Colossians 2:8-10 - Discerning the Counterfeit

Today, Friday June 4 Discerning the Counterfeit Colossians 2:8-10 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” A major question for us today especially when it comes to Bible doctrine is how do we determine or discern what is false and what is true. This is important because what we believe about the truth or the lie will determine how we decide what is right and what is wrong for our lives. I believe the guidelines that the Apostle Paul gives the church at Colossae are still good for us today. We first must make sure that our faith is in Jesus Christ and that it a genuine one and that there is evidence in our lives we have been changed and transformed by it. Second, we need to be walking in the truth. This means that we are reading and studying the Bible, the source of all truth, for ourselves. We must expose our minds and thoughts to the truth regularly. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. (John 8:32) And this also includes and means that you will be free from the captivity of the lies of the false philosophies of the world. I heard years ago that the way the bank would teach a new employee teller how to discern if a bill was counterfeit one was they would hand them hundreds of dollars of genuine good bills of all denominations and ask them to simply go through them. And then after a while they would insert a counterfeit bill. The teller, after handling the good bills would immediate feel and discern the false one. The bank didn’t send the teller to school to take a class to study counterfeit bills. No, they knew that when they became so acquainted with the genuine bills they automatically and instinctively recognized the counterfeit bill. I’m pretty convinced that the more we are acquainted with the truth of God’s Word and His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit immediately will tell us if we are being taught something that is false. That is why we must be growing in Christ, walking in Christ, and seeking Him in every aspect of our lives. You will also notice that every false religion basically denies the deity of Jesus Christ. They might say He is a good man and good teacher but they will deny that He is very God in human flesh. The Apostle John warned the early church to stay away from these teachers.  “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ ascoming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.  Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”  (2 John 1:7-11) We should be warned and stay away from them too! God bless!