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IT IS SO SIMPLE

Matt 5:45b … for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and
on the unjust.

2 Cor 11:3 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. THE ONE CHURCH IS THE ONE BODY OF CHRIST.

A. Members are all of that one body.
1. 1 Cor 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that
one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

2. 1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

3. Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

B. That body is the church.

1. Col 1:21-24 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is
under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up
that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

C. Christ is the head of that body.

1. Col 1:18-19 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all
fulness dwell;

D. The body [the church] is composed of those who are in Christ.

1. 1. Rom 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same
office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

2. 1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ
Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both
theirs and ours:

II. IN CHRIST IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE.

A. In Christ, the sins that separated us from God are removed.
1. Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of his grace;

2. Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of
Christ.

3. Eph 3:11-12 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In
whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
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4. Heb 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
in time of need.

B. In Christ, we have the promise of life.

1. 2 Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which
is in Christ Jesus,

2. Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

3. 1 Thess 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

C. God showers wonderful blessings on those who are in Christ.

1. Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

2. Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

4. Rom 8:16-18 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And
if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

5. Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

D. We are created and made complete only in Christ.

1. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.

2. Col 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power:

E. In Christ, we never lose.

1. 2 Cor 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
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III. THEN, GETTING INTO CHRIST IS OUR FOCUS.
A. As usual, God’s word is consistent.
1. Rom 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

3. 1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

CONCLUSION: THERE IS ONE GATE. Make your choice.

Matt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Josh 24:15a … And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;

HEAR: Rom 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

BELIEVE: Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said,
See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

REPENT: Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

CONFESS CHRIST AS THE LIVING SON OF GOD: Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

BE BAPTIZED: Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.

REMAIN FAITHFUL: Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.])

IF YOU FALL AWAY: James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

AND

1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that
we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.