04 06 09 A Part of the Crowd?

“See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
(Colossians 2:8 NIV)

Paul addressed the Colossians on the person and saving work of Jesus Christ in Chapter one. As he moves forward, he begins to move from doctrine to practical issues; namely the false teaching being spread among the believers there. His exhorting however is still based upon the basic teachings of the Gospel: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! His question to the Colossians was this: Why should anyone even want to listen to the false arguments of these heretical teachers and their claims of special knowledge and insight when they have the One in whom are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? Why would one settle for a fake when they have the genuine article? Paul encourages the believers to hold fast to the things he taught them, which he learned from Christ Himself (Galatians 1:9-12).

Just as we have received Christ through the revelation of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit, we must hold fast to the basic doctrines we know to be true. The same truths Paul taught from the mouth of Christ are the same truths we who know the Savior were taught. Just as Paul would encourage believers to grow in faith and to be firmly rooted in basic doctrine (Colossians 2:7) we today need to stay focused on basic truths and beware of the deceptive teachings of human tradition and principles of this world!

Have you not noticed the traditional ways of society are changing? Surely we all can witness the fact that principles once held as fundamental and even sacred are now so easily discarded for more practical ways and practices. Tolerance, political correctness, individual rights, and freedom of expression are all different ways to express one thing in today’s society: the world is being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy! We must not be found A PART OF THE CROWD!!!

We must be committed to the Gospel and be watchful to never fall back on our former ways. The things we used to trust in; the people we put our hope in are now gone and our trust is in God alone! (Galatians 4:8-9) In these last days, we have to be on the lookout for the enemy at every turn. We are called as a body to be a holy people (1 Peter 2:9). We must be unique in our stand for Christ amidst every challenge we face. Jesus was never just A PART OF THE CROWD and He calls us to stand out for Him today and every day!