Guarding Faith: Christ-Centered Truth Against Deception

 

Summary

In Paul's epistle to the Colossians, we are warned against being led astray by philosophy and vain deceit, which are rooted in human traditions rather than in Christ. This warning is crucial as it addresses a significant cause of spiritual depression: the subtle infiltration of false teachings that can disturb our faith and rob us of our Christian joy. The Colossian church faced such a challenge with the rise of Gnosticism, a syncretic belief system that combined elements of Jewish legalism, ascetic practices, and speculative philosophy. This heresy, which appeared intellectually appealing, threatened to undermine the simplicity and purity of the gospel.

The devil's strategy is to counterfeit the gospel as closely as possible, making it appear genuine while subtly leading believers away from the truth. This is particularly dangerous for those who are intellectually inclined, as they may be drawn to complex philosophical ideas that promise deeper understanding but ultimately lead away from Christ. The early church faced similar challenges, battling against Greek philosophy and mystery religions that sought to dilute the gospel.

To safeguard against such deceptions, we must apply rigorous tests to any teaching that presents itself. We should examine whether it is based on the New Testament and whether it holds Christ as the central figure. True Christian teaching is intimately connected to Christ, and any doctrine that can exist without Him is suspect. Additionally, we must be wary of teachings that offer shortcuts to spiritual maturity or promise blessings through specific methods or systems.

The antidote to these dangers is not less knowledge but more—specifically, a deeper understanding of Christ. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. By immersing ourselves in the study of Scripture and maintaining a Christ-centered focus, we can resist the allure of false teachings. We must also guard our hearts against pride and the lusts of the mind, which can lead us into speculative thinking and away from the simplicity of faith.

Key Takeaways:

- Christ-Centered Faith: Our faith must be rooted in Christ, who is the head and center of all true Christian teaching. Any doctrine that does not magnify Christ or makes Him secondary is a deviation from the gospel. We must ensure that our beliefs and practices exalt Him above all else. [26:03]

- Beware of Intellectual Pride: The pursuit of knowledge can lead to pride and a sense of superiority. True Christian knowledge builds up rather than puffs up. We must remain humble, recognizing our dependence on Christ and avoiding the temptation to elevate ourselves above others. [20:10]

- Guard Against Speculation: The lust for understanding can lead us into dangerous speculative thinking. We must be content with the revelation given in Scripture and resist the urge to seek answers beyond what God has revealed. Faith involves trusting in God's wisdom and timing. [41:23]

- Balanced Spiritual Diet: Just as a balanced diet is essential for physical health, a balanced spiritual diet is crucial for our spiritual well-being. We should balance our reading and study with both theological works and the lives of saints to maintain humility and perspective. [46:16]

- Joy in Simplicity: The Christian life is not about shortcuts or quick fixes but about a gradual process of growth in grace. We must embrace the journey, finding joy in the simplicity of faith and the assurance that we are complete in Christ. [28:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Colossians 2:8
- [00:32] - Spiritual Depression and False Teachings
- [01:24] - Paul's Concern for the Colossians
- [02:39] - The Colossian Heresy Explained
- [04:00] - Characteristics of Gnosticism
- [06:12] - Speculation and Angel Worship
- [08:29] - The Devil's Counterfeit Gospel
- [10:30] - Intellectual Temptations
- [12:22] - Paul's Battle with False Teachings
- [15:22] - Greek Philosophy vs. Christianity
- [18:39] - Modern Parallels to Ancient Heresies
- [23:16] - Testing Teachings Against Scripture
- [26:03] - Christ as the Center of Faith
- [32:04] - The Importance of Knowledge and Understanding
- [35:36] - Practical Safeguards Against Deception

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Colossians 2:8
- Romans 6:17
- 1 Corinthians 8:1

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#### Observation Questions
1. What specific warning does Paul give to the Colossians in Colossians 2:8, and what are the sources of the deceit he mentions? [00:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the characteristics of the Colossian heresy, and what elements did it combine? [04:00]
3. According to the sermon, what is the devil's strategy in counterfeiting the gospel, and how does it relate to intellectual temptation? [08:29]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the result of adopting teachings that are not centered on Christ? [25:18]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the danger of intellectual pride, and why is it important to remain humble in our pursuit of knowledge? [20:10]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that speculative thinking can lead believers away from the simplicity of faith? [41:23]
3. How does the sermon propose that a balanced spiritual diet can help maintain humility and perspective in our faith journey? [46:16]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between joy and the simplicity of faith in the Christian life? [28:50]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there any teachings or philosophies you have encountered that seemed appealing but ultimately distracted you from Christ? How did you respond? [19:08]
2. Intellectual pride can be subtle. How can you ensure that your pursuit of knowledge builds up your faith rather than puffs you up? [20:10]
3. Speculative thinking can be tempting. How can you practice contentment with the revelation given in Scripture and resist the urge to seek answers beyond what God has revealed? [41:23]
4. Consider your current spiritual diet. Are you balancing theological study with practical examples of faith, such as the lives of saints? How might this balance impact your spiritual growth? [46:16]
5. The sermon emphasizes finding joy in the simplicity of faith. What are some practical ways you can embrace this simplicity in your daily life? [28:50]
6. How can you keep Christ as the central figure in your beliefs and practices, ensuring that He is exalted above all else? [26:03]
7. Think of a recent situation where you felt the temptation to speculate about spiritual matters. How can you redirect that energy towards deepening your understanding of Christ? [41:23]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as the Center of Our Faith
Our faith must be deeply rooted in Christ, who is the head and center of all true Christian teaching. Any doctrine that does not magnify Christ or makes Him secondary is a deviation from the gospel. It is crucial to ensure that our beliefs and practices exalt Him above all else. The Colossian church faced the challenge of Gnosticism, which threatened to undermine the simplicity and purity of the gospel by introducing complex philosophical ideas that promised deeper understanding but ultimately led away from Christ. To safeguard against such deceptions, we must apply rigorous tests to any teaching that presents itself, examining whether it is based on the New Testament and whether it holds Christ as the central figure. [26:03]

Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that Christ remains the central focus of your daily life and decisions today?


Day 2: Humility in the Pursuit of Knowledge
The pursuit of knowledge can lead to pride and a sense of superiority, which is a dangerous path for any believer. True Christian knowledge builds up rather than puffs up. We must remain humble, recognizing our dependence on Christ and avoiding the temptation to elevate ourselves above others. Intellectual pride can subtly lead us away from the simplicity of faith, as we become more focused on our understanding than on our relationship with Christ. It is essential to approach learning with a spirit of humility, acknowledging that all wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. [20:10]

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (ESV): "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that 'all of us possess knowledge.' This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know."

Reflection: How can you practice humility in your pursuit of knowledge today, ensuring that it leads to love and edification rather than pride?


Day 3: Contentment with God's Revelation
The lust for understanding can lead us into dangerous speculative thinking, drawing us away from the simplicity of faith. We must be content with the revelation given in Scripture and resist the urge to seek answers beyond what God has revealed. Faith involves trusting in God's wisdom and timing, accepting that some mysteries are beyond our comprehension. The Colossian church was tempted by teachings that promised deeper insights through speculative philosophy, but true wisdom is found in Christ alone. By immersing ourselves in Scripture and maintaining a Christ-centered focus, we can resist the allure of false teachings. [41:23]

Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV): "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to seek answers beyond what God has revealed? How can you practice contentment with His revelation today?


Day 4: A Balanced Spiritual Diet
Just as a balanced diet is essential for physical health, a balanced spiritual diet is crucial for our spiritual well-being. We should balance our reading and study with both theological works and the lives of saints to maintain humility and perspective. This approach helps us grow in grace and avoid the pitfalls of intellectual pride or speculative thinking. By immersing ourselves in the study of Scripture and learning from the examples of faithful believers, we can develop a well-rounded understanding of the Christian faith and remain grounded in Christ. [46:16]

1 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV): "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure that your spiritual diet is balanced, incorporating both theological study and practical examples of faith?


Day 5: Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Faith
The Christian life is not about shortcuts or quick fixes but about a gradual process of growth in grace. We must embrace the journey, finding joy in the simplicity of faith and the assurance that we are complete in Christ. The Colossian church was tempted by teachings that offered shortcuts to spiritual maturity, but true growth comes from a deepening relationship with Christ. By focusing on Him and trusting in His sufficiency, we can experience the fullness of joy that comes from walking with Him daily. [28:50]

2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV): "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

Reflection: How can you embrace the simplicity of faith today, finding joy in your relationship with Christ rather than seeking shortcuts to spiritual growth?

Quotes


The Apostle makes it quite plain that he writes this letter to the church at Colossi for that one reason only that he's very concerned about them. He says in the first verse in this chapter I would that he knew what great conflict I have for you and for them at Leoda and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. [00:87:56]

The Apostle Paul is alarmed about the whole situation and he writes his letter in order to save the church at Colossi from this terrible disaster that would overcome them if they once became subjected to this kind of teaching. Now it is very interesting to observe isn't it how the devil when he counterfeits the Christian faith always does it as nearly and as exactly as is possible and conceivable to the gospel itself. [00:504:08]

The Gospel of Jesus Christ as we've had occasion to emphasize many times is something that takes up the whole men. It applies to the mind, it applies to the heart, and it applies to the will. You remember that great statement of Paul's in the sixth chapter of the epistle to the Romans in the 17th verse he says but God be than that he were the Servants of sin but he have obeyed there's the will from the heart there's the heart the form of sound words delivered to you that's the doctrine that came to the Mind. [00:553:72]

The devil in his cleverness and in his subtlety doesn't approach all people with the same thing. He has his divisions and his classifications of people and there is nothing that he's quite so careful to observe as the difference between people who are intellectual by nature and those who are not very intellectual by Nature. [00:645:72]

The Christian faith in the very first years had to fight for its very life. The church was besieged by these false teachings from every conceivable Direction and all these Epistles were rarely written in order to meet with and to counteract such activities. We can sum it up rarely by putting it like this the first difficulty Christianity had to meet with was the attack that came from Judaism. [00:829:959]

Theology is something that comes out of the Bible it's extracting doctrines from the Bible. That's the theology. What's the other? Well, the other is men putting down on paper their thoughts about God what he's like and what he ought to do and about the Lord Jesus Christ and trying to make the scriptures fit into their Theory. That's philosophy that's human speculation. [00:1612:76]

What you need says Paul is not less knowledge and understanding it's more knowledge and understanding. Listen to him his prayer is 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. [00:1968:36]

In Christ are HID all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge it's all in him you needn't go anywhere else in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily and therefore the thing to do says Paul is to covet this greater knowledge this true knowledge of Christ you needn't go outside Christ he says it's all in Christ every intellectual advancement you need all intellectual stimulation it's all here. [00:2027:399]

The way to test any teaching or any view of Life finally is this does it make you think better of Christ does it Magnify Him does it exalt him you'll find with all these other things my friends that they don't do that you'll be praising that teaching they'll turn you upon yourself you'll be talking about what's happened to you and how much better you are. [00:2179:04]

Beware of the lusts of the mind. I'm not talking about the lusts of the flesh this morning the lusts of the Mind you notice Paul in writing to the Ephesians talks about the lusts of the Flesh and of the mind and in this particular connection it is the lust of the mind that is extremely dangerous. [00:2421:359]

Faith means that I am content with what I'm told in the Bible and that I have ceased to desire to know what I'm not told in the Bible and that ultimately leads to this that I have stopped asking questions which I know are not answered in the Bible. God has chosen to reveal certain things to us he has chosen equally not to reveal certain other things to us. [00:2578:16]

Balance your reading. If I may give a personal word I'd put it like this when I'm trying to read a book on pure theology or on philosophy I always read at the same time the biography of a saint you see what I do I read my philosophy my theology in the morning it's intellectual and it has this fatal tendency to puff up so I read in the afternoon or in the evening the simple account of the life of some saint of God. [00:2719:88]

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Transcript
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