Col.2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world [the present corrupted cosmos], and not after Christ.

The Apostle Paul knew that his warning to the Saints in the epistle of Colossians was not to be taken lightly. He let them first know that it was his prayer that they be “filled with the knowledge of His will in ALL wisdom and spiritual understanding.” And that they operate upon strength, might, and the excellency of the power of God, so that they will “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.” But then, Paul warns these saints who he desires to be filled with God’s wisdom and understanding, that there are those who desire to have them ‘walk after’ their ways, and their wisdom, and understanding. Paul says these men will “spoil,” “beguile” with “enticing words,” and “judge” the Saints in how to serve, and to have the Saints “subject to the ordinances.” And man desires to have the men of this world to follow his “traditions and commandments,” and his enticing words, this is contrary to “being filled with the knowledge of His will.”

Col.1:9] For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

[10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Moreover, the Apostle Paul knew that there was ‘two competing wisdoms’ vying for the heart of the man, he knew that there was a ‘beguiling tactic’ used to entice the man, and get him to follow the tradition of men, and doctrinally spoil the saint. Oftentimes we just don’t see the ‘Spiritual danger,’ and what is actually at stake in our Sanctified lives by not operating upon verses 9, 10, and 11. And plain fact is, if we are not operating upon verses 9,10, and 11, we ARE operating upon the “traditions and commandments of men” one way, or the other. And whether it is in a church, or if someone is a atheist, they will walk according to the way of men. And as verse 8 says, it’s going to be walking after Christ’s way, or “after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world.” And as previously stated, there are two ‘competing wisdoms,’ and also two ‘powers’ that are vying for your heart, and notice what Paul says in verse 11 about the Saints being “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power.” Our Father’s strength, power, and might is being shown today by the “faithful,” and the “perfect” sons, and Satan desires that those in Christ would become “spoiled,” or “beguiled” by the enticing words of man’s wisdom.

Col.2:4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

However, if our heart does not apprehend the value of our Father’s wisdom and power, we will operate and cooperate with the wisdom of men and “power of the air.” And those who have “received Christ Jesus the Lord” could also walk according to the power of the air, or “walk” in Him as verse 6 states. And it is sad to say, but the heart of man does not initially desire the “truth of God,” it would rather stick to what it has operated upon before, because there has been a “satisfying of the flesh” associated with the wisdom of men. This is why man would rather “lean” unto his own understanding, and whether it is reading God’s word of Truth, or dealing with the affairs of this life, man places his trust in the wisdom of men, and his ability to enlightened the minds of men, and navigate them through the course of this world.

Col.2:16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [substantive reality] is of Christ. [18] Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Therefore, it should be of no wonder why those who are “dead with Christ” continue to ‘live in the world.’ We have been taught the ungodly life of the world, and are educated after a carnal mind, and have been taught to seek the ‘fulfillment of this life,’ and to ‘live in the moment.’ This is why men’s words are “enticing,” and ‘beguiling.’ And what is even more troubling is that the Justified saint doesn’t know that he is being “spoiled,” and ‘beguiled’ because he has been “enticed” by words, and church traditions that cater to the lusts of his own heart and flesh. This is the ‘competing power’ of Satan that gives the men of this world his ‘heart’s desire,’ and fulfils the lusts of his flesh.

But the power of God is ‘selfless,’ and the flesh has no ‘power,’ or benefits in God’s power, but it is our Father that receives the glory from our selflessness, and it is our inward man that benefits from the effectual working of His Word.

Col.2:20] Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances [religious laws], [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22] Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Finally, the remedy for the troubling ailment of being enticed, and beguiled, and eventually spoiled, is to “trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” And even though this may seem ‘easier said than done,’ the ‘renewing of our minds and the transforming of our hearts’ is done daily by {reading and studying) His word. But it is the saint who must desire to “let not” the word of God “forsake” him, but allow it to be written upon ‘the table of his heart.’ And those words used in the Proverbs like “let not,” “bind them,” and many others, says that the saint has the ‘ability’ to operate upon the Father’s power, or upon the power of Satan. And as we who are justified unto eternal life walk the “paths” of our Sanctified lives, the decision ought to be based upon our renewed minds, and because we have ‘chosen’ to be a “living sacrifice” unto the Lord, and be a “transformed” son who desires to have his understanding after our Father’s Word, instead of being ‘wise in our own eyes,’ and spoiled by the tradition, and commandments of men.

Prov.3:3] Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: [4] So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. [7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Adapted from: Rod Jones on December 12, 2022