Complete and satisfied in Christ

I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:4-10

There was a prevailing philosophy during the time when Paul wrote the Book of Colossians. False teachers promoted the idea that wisdom and knowledge were hidden away in mystical experience whereas Paul asserted that once a person knew Christ as Lord and Savior, all wisdom and knowledge could be discovered in Him. Though a believer in Christ would never be able to mine all the treasure found in knowing Christ in this lifetime yet they will not be deceived by “well-crafted arguments.” This is why it is important that a Christian knows that one’s faith is founded upon knowing Christ. Your salvation came when you believed what the Scriptures tells about as to who Jesus is and the sacrifice He made in your behalf when He was crucified on the cross. It is based upon knowing Christ and not relying on feelings or any other mystical experiences. Paul admonished Christians in Colossae to grow knowing and following Christ. In Christ our faith can withstand the attack of false teachings. But we have to grow in this knowledge lest we fall. We are to continue to live submitting our lives daily under His lordship. The challenge from God’s Word is to maintain a godly lifestyle. We need to have a steady progress in our life’s journey with Christ and this is only possible when we are grounded and rooted in Christ. We draw on His strength and He becomes the center and the reason why we have life. When we are deeply grounded and built up in Christ, we will not easily be swayed by false teachings. Let your life overflow with thankfulness for what He is continually doing in and through you. Being grateful to God provides you a shield from being influenced by false doctrines. Once your focus is on the character and the goodness of God as revealed in His Word, the enemy will not have a foothold in your life because you become aware of his deceptions. Discontentment that leads to grumbling could lead you to be an easy prey to false teachings that offer just anything you feel you are missing. Always realize that in Christ you are complete for in Him rest “the fullness of God in a human body.”

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com