Colossians 2:4-15 Encouragement When We're Under Attack

Paul offered encouragement for the Christians at Colosse under attack from their enemies:

Keep Making Spiritual Progress:  "In the Christian life, we never stand still:  we either go forward or gradually slip backward ... The Christian who is not making spiritual progress is an open target for the enemy to attack and destroy ... It is the Word of God that builds and strengthens the Christian ... Today, Christians who study the Word become established in the faith.  Satan has a difficult time deceiving the Bible-taught believer.

Watch Out For Spiritual Perils:  "Beware lest any man carry you off as a captive ... The false teachers didn't go out and win the lost, any more than cultists do today.  They kidnapped converts from churches... The Christian who dabbles in mysticism and the occult is only asking for trouble ... The false teachers in Colosse did not ask the believers to forsake Christ.  They asked them to make Christ a part of the new system.  But this would only remove Him from His rightful place of preeminence."

Draw On Your Spiritual Provisions:  "The false teaching that threatened the Colossian church was made up of several elements:  Eastern mysticism, astrology, philosophy, and Jewish legalism.  It is the latter element that Paul dealt with in this section of his letter.  Apparently, the false teachers insisted that their converts submit to circumcision and obey the Old Testament law ... Paul made it clear that the Christian is not subject in any way to the Old Testament legal system, nor can it do him any good spiritually.  Jesus Christ alone is sufficient for our every spiritual need, for all of God's fullness is in Him...  When Jesus Christ died and rose again, He won a complete and final victory over sin.  He not only died for our sins, but He died unto sin.  What the law could not do, Jesus Christ accomplished for us ... We identified with the Head, Jesus Christ.  Whatever happened to Christ also happened to us.  When He died, we died with Him.  When He was buried, we were buried.  When He rose again, we arose with Him -- and we left the grave clothes of the old life behind."

Thank You, Father, for empowering us through Your Son to be able to see these attacks coming and to be able to draw on Your power to sustain us through them.

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Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford