Online Articles
Lest Anyone Should Deceive You
"Lest Anyone Should Deceive You"
by Terry W. Benton
“Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him & established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col 2:4-7 )
Some men were deceiving with persuasive words then as they are now. To prevent ourselves from being deceived by smooth talkers we need to stick closely to Jesus and “walk in Him”. Christ should be preeminent in our estimation so that we get all our authority from Him. Words must always be checked and tested by whether it came from Him and His Spirit-guided apostles and prophets (Eph.1:19; 2:19f). Good order comes from walking inside the boundaries of Jesus’ authority. Our faith must be steadfast in Him.
“The faith” is that body of teaching that comes from Christ. Get yourself “rooted” in Jesus and you will be rooted in the faith and teaching of Jesus. Take His yoke and learn from Him. This is the best way to keep from being deceived.
To be “established” in the faith, one has to be consciously committed to the faith, always cautious not to let anyone deceive us with persuasive words. The standard is “the faith” that was originally delivered to the saints “as you have been taught”. This is “traditionalism” that God wants from us.
There is much room to “abound” and grow in this body of teaching. It has everything we will ever need for life and godliness. Inside this body of teaching, “the faith”, are riches to supply us and enrich us, and excitement builds within us as we learn more and more. We are to be growing in this body of teaching, and when we are, we learn so much more for which to be thankful.
Father, help us to plant ourselves firmly in the faith once delivered to the saints, and help us to detect deception and be strong enough to recognize and oppose it by being rooted and grounded in Jesus and abounding in all that is offered in His teaching.
