Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.19 He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.
Colossians 2:18-19 NET
Today’s passage of our journey through Colossians picks up where we left off, with Paul warning believers not to get caught up in trying to fulfill the legalistic rules and demands of man. Now, he warns them about listening to, following, or being influenced by those who are not connected to Christ. He attempts to help them see that the way we look and live in the world does not cause us to grow. Growth comes when we are truly connected to Jesus, who is the Head (v 19), or as John described Him, “The Vine” (John 15:5), and here Paul writes that these false teachers do not hold to Jesus’ teachings but push and promote their own teachings – thus the strong explanation and warning to believers (then and now) from Paul. After reminding them that Christ is the head and is to be held on to, he explains that they need to do this so that they can “be knit together” as a body. Bibleref.com suggests that God provides two elements to Christian life. “God is the One Who causes growth.” The commentary by Bibleref.com goes on to explain two things: “First, true spiritual progress does not occur through requiring ascetic practices (2:18), or rituals (2:16), but in following Christ. The more we rely on our own power and ability, the less we allow Christ to use His power in us. This is the problem with mysticism and self-denial: they rely on our own strength, instead of the power of Christ. The second element is that “our common dependence on Christ produces both growth and unity. Unity must be built upon God and His teachings in order to be genuine.”
The more we rely on our own power and ability, the less we allow Christ to use His power in us. This is the problem with mysticism and self-denial. They rely on our own strength instead of the power of Christ.
Bibleref.com/Colossians 2:19
Friends, the bottom line is this:
“We grow in spiritual maturity by abiding in Christ and holding fast to Him in trust and obedience.”1
Response of Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help us focus on what is really important in our growth as a Christian and protect us from being deceived by false teachers. Amen2
Reflection and Application
What can we do to guard against falling into the trap of false teachers
The More We Know
Me From the Inside Out 