-18; 13:8

Infinite: In Presence I Kings 8:27; Power Matthew 21:18; Acts Matthew 19:26; In Time Deuteronomy
33:27 Psalms 90:12 Isaiah 57:15
, , ; Knowledge Romans 11:33; and in Greatness Psalms 145:3.

No ‘Respecter of Persons’: I Peter 1:17; Since God is no respecter of persons

Romans 2:11 Deuteronomy 10:17 Ezekiel 18:4 Acts 10:34
; ; ; , He cannot be anything but infinitely impartial in
His dealings with all men. He cannot prefer one above another nor bless one above
another when all meet the same terms and love Him with all their hearts. The seeming
preference of God between two men is based upon the attitude and disposition of the men
toward God and conformity to His plan. Naturally, God cannot bless two men the same
when one is in obedience and the other in rebellion. God will bless the ones more who
conform more fully to his holiness. Here it is clear that all judgment of God will be
according to every-mans work. Matthew 16:27; James 2:9-10

Omnipotent: All Powerful, Revelations 19.6 . God can do all things consistent with
KJV

His nature and plan, but He cannot lie or act contrary to Himself and the best good of all.
See“30 Limitations of God”.

Omnipresent: Everywhere Present. The attribute of God by virtue of which He

fills the universe in all parts and is present everywhere at once. Not a part, but the whole
of God is present in everyplace. The Bible teaches the omnipresence of God Psalms 139:7-12;
Jeremiah 23:23-24 Acts 17:27-28
; . This is true of all three members of the Trinity.

Omniscient: All Knowing; The attribute by which God perfectly and eternally
knows all things which can be known, past, present, and future. God’s omniscience is
clearly taught in Scripture. Proverbs 15:11; Psalms 145:5; Isaiah 46:10

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 4

Foundation #2: “The Trinity”…

As seen in Foundation #2, defined above; God eternally exists as three individual
persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Although three individual and separate
persons, they are all ‘God’, “equal in power and glory.” Thus, one cannot deprive any
individual person of the Godhead of one of the above listed attributes one commonly
accepts to belong to ‘God’ himself. They are co-equal in power and glory, Hence, the
first given definition of the term ‘Trinity’ above. Anyone, attempting to establish a
doctrinal, theological, theoretical, or even personal, “Biblically True” view of beliefs; a
‘Bases of Personal, Doctrinal Beliefs’ if you will; must not ignore this Rule of Simplicity.
Genesis 1:26, 11:7-9, 18: All, 19:1, 24 Isaiah 7:14, 9:6 John 1:1-4, 14, 20:28 I Corinthians 12:4-6 I John 5:7
; ; ; KJV
;
Water is often used to describe the Trinity. ‘Water’ being the object and liquid,
gas, and solid being its forms, or the “personifications” of the water. I have always
however, preferred the symbolism of the egg. The ‘Egg’ being the object and the yoke,
white, and shell being its forms; all one egg, but three very distinct and separately
individual ‘representations’ of the same egg.
In these past few years I have come to an even deeper understanding of this
principle however, and I’ve yet to see is spoken of elsewhere…the fourth aspect of the
‘trinity’. Let me use the egg to explain this principle. As discussed earlier; the yoke,
white, and shell are all three separate parts of the same egg. While separated they all take
on their own, individual being…but never cease in being part of the same original egg.
Three parts; one whole. This principle of the trinity is shared almost universally. What is
neglected in this very well thought symbolism however, is the fact that it forgets one of
the eggs most essential features….the chicken that comes forth.
Yoke+White+Shell=Egg=’s Chicken, i.e. Father+Son+Spirit= “Triune Godhead” The
three are God, and he is Elôhîym.

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 5

Foundation #3: “God’s Entire Word is Inspired”…

II Timothy 3:16 clearly states that “all” Scripture is inspired…If one is to hold to
Paul’s declaration that ‘all’ Scripture is inspired, then we must never allow ourselves to
develop any system of beliefs void of a single verse of the entire Bible. Like a Great
jigsaw puzzle called, “The True Doctrine of Christ”; we must always realize that a single
missing piece, or ‘verse’, creates an incomplete puzzle, or ‘doctrine’, no longer, “of
Christ”.
Aside from holding true to “Sola Scriptura” or ‘by Scripture Alone’; there are
certain rules that one must follow to properly interpret what’s actually being meant by the
writer themselves. Historical, Geographical, Cultural, Political, Religious, and Contextual
facts and practices of the particular time of writing must always be understood and held
as being just as inspired and ordained by God Himself, as the very Scriptures are
themselves. Numerous scholars have written volume upon volume on “The Rules of
Interpreting Scripture”.
II Timothy 3:16-17

One of the greatest questions one must ask, in regards to the ancient texts of our
past, is how we are ever to know exactly what is “God’s Word” and what isn’t. This was
a question I had had to ask myself recently, and after some research I now have my own
opinion. The oldest Christian bible is the Codex Sinaiticus 301-400 CE, the oldest Hebrew
bible is the Aleppo Codex 930 CE, and the D.S.S. themselves date only to 150 BCE-70 CE.
The Sumerian text however is much, much older. Eridu Genesis, Enuma Elish, and Atra-
Khasis all date to the 18th Century BCE, ranging from 1,800-1,701 BCE. The Epic of
Gilgamesh, the oldest story written, dates to the 27th Century, or 2,700-2,600 BCE. The
modern Hebrew/Christian bible was translated into Greek by 72 Jews around 280 BCE
(The Septuagint). Once the New Testament had been written, it was added to the Latin
Vulgate around 363-364 CE at the Ladocian Council. Note the near four hundred years
that past between the actual writings and their placement in a Single Canonical work.
Note also that the father of the Hebrew nation was Abram…who came from Ur, or that
the Jew’s first time in bondage, was in Babylon. It is my opinion, that although I feel only
a fool would and could disregard the Holy Hebrew/Christian Bible…it is only a piece of
a very large and intriguing puzzle that’s called life.
When contemplating the Word of God, one needs look no further than the miracle
of life itself. While we are limited by our vocabulary…by language itself….by our ability
to express ourselves, He is not. Without paper and pen, our expression must become
interactive…we become obligated to use our vocabulary to share our thoughts. With God
however, he is able to speak, share and express himself through every aspect of our life.
Remember, Abram wasn’t chosen by God because he ‘knew’ any written word. He was
chosen because his heart was pure and he knew God internally. If we are then to be
taught and thus carry on that ‘God’s entire word is inspired’, then we must remain
vigilant to seek those text that are uniformly unique to the characteristic of Moral Truth,
found in all text inspired by Godly men.

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 6

Foundation #4: “Free Will; the freedom to choose”…

Evil is not ‘bad’ in of itself. Evil is not alive, nor does it have self-essence. Evil is
an action…a choice. At every decision point in our lives we must decide…do the ‘good’
thing or don’t. Do what is ‘evil’; or do what is ‘good’. With God there is no gray middle
in-between. It’s either ‘right or wrong’, ‘good or evil’; ‘light vs. dark’. Ultimately,
however; there is a most simple way to describe this balance, “Choice”…The right, the
ability, the independence to choose for ourselves.
Satan is not independent of God. If we are to remain faithful to the above
mentioned Foundations, then any ideal that says that Satan went behind Gods back,
caused man to fall, and that God had to send His Son to die to save us from this ‘great
travesty’; then we are to deceive ourselves. These ideals strip God of his almighty power
and allude to the fact that things happened He hadn’t planed for and he had to ‘fix’ what
happened. How could this of happened; if He truly is all mighty? If evil is power and not
choice then how could it of come from God? If Satan is pure evil, then how could he of
come from God, let alone rebelled without God knowing it was going to happen. If God
knew it would happen…then why would He allow it?
Free-will…choice, the freedom to choose; how can you choose if there is nothing
to choose from? Christians are taught, and I agree that God wants us to choose Him and
His way. That’s it…nothing more. He simply wants us to ‘Choose’ to do what is right…
to seek Him and His goodness. He wants no-one in heaven who doesn’t want to be there,
and He will do nothing to force any-one to do any-thing. He also will not allow anyone
into the kingdom of Heaven who is not pure of heart. Being created in the image of God,
we share in His nature…and ability to choose. In effectual essence…Free-Will is not just
the greatest gift ever bestowed on man…but it is the single most powerful ability and
responsibility ever gifted upon man.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Matthew 5:19, 12:31-32, 50 Mark 3:35, 8:34 I John 3:10 Romans 6:16-23
; ; ; ,

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 7

Foundation #5: “Foreknowledge”…

One of the easiest to describe and simplest to understand foundations, since it

retains its most classical and commonly used definition; In effect, Foreknowledge, pre-
knowledge, prophesy…all can be defined as simply ‘foretelling the future’, especially
with any hint at accuracy. Besides, with the aforementioned attribute of ‘omniscience’,
how can anyone knowingly and intentionally exclude the effectual attribute of
foreknowledge as well? Add in the aforementioned ‘timeless’ quality of God; then how
can anyone find offence in it either?
So…If He, being omniscient and timeless; and I still retaining my free-will ability
to choose, where pray tell lies fate, destiny, or….or choice at all if I am but a puppet in a
story that was played out before it even began?...
“…Is it really all that hard?”
Isaiah 42:9 Matthew 24:36 Acts 2:23 Romans 8:29, 11:2 I Peter 1:2, 20
; ; ; ;

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 8

Foundation #6: “Synchronicity”…

Synchronicity, Fate, Destiny, Pre-Destination….”Pre-Destination based on

Foreknowledge.”
God wants me to give my last $5 to John Doe but as it turns out, I know John and
in my human weakness I wouldn’t give John $5 if I was rich and had money to spare. In
his infinite wisdom and powerful manipulation over all things, save our sovereign soul
however; God knew this defect of my nature and orchestrated an event where Tom, my
hypothetical brother happened to not only be there at that moment, but to personally
know and vouch for John as well, promising to repay the debt if John is to go defunct.
Tom’s my brother so I’ll trust him and I give the $5 to John. God got what he wanted…
John received $5; from me….but God never violated anyone’s freewill. Perfect,
manipulative orchestration based on a personal relationship we maintain with Him where
He knows us better than we know ourselves. Isn’t doing it for ya? Ok then, try this.
It’s a little harder to follow and you have to keep the entire study above in mind.
Consider the Biblical narrative of Pharaoh himself. Exodus 9:16 (Rom. 9:17) God, knowing all,
before it was thought of being done; who in a Christian realm ‘can’t partake of evil, nor
would He create it’; created pharaoh who set himself up as a god and claimed all glory
above men. This same man enslaved Gods chosen people for many years in Egypt.
Similarly Christ, when speaking to Pontius Pilate, informs him that he would have no
authority over Him had that authority first not come from heaven. John 19:11
Fate, Destiny, Pre-Destination; all of life’s little synchronicities…we all take our
own paths in life…but it is God who created the paths between the forests, valleys, and
mountains contained within this planet, circling a life-giving sun…”Ya, we make our
own decisions, but I’m sure He has it all under control.”
Exodus 9:16 (Rom. 9:17) Proverbs 16:4 John 19:11 Acts 2:23, 4:28 Rom. 8:29-30 I Cor. 2:7 Eph. 1:5, 11
; ; ; ; ; ;

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 9

Foundation #7: “Unless you come like a child”…

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and stood him in their midst, and
said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall
not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4; Mk. 9:33-37, 10:13-31; Lk. 9:46-48, 18:14, 17
Although simplistic, child-like thought towards both Christ, others, and the
Christian faith is often understood to be conveyed here; of which I wish to exemplify as
well, the foremost, purest virtue to be learned here…both through this parable and
foundation as well is humility…Pure, unadulterated, God-like and Christ-lived humility
seen most often and without much effort, through the nature of children. It is this
humility that brings us not only closer to the nature of Christ, but of God the Father. The
simplistic act of unselfish action seems void of nearly every man yet to nearly every child
it seems second nature. Rightly it should. Give to give, love to love, and do for others
simply because you can. True Humility takes this step even further and exemplifies how
the purest form of giving is that which is done between you and God alone.
Matthew 18:1-4 Mk. 9:33-37, 10:13-31 Lk. 9:46-48, 18:14, 17 ‘Humility’ Pr. 15:33 Ph. 2:3-4 I Peter 5:5-7 ‘True Humility’ Matthew 6:3-4
; ; ; ;

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren,

knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter
judgment.”
James 3:1

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 10

·“Rules of Simplicity”·
II Corinthians 11:3

Foundation #1: The Attributes of God

Psalm 139:7-12, 145:3; Isaiah 46:10; Romans 2:11; Hebrew 6:17-18KJV, 13:8;
Revelations 19:6 KJV

Foundation #2: The ‘Trinity’

Genesis 1:26, 11:7-9, 18: All, 19:1, 24; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; John 1:1-4, 14, 20:28; I
Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7 KJV; Water and Egg Symbolism

Foundation #3: The Inspiration of ‘Scripture’

II Timothy 3:16-17; ‘The Golden Rule of Interpretation’

Foundation #4: Free Will; The right to choose

Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 5:19, 12:31-32, 50; Mark 3:35, 8:34; I John 3:10,
Romans 6:16-23

Foundation #5: Foreknowledge

Isaiah 42:9; Matthew 24:36; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:29, 11:2; I Peter 1:2, 20

Foundation #6: Synchronicity

Exodus 9:16 (Rom. 9:17); Proverbs 16:4; Acts 2:23, 4:28; Romans 8:29-30; I
Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:5, 11

Foundation #7: Unless you come like a child; Humble

Matthew 18:1-4; Mark 9:33-37, 10:13-31; Luke 9:46-48, 18:14, 17
‘Humility’ Proverbs 15:33; Philippians 2:3-4; I Peter 5:5-7
‘True Humility’ Matthew 6:3-4

“Teachers Beware”
James 3:1

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 11

Bibliography:

1. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – Greek #572

2. American Century Dictionary

3. The American Heritage Dictionary

4. Compact Bible Dictionary

5. Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible

6. The Complete Word Study New Testament

7. “30 Limitations of God” p.1058 of Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible

He Cannot…
I. Break His own laws
II. Lie
III. Deny Himself
IV. Have respect for persons
V. Save one soul apart from grace and faith in Christ
VI. Be unrighteous
VII. Bless men apart from faith
VIII. Curse men when they meet His terms
IX. Do away with or change His own eternal plan
X. Save rebels who persist in rebellion, refusing to meet His terms
XI. Be tempted with evil
XII. Tolerate hypocrisy
XIII. Spare Himself or Christ in the redemption of the human race from hell
XIV. Turn down one soul that comes to Him according to His terms
XV. Judge the righteous with the wicked
XVI. Fail to answer prayer when unwavering faith is exercised
XVII. Forgive one un-confessed sin
XVIII. Keep one saved who lives in sin
XIX. Automatically cancel the death penalty when men sin and incur that penalty
XX. Do away with free moral agency and moral responsibility
XXI. Make one a slave to Himself so that he can never go back into sin if he
chooses
XXII. Guarantee that every saved man will continue in Christ
XXIII. Make any man a son of God in the same sense Jesus is
XXIV. Look upon the sins of the saved as being unreal, or deal with them on a
different basis from those of the unsaved
XXV. Cancel any reaping for what is sown
XXVI. Force a man to serve Him against his own will
XXVII. Recognize any man as His child or His servant who serves sin and the devil

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul
 12

XXVIII. Keep the saved from sin if he chooses to go back into sin
XXIX. Keep one from incurring the death penalty should he go back into sin
XXX. Be lenient with any who sin or encourage anarchy in moral government

Created 7.22.2003; Revised and Digitized 9.6.2010

The Lost Soul