DO NOT BE DECIEVED!!!!
COLOSSIANS 2:1-5
1I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
2: 1 Laodicea was located a few miles northwest of Colossae. Like the church in Colossae, the Laodicean church was probably founded by one of Paul’s converts while Paul was staying in Ephesus (Acts 19: 10). The city was a wealthy center of trade and commerce, but later Christ would criticize the believers at Laodicea for their lukewarm commitment (Revelation 3: 14-22). The fact that Paul wanted this letter to be passed on to the Laodicean church (Colossians 4: 16) indicates that false teaching may have spread there as well. Paul was counting on ties of love to bring the churches together to stand against this heresy and to encourage each other to remain true to God’s plan of salvation in Christ. Our churches must be encouraging, unified communities, committed to carrying out Christ’s work.
2: 3-4 What deceitful arguments do we face today? Many people around us confidently assert that they have the answers to life within themselves. They contend that their insights, experiences, discoveries on the Internet, and gut reactions will tell them everything they need to know. They cast aside the lessons of Scripture and even of history. Whatever they pick and choose is what carries the most weight to them. They seek out other people who agree with them. They think God and the church are irrelevant, making this the last place they would look to determine the course of their lives. This dangerous mind-set isn’t new. It began when Adam and Eve chose to go their own way rather than God’s. But God has the wisdom we need; we don’t need to look elsewhere.
2: 4-23 The problem that Paul was combating in the Colossian church was similar to the heresy known as Gnosticism (from the Greek word for knowledge). This heresy (teaching contrary to biblical doctrine) undermined Christianity in several basic ways: (1) It insisted that important, secret knowledge was hidden from most believers. Paul said that Christ provides all the knowledge we need. (2) It taught that spiritual reality was good but physical reality was evil, including our physical bodies. Paul countered that God himself walked on earth in a body— that is, he became embodied in Jesus Christ. (3) It contended that Christ only seemed to be human but was not. Paul insisted that Jesus is fully human and fully God. Gnosticism became fashionable in the second century AD. Even in Paul’s day, these ideas sounded attractive to many, and exposure to such teachings could easily seduce a church that didn’t know Christian doctrine well. Similar teachings still pose significant problems for many in the church today. We combat heresy by becoming thoroughly acquainted with God’s Word through personal study and sound Bible teaching.
2: 4 To overcome the arguments of false teachers, center on Christ and ground yourself in his Word. Learn daily about the Savior. Study the Bible. Develop your theological knowledge. Stay humble and curious about the amazing complexity of the world God has made. Ask trusted leaders lots of questions about the assumptions behind ideas new to you. Press toward wisdom. Pray for understanding. God has given us minds for learning— never quit using yours.Tyndale. NIV Life Application Study Bible
ON THE WAY HOME WALK WITH JESUS and make sure you stay studied up in the Bible so no one can decieve you and give you false teachings or false doctrine about the GOspel of JESUS CHRIST!!
onthewayhomeministries.org by RICHARD DEAN BROOKS