In the Gospel of John Jesus shares about the thief threatening the sheep. John 10:10 (NKJV)-0 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. This is his agenda, his purpose against God’s people and the Kingdom of God. It is even true for those who are lost and don’t have a relationship with Christ. (2 Cor 4:4). Jesus also has a purpose which we find in Apostles John’s epistles. 1 John 3:8b (NKJV)-8… For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Which Christ did at the cross and rose victorious in His resurrection.
Whether we realize it or not we are in a spiritual battle. A battle of good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies. This has been more apparent in recent days. The Apostle Paul admonishes us not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices (2 Cor 2:11). The only weapon the enemy has is lies and deception. He will try to deceive us and corrupt our minds. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)-3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. The Greek word for deceived means wholly beguiled or seduced wholly. The Greek Word for craftiness means deception, craftiness, trickery, cunning, cleverness, shrewdness, and evil design. (Practical Word Studies in The New Testament.). The Apostle Paul tells us there are doctrines of demons and seducing spirits afoot, trying to deceive people. 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)-1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, The only weapon against this is the revelation and the truth of God’s Word and the witness of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Truth ( John 15:26). John 17:17 (NKJV)-17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. Here is the thing, you got to know the truth. It is the truth you know that will set you free ( John 8:32). It is the truth you will stand and fight for. It is the truth that comes out of your mouth in the face of lies and deception. Submitting to the God of truth is submitting to His Word. (James 4:7).
The Apostle Paul admonishes the believers at the Colossians Church to be on guard! Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)-8 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. He tells them to beware, to take heed, be on the lookout. Apostle John shares similar advice. 2 John 1:7-8 (NKJV)-7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. In the above scripture, the Greek word for cheat means: “to carry off as spoil, lead captive. To lead into captivity. To lead astray. How does that happen? The Bible tells us? By the way of the doctrine of demons and seducing spirits that work through false teachers and false prophets. These entities work through false religious and unbiblical teachings to deceive and blind people. We Jesus making mention of the signs of the last days-Matthew 24:4-5 (NKJV)-4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. Mark 13:22-23 (NKJV)-22 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. There is a lot of crazy stuff out there. Especially on the internet. This presents a lot of challenges because of the ease of access to people, ministries, and information. There are a lot of good things and not so good. 1 John 4:1 (NKJV)-1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The Apostle Paul goes on to tell us in Colossians 2:8 what to beware of. That is philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world. (Note: This is not to say that all philosophy is wrong, because there is a Christian philosophy of life.) The Amplified Bible reads:
- Colossians 2:8 (AMP)-8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). Another translation in Passion Bible:
- Colossians 2:8 (PassionNTPsa)8Beware that no one distracts you or intimidates you in their attempt to lead you away from Christ’s fullness by pretending to be full of wisdom when they’re filled with endless arguments of human logic. For they operate with humanistic and clouded judgments based on the mindset of this world system, and not the anointed truths of the Anointed One.
From the Complete Word Study Dictionary, The New Testament regarding philosophy: This philosophy carries a negative connotation and refers to quasi-religious doctrines and speculations (e.g., Gnosticism) all of which are irreconcilable with the Christian faith. This is from Practical Word Studies New Testament: Teachers or persons have novel ideas or philosophies about truth and reality, but they become more interested in their positions than the truth. They need others to accept their positions or else their ideas die. Therefore, they have to present and persuade people of their ideas and philosophies whether they are sound or not. Believers must, therefore, beware and guard against worldly philosophies and ideas lest they become ensnared and enslaved. We must test all philosophy (Wisdom) through the Word of God. God’s Word is a filter for our lives. There also can be human and religious traditions that are unbiblical which can lead to legalism, licentiousness, self-righteousness, and bondage. (Mark 7:9, Mark 7:13). Don’t confuse sincere belief with the truth of God’s Word. Apostle Paul speaks to the Corinthian Church about what to beware of and what to put their faith in:1 Corinthians 2:4-7 (NKJV)-4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, This mystery is not hidden from us but for us that we might know the grace of God that comes through Christ. Our faith is in God.
What Jesus, Paul, and John are saying is that everything you see, read, or listen to is not always the truth. The devil and his demons are crafty and deceptive. There is a simplicity in the Gospel of Christ. That we are saved by grace through faith(Eph 2:8). Any teaching that strips of the work and sufficiency of Christ is an error. Anything added to the work of Christ to ensure or solidify salvation and His work of grace in our lives it is an error. Whether it is religious or man-made traditions, Old Testament Law requirements, or human self-effort and religious works. These things can cheat us from full faith and trust in God. It will lead us into self-righteousness and human self-effort. Another thing Apostle Paul mentions is the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe. Here in Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) – New Testament: The Greek word translated “rudiments” basically means “one of a row or series.” It had several meanings attached to it: (1) the elementary sounds or letters, the ABCs; (2) the basic elements of the universe, as in 2 Peter 3:10-12; (3) the basic elements of knowledge, the ABCs of some system, as in Hebrews 5:12. But in ancient Greece (mythology), this word also meant “the elemental spirits of the universe, the angels that influenced the heavenly bodies.” It was one of the words in the vocabulary of the religious astrology of that day. The Gnostics believed that the angels and the heavenly bodies influenced people’s lives. For more on Gnosticism check out this link(Gnosticism). Apostle Paul again admonishes us in Colossians 2:18-19 (NKJV)-18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
When people in the Body of Christ use visions and dreams as a Biblical doctrine it can lead people astray. When they insist it carries more authority than God’s Word. That is dangerous. I believe in visions and dreams but they must always confirm the Word of God. They must be tested just like we would test personal prophecy. The Colossian Church was hungry for mystical experiences that opened themselves up to unhealthy influences, even demonic. They didn’t need to worship angels and seek angelic experiences or be initiated into mystical experiences to know God. Christ was enough. They could come boldly to the throne of grace by faith. ( Heb 4:16, Heb 10:20). We need to hold fast to Christ. He is the only mediator between God and man (Heb 8:6, 1 Tim 2:5). There is a danger in just seeking spiritual experiences when it comes to the unseen realm. That is, seeking some spiritual high or emotional high or feeling. We are to seek Christ and His Word. Our focus is on Christ, our relationship with Father God. True spiritual nourishment comes from God’s Word not experiences.
In conclusion: No one likes a cheat. Whatever would try to rob us of our reward in Christ. Whatever would try to rob us of the God’s work of grace in our lives. To steal from us the blessings of God that Christ has provided for us. That would try to lead us astray, to bewitch us as the false religious teachers did in the Galatians Church to bring them back under the law of Moses. Galatians 3:1-3 (NKJV)-1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect (complete) by the flesh? We must learn to be discerning and not accept everything that comes down the Christian pike. That we would not be tossed to and fro by every popular and new wind of doctrine or teaching that comes along (Eph 4:11-15). Let us heed Apostle Paul’s warning to Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (AMP)-3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. Jesus said we will know them by their fruits. Their Biblical teaching and their godly character both publically and privately. (Matt 7:15-20).
In Christ’s Love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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