SUBJECT: Colossians 2:8
VAIN PHILOSOPHIES

Apostle Paul said, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

The object of philosophy is to ascertain facts or truth. Although there are several branches of philosophy, Paul, talking to the Colossians, spoke of a philosophy which addresses God. It is called Theology. In today’s jargon, Paul warned against people being deceived and led astray by ‘fake news’ concerning the Lord and His teachings.

Today, Paul’s warning against listening to those who teach false theology is extremely applicable and of utmost urgency! Do not be conned by deceivers. "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words" (Colossians 2:4). Like it or not, people do NOT like to hear truth. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve didn’t want to hear the truth either. God gave instructions not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but Eve foolishly added to those instructions, and Satan (the serpent) strongly denied God’s warning. (Genesis, Chapters 2-3). Because Adam and Eve ignored God’s words and listened to Satan’s altered theology, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12) due to their need to satisfy self. Sadly, thousands of years later Satan is still effectively convincing and persuading millions to swallow false religion theologies which alter biblical truth! (I Peter 5:8)

Don’t be fooled by vain and empty theology! Any theology that doesn’t require the need of Jesus as one’s personal Savior is calling the Lord a liar. "Jesus saith… "I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6) In truth, any religious theology that presents different methods by which to receive eternal salvation WITHOUT Jesus, such as works, baptism, obeying church traditions, and being good and kind, is nothing more than a vain theology. Furthermore, we must be very careful of any religious theology that lumps God together with other deities and prophets! Jesus Christ is the SON of God (I John 5:20/John 3:16), and is the ONLY way to eternal life (John 3:15-18/ Romans 6:23).

As earlier stated, the object of philosophy is to ascertain facts and truth. With strong and absolute certainty, nothing but the divinely inspired Word of God provides verifiable facts and truths…THE TRUTH…while man-made religious theology is deadly! Deadly because it is solely rooted in worldly principles which are totally contrary to the Gospel! We must not follow any theology that ‘spoils’ (indulges) us, allowing us to live as we want (I Corinthians 10:31). Destructive is any theology that teaches the following: we have no need for the LORD (I John 5:13,15); denies the shed blood of Jesus Christ (I Peter 18-19); instructs mandatory worship through rote and tradition (Matthew 15:1-20); teaches belief in evolution (Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2; Psalm 33:6-7); believes the Bible is not applicable for today (Hebrews 13:8); denies the existence of hell (Matthew 25:46/Matthew 5:29,30); and any theology that maintains that because God is love, there will be no everlasting judgment. (Hebrew 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15). We must reject ANY theology that has no foundation in the Scriptures (Romans 16:17-18). "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause division and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,…" (Romans 16:17-18a)

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it,… (Deuteronomy 4:2a) Simply stated, we are NOT to add to or take away from God’s unerring Word! Many false theologies do both, therefore, we must be aware of any counterfeit theology that attempts to alter true Christian biblical teachings for the sake of pacifying the populace.

God’s Word is sacred! God’s Word Is The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth…and always will be!