Day 56: How Do the “Other Gospels” Work?
There are many false “Gospels” which try to lead us away from simple faith in Christ. These untrue ways focus on what we do rather than on what Christ has done for us. Instead of giving us life, these deceptive philosophies only lead us to death.
WORDwork:
Colossians 2:6-10
Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, 2:7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude. 2:8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. 2:9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 2:10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
How, or in what manner, did we “receive” Christ Jesus?
(Think back to our previous sessions)
“In whom” does Paul tell us to live our lives in verse 6?
How do we do this according to verse 7?
What are we warned against in verse 8?
What are the characteristics of this “philosophy”?
In verses 9 and 10 how are we related to Christ and what has He done for us or to us?
The One True Gospel focuses on Christ alone as THE Savior. In this passage, Paul tells us to “live our lives in Christ.” Remember, we are now “in Christ” and Christ is living in us. Our lives should be completely shaped by our relationship with Him.
In the passage above, Paul tells us to keep on living our lives (“walking”) in Christ, firm in our faith (confident trust), overflowing with thankfulness or gratitude. He then immediately gives us the warning not to allow anyone to enslave us through empty, deceitful philosophy. Just as in Paul’s day, there are many false teachers and false teachings in our time. We must be very careful not to get ensnared by such things.
At the root of these false “ways” is a philosophy that Paul later describes as “man-made” or “self-made” religion (Colossians 2:23). These alternative “ways” are based in human traditions and demonic inspiration (the “elemental forces” in this passage are a reference to demonic powers) rather than the Truth that has been revealed to us in Jesus. We must be careful not to become captivated and enslaved to such teachings. Here Paul tells us several things about such philosophies:
- They are empty, which means that although they promise “wisdom” they have no basis in reality.
- They are deceptive/deceitful in that they lead us away from the Truth that is in Christ.
- They are based in human traditions which means that they are “man-made religions” (see Colossians 2:20-23).
- These traditions almost always emphasize a negative view of our bodies and our desires.
- They are based in the elemental forces of the world which means that they are demonic.
- They are not according to Christ. This is the summary of all of these false approaches—they are not in line with the Gospel, the Truth of Jesus.
These philosophies ultimately present us with false gospels which are enslaving because they prey on our fears and leave us empty because they cannot deliver on what they promise. Only the One True Gospel can provide what we most desire because it alone has the power to do what it promises.
The Second-Century church father Tertullian said, “Just as Christ was crucified between two thieves, so this doctrine of justification [the True Gospel] is ever crucified between two opposite errors.” The two thieves of the joy and power of the Gospel are always religion (pride exhibited in trying to save ourselves) and irreligion (presuming on God’s love and mercy exhibited in doing whatever I want). Let’s take a minute to think about what this means. Consider the following statements carefully:
The false gospel of Irreligion says:
“I am accepted in spite of what I think and do
because God accepts everybody.”
The false gospel of Religion says:
“I think and act in certain ways
to be accepted by God.”
The True Gospel of Christ says:
“I am accepted by God in Christ,
so I think and act in certain ways.”
These false gospels lead to death because they ultimately strip God out of the picture as the source of life and power. These gospels produce habits and patterns of thinking that are enslaved to the point of fear or distraction. At the root of both of these false gospels is idolatry—looking to anyone other than Jesus Christ as our One and Only Savior.
Key DEFINITION:
Idolatry is seeking to find your security, life satisfaction, or significance in ANY source other than your relationship with Father-God in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Idolatry seeks to find ways to manipulate the world or God so that “I” can be in control and not God.
The mind-set—the inter-working of thoughts, desires, and emotions—that is shaped and formed by the truth of the Gospel, however, is one that is characterized by love. Remember, perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). God has displayed His love toward fallen and sinful humanity regardless of what we do with it!!! It is only as we begin to understand the unconditional nature of God’s love displayed in Christ that we begin to live in a way that is truly pleasing to God.
To help flesh out these basic ideas we have prepared the chart below. Take some time to work through this chart and see if you can follow the main point.
Take some time to think of ways that you have been enslaved by either Religion or Idolatry. Based on what you know now, can you see how the One True Gospel exposes the lies of these false gospels?
*You can find a complete list of all the MilktoMeat readings here.
