Keeping the Truth - Colossians 2:8-23

The word faith is easy to define; but it is very difficult to know that you know whether your faith is weak or strong. The bible defines it as the substance of things hoped for when the evidence is not in view. When more evidence is present it is stronger. It is like the wind; we know its substance is present because the leaves are moving but we can not see it; we simply know it is there and the more the limbs and leaves bend to its pressure the stronger the wind. We must, through our faith, know that God is; and know that the Bible is His Word to us—and that it is His only worded message to mankind. I am troubled daily because of some who think they can accept only the part of God’s Word that appeals to them, and that they have found other teachings that will better prepare them to meet God.

There is only one God! There is only one Word, [true message] The Holy Bible! There is only one way to heaven and that way is found only by KEEPING THE TRUTH. “Narrow minded,” you say; but Christ said, “I am the WAY the truth and life and no one can come to the Father except THROUGH ME.” Once we have found the way to Christ…by His Grace, through our faith in Him and His teachings, it is very difficult for me to understand why anyone will try to find an alternate man made plan in which they can be more comfortable. Many young minds are being contaminated in our colleges and universities by professors that are swayed by the New Life movement that places great emphasis on man’s ability to control his own life that has no need for a Higher Power. These atheistic thinkers feel so insecure that they strive daily to gain strength through the numbers they can persuade to join them in their unbelief. We find the greatest culprits in the fields of biology, psychology, sociology and especially philosophy. [If you are in college or the university, be aware.]

Most children who grow up in a Christian home know the truth, even when they have not accepted Christ personally. Their falling away from truth often begins with what, to them, seems to be a new idea or a better way even though they can see clearly that it is a man-made philosophy and in truth it has no basis that can be found in the Holly Word. And, of course, we know that the bible is not even allowed to be mentioned as a source of truth in our public educational institutions. Keeping the Truth about Jesus Christ and salvation is increasingly more difficult in our society today, but it has always been a problem, just as it was when Paul wrote this letter. The sheer numbers of false teachers have grown since his day and the problems have multiplied immensely. Students, every one, please be aware! Don’t be misled.

In verse 8, Paul wrote: “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.” False teachers were present and at work in the church at Colossi and Paul is referring here to their erroneous teachings. If you are taken ‘captive’ it simply means that you are being carried away from the truth…you are being kidnapped away from your family of believers. The key to identifying whether spiritual teachings are valid or not is found only in the Holy Bible—they must be based on the teachings of Christ. Paul confirms this is verses 9 and 10 when he says “For in Him the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” If the author of the word you believe is not one of the inspired writers of Holly Writ…he/she is a false witness.

False teachings, other religions, cults, and antireligious movements are based on the elemental forces of this world; usually some erroneous religious leader that wants to become the head or ruler over a group of followers. Any teaching that rejects the truths based on God’s revelation through Christ can only have a human [not spiritual] origin. The human mind can devise or establish a logical, appealing philosophy; but it can not devise or establish truth because God is the only truth, and he already exists. Man’s mind can only ‘know’ the truth, and it will make him free. The truth is found in God’s word, and not in a philosophy.

One of the false teachings of that day was that circumcision [removing bodily flesh] was a requirement for salvation. The Jewish law required circumcision on the eighth day after birth as a sign of the covenant between God and His people. False prophets were teaching that it was still a necessary part of the salvation plan. Paul makes it clear both here and in Galatians 5: 1-6, [read it] that man’s law was superseded by God’s grace.

In verse 11, Paul uses the surgical process to explain that Christ uses the same procedure, only it is not done by using the doctor’s scalpel, but it is done personally by Christ when he supernaturally removes the sinful body of flesh and replaces it with a spiritual mind set of a belief in God.

Today there are differences of opinion regarding the need and mode regarding baptism; and evidently there must have been questions concerning the ritual at the church in Colossi. In verse twelve Paul changes the though process to baptism and we can see that under the new covenant, baptism by immersion was the symbol of cleansing and proof of a new relationship with Christ. Paul explains to his readers that baptism is a picture of being dead to sin and spiritually risen to live a new life in Christ. The unbeliever is dead spiritually and must arise from this death in order to live in Christ. Baptism is a beautiful picture of this resurrection. It is not mandatory for salvation but it is absolutely necessary in order to follow the instructions give by Christ.

Paul told us in verses 13 and 14 that when we were dead in our sin [we were spiritually [uncircumcised] but now that we believe we are forgiven of all of our trespasses. Christ erased the certificate of death that was against us and He nailed it to the cross. [It died on the cross with Him.]

In 16 and 17 Paul is referring to the practices of that day that were being promoted which required rituals said to be still necessary under grace. Certain foods and drink were condemned, others said to be necessary and rituals were held where reverence was given to the stars and the moon. He was referring to observances such as the ones called for in Lev. 23:5 and Num. 10: 10. He did not condemn them, but he said that they were only shadows of what was to come…which was the Messiah. And now that Jesus [the Messiah] has already come, reverence is now due to Him only. Angels are real, great and necessary but not the object of worship for any Christian. We are not to be disqualified or misled by the earthly [fleshly mind] of anyone that promotes the worship of any thing, any object or person, other than Jesus Christ [v. 18].

In verse 20, Paul asked the church at Colossi the question that I wish to use to end this lesson because it applies to every member of the Church of the Living God. “If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why?