Day 13 - ..that no one may delude you with plausible arguments (Col 2:4-7)

⁴ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. ⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:4-7

Paul’s chief concern as he is writing this letter is the news that the Colossian church is being threatened by false teachers. People who come with a little bit of Jesus and a lot of enticing words, persuasion, deception, smooth arguments that are meant to deceive and lead the believers astray. To shift the power from Jesus to themselves.

The blatant opposers of Jesus are easy to dismiss. It is the subtle, sneaky, half-truth deceivers that we must be on guard against. Even the devil used Scripture to tempt Jesus. It is his favorite tactic to plant doubt, dangle something the seems more appealing to the senses or our ego. If our eyes are on something else or on ourselves, they can’t also be on Jesus.

If we do not know the truth, we open ourselves up to deception. We leave cracks where deceivers can undermine what we believe. We need to have a firm grip on the truth.

Paul offers the Colossians – and us – truth about how to remain in good order and firm in our faith… 

WALK IN HIM – a step by step, ongoing process of walking – doing life – with Jesus at the core.

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

ROOTED IN HIM – not just a surface faith but one with deep roots in Christ. The roots not only provide strength, but also a source of nourishment and ongoing sustenance. Roots in Jesus sustain us.

³ He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Psalm 1:3-4

Jesus tells a parable about where seeds fall and the result of those not planted in good soil and able to take root.

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

BUILT UP IN HIM – as in a building, a strong foundation is required. The building process starts there. Slowly and steadily pieces are added, changes are taking place…all built on the firm foundation of Jesus and able to withstand disasters that may come.

ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH – a strengthening, securing, deepening in the faith. It is a constant development process. Paul goes on to say, “just as you were taught.” Good teaching, studying, digging into the Word helps establish and strengthen our faith. We need to know sound doctrine and grow in our understanding.

ABOUNDING IN THANKSGIVING – many times Paul mentions having an attitude of gratitude and remaining thankful. Paul Gibbons says, “Feeling entitled is the opposite of feeling grateful. Gratitude opens the heart, entitlement closes it.”   We have been given a gift of grace, redemption, and salvation. Gratitude should overflow and we should do something as a result of that gift. We should abound in thanksgiving…being abundantly grateful. The overflow of our gratitude enables us to pour into others. Entitlement and grumbling creates ripe ground for false teachers to sneak in.

The recipe to avoid deception: Daily walking in Jesus, deeply rooted in God’s Word, building on the foundations of our faith, growing in understanding, always giving thanks.