“I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 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.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:4-8 ESV)
This first sentence here is in reference back to Paul’s previous statement with regard to his concern for the Christians in Colossae and in Laodicea that their hearts might be encouraged (exhorted, comforted), being knit together in (agape) love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (see verses 1-3).
So, he said all that in order that the believers in Colossae, and those in Laodicea, might not be deluded (fooled, deceived) by plausible arguments being introduced into their minds and hearts by others. And in context it appears that he was speaking specifically on the subject of the Judaizers who were trying to convince the Christians that they had to obey some of the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, and dietary laws and restrictions, including the requirement for circumcision.
Now we do still have Judaizers among us who are trying to convince Christians that they should be more like Jews and that it will enhance their Christian faith if they participate in some of those Old Covenant liturgical and ceremonial and dietary laws and restrictions. But this is minimal compared to the bigger issue of charlatans and wolves in sheep’s clothing who are giving “plausible arguments” to convince believers in Christ that obedience to our Lord and the forsaking of our sins are not required for our salvation.
And this fits perfectly with what Paul stated next, for he continued by saying to them, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught.” Now what they were taught was not the same as what is primarily being taught in America today as the gospel. For they were taught to deny self, to die daily with Christ to sin, and to walk in obedience to his commands under the New Covenant. For if they did not, they did not have eternal life with God.
But what is popularly being taught and widely accepted in America is a cheapened form of the gospel that Jesus and his NT apostles taught. For what is largely being taught is that we can believe (rarely biblically defined) in Jesus, have all our sins forgiven, be on our way to heaven, that nothing can take that away from us, but regardless of how we live. Just not biblical! For Jesus said that not everyone who calls him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father (Matthew 7:21-23).
So, don’t believe those who tell you that once you have made that profession of faith in Jesus Christ that now heaven is guaranteed you upon death regardless of how you live. All throughout the New Testament Jesus and his NT apostles taught us that we must now walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, and we must walk in holiness and in obedience to our Lord or we do not have eternal life with God. So we need to read those Scriptures and believe them, because they are truth!
[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
Draw Me Close To You
Donnie McClurkin
Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend
You are my desire
And no one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find a way
Bring me back to You
Bring me back, oh Jesus
You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAnwBixzuNo
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