Opening Colossians chapter 2, apostle Paul encouraged believers to remain “knit together in love” and prayed that they would collectively obtain “all the riches of full assurance of understanding” found in our Lord Jesus Christ. This sets the stage for our passage today:
“I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments,” Colossians 2:4 ESV
A good student of the Bible will quickly see how much of the New Testament was devoted to instructing the churches to be wary of bad doctrine and false teachers. In nearly every book we find warnings, and sometimes stern admonitions, to be careful of these things because they can quickly lead us astray from what is most important in our walk: a faith in and love for Christ.
In 1 John 4:1 we read, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” This is not only excellent advice but is a command from apostle John. Just because someone claims to be a Christian or even preaches in ‘the name of Jesus’ doesn’t mean what they say is true. There are so many wolves among the sheep that it is imperative that every believer test what they hear against the whole of Scripture and listen to the Holy Spirit’s tug at our hearts.
Throughout chapter 2, Paul appears to be addressing false teaching present in the church. Just a few verses down (Col. 2:8) Paul says, “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.”
It appears that both Gnosticism (generally defined as a personal spiritual knowledge [gnosis] greater than the apostles’ teachings) and some form of adherence to the Jewish laws was circulating in the Colossian church. Both rob Christ of His deserved glory and steer believers down a dangerous path of works-based righteousness.
Paul warned the church to not let anyone delude you with plausible arguments. Likewise, to the Corinthians he wrote, “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power,” (1 Cor 1:17).
While he was a gifted writer and apologist, Paul knew that you cannot preach the true gospel through worldly wisdom, arguments, or philosophies. The power of the gospel is solely found in the completed sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. Of this Paul says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,” (1 Cor 1:18).
The lesson here is to be careful and discerning when we listen to teachers. None are perfect by any means, but if you encounter a pastor or teacher who is using a lot of human wisdom or philosophical reasoning in their sermons, be careful. This is especially present in churches where God’s word is presented in worldly, man-centered ways to illicit an emotional response; it may sound good but has no power to save. Paul warned that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths,” (2 Tim 4:3).
The gospel is not complicated. Christ’s message is unassuming and simple; His instructions were to “repent and believe,” (Mark 1:15). While we can (and should) spend our entire lives digging into the deep and wonderful mysteries and truths found in Scripture, we must not let the pursuit of knowledge take us off the foundation of faith in Christ. Faith, given to us by grace, is what saves us, and no amount of philosophical knowledge or persuasive wisdom can ever substitute for a humble, childlike faith in Christ as our one and only means to salvation and eternal life.