Beware of Empty Delusions

May 9, 2010

Lesson: Colossians 2:1–10

Key Verse: Colossians 2:8

Introduction

Paul warns the church at Colossae of those false teachers who are nothing more than false shepherds who like to lead the sheep of the Good Shepherd astray, writing, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8). There are always those—within the church and without—whose desire is to spoil, to lead away as booty, those within the body of Christ; to lead them to follow the teachings of the world. John Calvin paints us a picture of Paul’s warning: “Beware, says he, lest any one plunder you. He makes use of a very appropriate term, for he alludes to plunderers, who, when they cannot carry off the flock by violence, drive away some of the cattle fraudulently. Thus he makes Christ’s Church a sheep-fold, and the pure doctrine of the gospel the enclosures of the fold. He intimates, accordingly, that we who are the sheep of Christ repose in safety when we hold the unity of the faith, while, on the other hand, he likens the false apostles to plunderers that carry us away from the folds.” Let us through faith, therefore, keep our eyes upon Christ and his Word.

Be Established in the Faith—Colossians 2:1–7

Paul’s heart reaches out to the saints at Colossae, and to those at Laodicea, and for all those who have yet to meet him face to face: “For I would that ye know what great conflict I have for you.” This is a picture of a pastor’s heart. There is a constant conflict or anxiety, a fight within him as he desires the best for the sheep of the Great Shepherd. His desire is for the sheep to remain in the care of Christ and at the same time to be strong before the enemy who would turn them away from their Savior; “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” The ‘mystery’—the glorious revelation from the Triune God; “To a full assurance, or a well-settled judgment, upon their proper evidence, of the great truths of the gospel, without doubting, or calling them in question, but embracing them with the highest satisfaction, as faithful sayings and worthy of all acceptation” (Matthew Henry).

One of the strengths of the Church is our fellowship one with another in Christ. Paul’s desire for the saints is for the comfort that is found in “being knit together in love.” This love for one another is an expression of Christ’s love for us. It is a love which is filled with joy, desiring the best for one another. We are to be like Christ. Paul encourages the saints: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels (inward affection) and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Phil. 2:1–2). To be likeminded means that our faith is in Christ and his Word alone for our salvation and spiritual growth.

There are congregations which love to have their souls tickled with homespun stories, illustrations that don’t challenge the heart and words that keep the body sitting comfortable in the pew. This kind of preaching and hearing does harm to the soul redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. There is no real growth in faith, unless it is firmly established and nourished in the Word of God. Paul reminds the saints that they must be aware of those who would deceive the children of God with persuasive or enticing words. It is a horror for a pastor, who has counseled a member, but then finds him or her being led astray by appealing lies. However, Paul’s heart is rejoicing; seeing the steadfastness of their faith in Christ.

Therefore, let us continue in the Word of God, attending to these words of Paul: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Paul “would not have them simply remain immovable, but would have them grow every day more and more. When he adds, with thanksgiving, he would have them always keep in mind from what sources faith itself proceeds, that they may not be puffed up with presumption, but may rather with fear repose themselves in the gift of God” (John Calvin).

Discussion: What does it mean to be established firmly in our faith in Christ?

God is our Teacher—Colossians 2:8–10

There will be those whose heart’s desire is to cheat us, to lead us astray by deceitful traditions. Are we to live according to the principles of this world? Is it true that character doesn’t count, that history can be rewritten to express the beliefs of the liars? The question we should ask ourselves is this: “Who shall be our teacher?” Scripture claims that the truth shall make us free. Truth is best known to us by way of revelation. It is God alone who knows what is true, and what is not true. Christ himself is known as the Truth. Therefore our first step to knowing the truth of our redemption in Christ, and how we should walk in righteousness, is to be taught by the Spirit through his Word.

We must take the warning of Paul seriously, to “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit.” Justin the Martyr confronted the philosophers of his day, of those who accused the Christians of being “atheists,” bringing in a new deity while they serve their gods who commit all kinds of crimes and evil. He answers, “Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that we are atheists, so far as gods of this sort are concerned, but not with respect to the most true God, the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is free from all impurity. But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels who follow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit, we worship and adore, knowing them in reason and truth, and declaring without grudging to every one who wishes to learn, as we have been taught.”

We are the atheists of this world, for we do not bow down to their gods. We come to Christ alone. And this is our testimony: that in him alone we know the “fullness of the Godhead.” The truth of the Triune God is the core of our proclamation of the Gospel, the revelation of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In God alone we are made “complete.” Christ alone is the “head of all principality and power.” The second Person in the Godhead is the King of kings who has absolute authority over all things, both in heaven and on earth, whether they are the office of the magistrate, or the traditions of man. He is far above all dominions, the Father having put “all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things in the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:21–23).

Discussion: How are we taught the truth that is of God alone?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.