Be watchful in a Deceptive World: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Paul begins this letter of Colossians giving thanks to God for the faith that these believers had for Jesus Christ and their love for the brethren. Their faith and love had its root in the hope of the gospel, the word of Truth. The word of truth that bears fruit and is always increasing. Fruit that will last and will never pass away.
As a new believer, we start out with so much joy and excitement. This is as it should be. But, then life creeps in and this joy and excitement tends to waver, doubt comes in and takes the place of joy and begins to crowd out our hope. Remember Eve and the garden? Satan plants a seed of doubt and if we are not looking to Christ our hope of glory that seed of doubt begins to grow and if we do not cut it off through the truth of the word it soon becomes a fortress of weeds and obscures the beauty and the security of the truth that is ours.
Paul points out in this letter the things we are to be watchful for. Things that will kill our joy, cause us to doubt, veil our hope, and pull us away from the Truth of the Gospel. The key word in this text is “TRUTH.”
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel. Colossians 1:5-6
The gospel constantly bears fruit and increases. {Colossians 1:6} This is the Truth in which we are to stand. When there is truth there is always a counter truth. The world will always have a “false truth.” The world sprinkles a little truth into their philosophies to make it appear as the real thing. How can true and false stand side by side? They cannot. That which is false will not stand. It will fall in the last days. It may look like it is going to stand but take heed it most assuredly will fall. Be aware our fight is against satan that appears as an angel of light.
What are the warnings that Paul has laid out in this letter? I am going to pull out a few that jumped out at me as I have read and re-read this book over the past week. {I am sure there is more, feel free to comment on any that I may have missed.}
‘See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy. “Colossians 2:8-
Philosophy is literally a love of wisdom. Human understanding or wisdom and by implication a contrast with divinely revealed knowledge. In the context of this verse, Paul is urging the believer do not let anyone take you captive by their philosophy. Paul describes the world’s philosophy as empty and deceptive. The wisdom rooted in the traditions of man is vain, useless and fruitless. It deceives, gives a false impression, and leads astray from the real truth.
Our conscience is to be held captive to the word of Christ. His word is truth. He will not lead you astray. We are called to walk in Him, to set our minds on things above, not on the things of this earth.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
In chapter 2 Paul lays out the work of Christ that has been accomplished for those who have repented and believed.
- In Him, we have been made complete
- In Him, we were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ
- In Him, we have been buried in baptism and raised up with Him through faith
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immortality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience. Colossians 3:5-6
When we were dead in our trespasses and sins He made us alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions. Therefore put to death, slay, and kill the sin that is still present within you. Sin will take away your joy and pull you away from the One Who died for your sins. We know that while we are still in these earthly bodies there will be a constant battle with our sin. {Read what Paul writes in Romans 7.} Our call is to put to death the sin that so easily entangles us through the power that lives in us which is Christ Jesus our glory.
The empty philosophies of the world will try to rob us of godly marriages, and godly families. We can see these so prevalent in our day. Marriage is no longer held as sacred. Women are fighting against being under subjection to their husbands. The women’s lib movement has robbed women of our high calling. All of these things are lies from the pit of hell. They are empty and most of all deceptive! Turn to Jesus and the truth of the His word. This is the message that God is writing trough the apostle Paul.
This message from Paul is so timely. We live in a time that false teaching is rampant. Everything that is wrong is called right. But, praise God He has not left us without His word and the Holy Spirit. It is so vitally important for the believer to be in the word of God renewing their minds and learning what the will of God is.
MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES
Why is it That Important to Memorize Scripture
Why I recommend the New Inductive Study Bible
I want to Know You… Studying the Attributes of God
Six Important Questions to Ask When You Study the Bible
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Amen Lisa, false teaching is running rampant. I pray every day more folks will turn to the word of God for comfort and truth. Blessings to you for another week of study with the word. As I struggle with the challenges I face at my job with being “politically” correct. I was comforted with Psalm 27:
(A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Thank you, Brenda! You are so right about false teachers. Praising God that you know where to go for comfort and teaching, “The Word of God.” Love the Psalm you picked to think on and lean on. God Bless, I am enjoying reading Truth with you!
I’m sorry I don’t have fb but I would love to keep reading along with you…
Hi, kdenmark!!! You do not have to have facebook to participate! There are a few that are reading with us that do not have it:) I will send you the reading plan from the gmail that is attached to this message! I am excited that you are ging to join in reading Truth with us! God Bless! Let me know if you do not receive the workbook!
I have received the workbook. Thank you so much for the welcome. My name is krista… ☺
We are so easily distracted by everything that is going on around us. I am learning to focus on the important issues and to keep my main focus on Christ. It isn’t always easy, I find myself being pulled in the wrong direction. Then God sends me posts like this and other encouraging words and gets me back on the right path. Enjoyed it!
Mindy, I can so relate. The world has such a pull on us. But praise be to God He pulls us back! I am grateful you enjoyed the post! Thank you for your encouraging words today! God Bless:)
I love Colossians! So much great truth in there!
Me too!!! Colossians is packed with such great truth. Thank you for stopping by today:)
Visiting from Thought Provoking Thursday and I enjoyed reading your thoughts here. It is so easy to be taken in by the world’s philosophies- it’s an important reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus and all he has done for us.
Carly, I am glad you stopped by today! It is very easy to get taken in by the world’s philosophies. That is why it is so vitally important that we are continually reading and studying the word of God with an attitude of prayer! Thank you for your encouraging words:) Have a wonderful weekend!
Lisa ..I love the truths in Colossians! There are so many charlatans and wolves in sheep’s clothing in our world today; We need to stay grounded in God’s word and keep our focus on Him. There are those will try to use God’s word for their benefits not for the benefit of TRUE saints. It breaks my heart when people succumb to false teachers. We are Christ’s soldiers in this spiritual warfare. I want to keep my eyes on Jesus and the truths in His word as I seek to glorify Him! May God continue to bless you and yours as you share what you are learning from God’s word.
Horace, what would we do without the truths that God has so graciously left for us? You are so right when you say we need to be grounded in God’s word. If we are not we can be carried away by every wind of doctrine. Thank you for your encouragement! May God continue to bless you as well as you seek to glorify Him! God Bless. Have a grear weekend!
I love the Epistles! I had a class on them in college and of all the classes I took, it was my favorite. There is so much in these letters that we can learn from if we just let ourselves be open to the truth. Lisa, thank you for sharing Biblical truths. There are many bloggers out there who are so far away from the truth that it is scary! Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays.
hi, Lori! I love the Epistles too. There is so much truth packed into them. You are correct, there is so much to learn if we would just read them and apply them. It is scary how much false teaching is on the web. Thank you for your encouragement it helps more than you know! It is always a pleasure to link up with Thankful Thursday. God Bless:)