4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:4-7)
The Apostle informs us that his goal in teaching is that we will not be deceived. To "deceive," means "to reason beside something." We are deceived when we believe the counterfeit that was put alongside the truth that looks very much like it.
There is a counterfeit for every truth. Often, what we think is worship is nothing more than preoccupation with the god of self. This is what Paul is addressing in the book of Colossians.
Poor theology infects our hearts with unbelief! Many are paralyzed through embracing bad theology, resulting in preoccupation with knowing about the truth rather than the truth Himself.
This is a struggle between two gods: the great god, Self, and the true God, Jesus Christ. In this world, and even in the church, we are taught self-realization, self-actualization, self-development, self-discovery, self-esteem, and self-love.
As a result, most believe freedom is the ability to do what we want to do when we want to do it. When we give up this illusion, we are freed to discover true freedom in Jesus Christ. This is the secret to real life.
In Colossians 2:5, the Apostle provides two things which provide the antidote for bad theology.
The first is a disciplined life.
Jesus told us if we want real life, we will deny ourselves. Yet, the world and the flesh (the evil desires within) say, do whatever you like doing, deny yourself nothing. On the other hand, when we live a disciplined life, a life defined by God's truth, we will quickly detect and resist error.
The second is faith in Christ.
Every human on the face of the earth has faith. What makes the Christian's faith unique is our faith's object ... Jesus Christ Himself. Faith in the active presence of Jesus Christ will act like a metal detector. Instead of detecting metal, faith in Christ detects that which is false.
Now, according to Colossians 2:6-7, there are three things that happens to the believer which dovetails with the above two qualities of the believer in Christ. All three are passive participles, meaning these things have been done to us by God.
First, we are "rooted" in Christ. Like a deeply-rooted tree, we have been planted in Christ and our roots hold tight. He is the Gardener who is responsible for our spiritual maturity (see John 15).
Second, we are "built up" in Christ. Not only are the roots going deep, but we are growing up as well. We are increasing in faith and experience in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As this happens, we begin to see life through His eyes.
Third, we are "strengthened" in the faith. We are tested through trials, and our faith is strengthened through being forced to cry out to and run to Him for the answers for life.
When we experience these three, we discover God's life which results in "overflowing with thankfulness." This is when we learn how to be thankful in all things. And, we short circuit this false alternative of grumbling, complaining and criticizing through life.
