What would you think of a liege lord who, being repeatedly attacked by an enemy at a weak spot in his defenses, failed to move his troops into the gap? Why does the devil keep using the same tactics against us? Because they work! Why alter your strategy when it is devastating your foe?
The adversary mounts four weapons against us, snares on the devil’s trapline, as recorded in Colossians 2:
1. “In [Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words…I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ” (vv. 3-5).
Eastern Mysticism still is a real danger to the people of God. It is a false view of the heart–that I can trust my feelings to lead me. A prominent segment of evangelicalism is led by emotion. Yet our hearts are “deceitful”–how easily they fool us.
The solution? Christ! In Him are hid all wisdom (sophia, insight into the true nature of things) and knowledge (gnosis, information acquired so as to make a right judgment). The Word combats men’s enticing words. The result? Biblical order and steadfastness.
2. “As ye have therefore received Christ…, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith…abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (vv. 6-9).
Greek Intellectualism posed another danger to the early Church, as it does to us. It is a false view of the mind. Of course Christians should be marked by intelligence, where the mind is servant. But with intellectualism, the mind is king. Men’s philosophies tend towards vain deceit, man-made traditions, and worldly thinking.
The solution? Christ! In Him the fullness of the Godhead dwells. All truth finds its source in the One who is the Truth. He is truth in 3D–living, breathing, functioning truth in the real world. Notice the rich benefits: rooted, built up, stablished, abounding with thanks (v. 7).
3. “And ye are complete in Him…in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands…buried with Him in baptism…risen with Him…And…blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us…Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink…or of the sabbath: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (vv. 10-17).
Jewish Legalism finds in man an ally in its quest to find acceptance with God based on performance. A false view of the will, it assumes that I can resolve myself into righteousness. The devil is resurrecting this tactic as many overcompensate for the careless living we see all around us. There is a growing emphasis on physical circumcision as a ritual, dietary schemes (not for health reasons but as spiritual placebos), and dress codes which move one up the ladder of spiritual superiority. Much of this is based on fabricated “principles” drawn obtusely from Old Testament passages. But like modern art, “anything can become anything else” in the process. There is no consistent Bible hermeneutic in this scheme.
The solution? Christ! Why grasp shadows when you can embrace Him? (v. 17). Legalism is not obedience to Christ; it is imposing man-made standards as divine law. Any externalizing of Christianity leads to Phariseeism, and it is impossible to be a consistent Pharisee.
4. “Let no man beguile you…intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body…increases with the increase of God” (vv. 18-19).
Western Asceticism is a false view of the body. Assuming material things are inherently evil, this trap offers retreat from the world, but it is too late. The world has a co-conspirator already lurking in our hearts (1 Jn. 2:16). Neglecting the body ends up feeding the flesh.
The solution? Christ! We are joined to every other member of the Body for mutual growth when we hold our common Head. Instead of being puffed up by spiritual pride, we grow up by spiritual life in the Lord Jesus.