◄ What Does Colossians 2:4 Mean? ►

Jesus told us: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The truth of God is found in His Word and points us to Jesus, Who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; and the truth shall set us free. It was for that reason that Paul and the other apostles who authored the Scriptures, spent little or no time going into the finer details of the many false doctrines that were starting to infiltrate the Church of their day. For the Word of truth contained in the Word of God stands fast for ever and ever.

What Paul was called to do, and what he instructed Timothy, Titus, and others to teach, was to preach the Word in season and out of season. They were instructed to reprove and rebuke the flock of God, and they were to exhort those is their care with all patience, healthy teaching, and sound doctrine.

Paul knew the critical importance of teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And although he gave detailed information on how to identify a false teacher, listing their characteristics and warning against their unbiblical doctrine, he did not attempt to give particular details of the specific doctrinal errors of these false teachings to those in his care. Paul simply taught biblical truth, commanding those that were shepherds to: "Speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine."

The first part of Paul's instructive letter to Colossian believers is to reinforce the glorious gospel of Christ. He detailed the pre-eminence of Christ and listed the ways in which Christ is superior to all created things: "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him."

Paul talked about the reconciling work of Christ on the Cross and started to unveil the mystery that had been hidden from ages and generations. He gave instruction on how we may be made perfect in Christ, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and he described the incarnate Christ as the fount of all wisdom and knowledge.

Paul's desire was that the hearts of the Christians in Colossi might be encouraged by the glorious gospel of Christ and be knit together in love. Having been saved by grace through faith, he wanted them to grow in grace and reach spiritual maturity so that they may finally reach the fullest knowledge of the open secret, which is Jesus Christ Himself. And so Paul spent time opening up the good news of the pure gospel of Christ for a special reason: "So that no one will delude you with persuasive argument."

In a day and age when the Church is being flooded with false teachings and destructive doctrines, let us never forget that we been given the Holy Scriptures which must remain our plumb-line for truth. And we have within us the permanently indwelling Holy Spirit Who will guide us into all truth.

Let us test both the spirits and the teachings that we receive, to see if they are of God or from man; for anything that cannot be confirmed by means of the Bible must be rejected. And let us beware of anyone who teaches a half-truth, a twisted truth, a non-truth, or a untruth, which was conceived in their imagination or the creative thinking of others.

Let us seek to be grounded in the Word of truth by means of the Bible, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and abiding in Christ so that we will know the truth and the truth shall set us free. But let us always be on our guard: "So that no one will delude us with persuasive argument."

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word of truth and the sound doctrine it contains. I pray that You would guide me into all truth as I abide in Christ, study the Scriptures, and test the spirit of all teachings, to see if it is from You. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.