Scripture

I am telling you this, so that no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.

Observation

Paul has agonised for the believers at Colossae And nearby Laodicea, as well as many others whom he has never met. He wants them all to be encouraged and knitted together in love. He wants them to understand God’s plan of salvation through Christ.

Paul does not want them to be deceived by well-crafted arguments. Even though Paul is far away from them, his heart is with them.

Application

Paul is determined that the Colossians understand their hope of salvation in Christ and that nobody should come and snatch them away with arguments, lies, and deception.

At the time that Paul was writing, there were many alternatives to Christianity and the new churches being planted were seen as potential sources for new converts to these deceptive religions.

The two biggest threats to the church at that time were from Jewish believers who wanted to bring back the Law and from gnosticism,

In gnosticism, salvation comes from knowledge of secrets or mysteries. They would mix together all kinds of religions and set up a ladder of knowledge that would lead to salvation. This is one reason why Paul uses the word mystery so much. He is trying to oppose the gnostics by saying that Christ is the mystery and we can only be saved in Him.

We face different arguments in our day, whether from atheists who refuse the whole idea of faith, or modern gnostics who want to add things like Hebrew feasts and calendars or secret prophecies to the work of Christ.

We must still make sure that we avoid these deceptive well-crafted arguments and stay close to Christ.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to stay in your truth through your Word and Spirit. Amen.