Colossians 2:8

The following is a Bible study originally posted on our Bible Study Group.

I sat down last night to begin working on this week's Bible study, and I was
amazed at the "meat" found in just Colossians 2:8. This one verse sets the
stage beautifully for the following verses. So we'll just talk about this
one verse today, then we'll continue on next week.

Colossians 2:8 says, "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."

When the children of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, after 40
years of wandering in the desert, Moses gave them a stern warning. He told
them, "When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your
God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget
the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His
statutes which I command you today... (Deut. 8:10-11)"

When times are easy, when we are spiritually (or even physically) well-fed
and comfortable, it is easier for us to fall. That's why Paul takes this
opportunity in Colossians to warn us. Satan wants to cheat us!

Satan will use 2 techniques to trick us and these tricks will follow 2
forms. What are they?

First, Satan will try to cheat us through philosophy. "Philosophy" comes
from the words "philo" and "sophy" which mean a love of learning. The
dictionary says that philosophy is the examination of basic concepts: the
branch of knowledge or academic study devoted to the systematic examination
of basic concepts such as truth, existence, reality, causality, and freedom.
2 Timothy 3:6-7 says, “For of this sort are those who creep into households
and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by
various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of
the truth.” Notice who are led away? Women!

Secondly, Satan will try to cheat us through empty deceit. James 1:14 says
that we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed.
Empty things are things that won’t last for eternity. Can you think of some
ways Satan tries to tempt you? (For a list of the things that God considers
"empty" in this life, you might enjoy reading the short book of Ecclesiastes
in the Old Testament.)

Some of us women are "thinkers." Some of us are "feelers." So it's easy
for ALL of us to fall prey to Satan's tricks. Paul says that Satan's tricks
will come in the form of either the traditions of men or the basic
principles of the world. The following verses will go into more detail on
these, but for now, remember that the Bible says that "all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:16)." These three
basic temptations form the foundation for all of Satan’s schemes.

In contrast, when our thoughts and feelings are "according to Christ," we
can be protected from being cheated. Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its
lusts." Galatians says, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the
lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not
do the things that you wish... And those who are Christ's have crucified
the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5:16-17, 24)."

Ladies, I have such a huge burden for women in our culture, that we would
learn to think and feel biblically. I see family after family that
professes Christ by attending church and doing good deeds, yet falls prey to
Satan's lies because they don't know what the Bible says! Proverbs 4:23
says to “Keep [or guard] your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring
the issues of life.” Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you
may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will
make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Don’t
forget my favorite passage of Scripture -- Psalm 1!) God’s Word can
transform the way we think and feel, protecting us from Satan’s sneaky
attacks.

We women get awfully busy. We don’t take the time we need to study God’s
Word deeply, to meditate on His Word thoroughly, and to commit our lives to
Christ daily. Jesus asked, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the
whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for
his soul? (Matt. 16:26)”

Next week we’ll plunge a little further into the ways that Satan tries to
sidetrack us and make us ineffective, as we study Colossians 2:9-15. In the
meantime, Colossians 2:8 is a key verse, and I hope you’ll take the time to
memorize it and meditate on it over the weekend.


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