False Teachers Who Kidnapped Converts

Colossians 2:8–15
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This section of Paul’s letter is built around three warnings:

1. Don’t let anyone deceive you. (vv. 6-8)
2. Don’t let anything take Christ’s place. (vv. 9-13)
3. Don’t let anyone cause you to deny Him. (vv. 14-15)

The false teachers in Colosse did not go out and win the lost. They “kidnapped” converts from churches just like the cults do today. The reason is that they are ignorant of the truths of God’s Word. The false teachers in Colosse did not ask the believers to forsake Christ. They asked them to make Christ a part of a new system. This new system was made up of mysticism, astrology, philosophy and Jewish legalism. It is the matter of legalism that Paul deals with in this section.

The false teachers did not go out and win the lost any more than the cults do today. They “kidnaped” converts from churches of one denomination or another. These false teachers told the believers that if they were circumcised, watched their diets and observed the holy days they would become more spiritual. Unfortunately, we have people in our churches today with similar ideas. They depend on some religious ritual, such as baptism or the Lord’s supper to save them. Paul makes it clear that the Christian is not subject in any way to a legal system. Neither can it do him any good spiritually. Jesus Christ is sufficient for our every spiritual need.

Application

I must never depend on a form of godliness or even a head full of Bible knowledge but on a close relationship with the God of the universe through His Son Jesus Christ.