Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Avoiding Capture by Philosophy Colossians 2:8 “We live in a dangerous world” Death? – 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21; Rom 12:1-2; Gal. 2:20 Disease & Physical injury? – Rom. 5:3-8; James 2:2-4; Rev. 21:4; Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:31-39 Economic disaster? Phil. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 6:8

Avoiding Capture by Philosophy Colossians 2:8 Death, disease, physical injury, and economic disaster are serious, but not the greatest danger we face Your response to tragedy is dependent on your philosophy of life Beliefs that leave you unprepared for God’s judgment are the greatest danger

Avoiding Capture by Philosophy Colossians 2:8 Paul’s desire was to “present every man complete in Christ” Our protection from the false logic and persuasive speech of false teachers is found in walking in Christ

Avoiding Capture by Philosophy Colossians 2:8 Walking in Christ is demonstrated in: Having been firmly rooted Being built up Being established Overflowing gratitude Colossians 2:1-10

Diligence to Be On Guard blevpw / blepô = to “look,” “see,” “perceive,” & figuratively of “beware,” “be careful,” “take heed.” The grammar stresses an imminent danger & therefore an urgent warning Paul leaves the specific identity indefinite giving us a broader warning

The Danger of Capture To be captured (sulagwgevw / sulagôgeô) is to be carried away as plunder or booty The danger is of being overwhelmed by a powerful force & then led away by it.

The Danger of Capture The threat is not directly against salvation . . . But the captivity may reveal a false profession This an ever present danger to each individual - but there is greater protection in the body - Eph. 4:11-16

General Philosophy Philosophy (filosofiva / philosophia) = “love of wisdom” - now an archaic definition Philosophy in Paul’s usage referred to theories about God, the world and the meaning of human life

Empty & Deceptive Philosophies “the philosophy” - specifically, the “empty deceptive” one Empty (kenov" / kenos) - the hollowness or absence of anything - empty handed, empty words, vain. Deception (ajpavth / apatê) - a false impression whether by appearance, statement or influence

Empty & Deceptive Philosophies Philosophy which gives the appearance of wisdom but in the end it is void Also the vast majority of philosophical musings that enamor the academic world If the presuppositions of the philosophical system are wrong, it will collapse before the ultimate reality

Empty & Deceptive Philosophies Atheists are fools by definition – Ps. 14 Agnostics claim they can’t know, but God has revealed Himself (Psalm 19; Rom. 1:18-20) Empiricists claim experience as the basis for truth, but it is finite & cannot know the infinite God

Empty & Deceptive Philosophies Rationalists want to reason their way to truth, but sin & Satan have blinded and darkened their understanding Theological liberalism assumes truth changes, but God does not change

Dangerous Traditions Tradition (paravdosi“ / paradosis) - something handed down especially a practice, ritual or teaching. Tradition can be good when the source traces back to God’s revelation (1 Corinthians 11:2)

Dangerous Traditions Tradition can be bad when its origin is in men (Matthew 15:3) Tradition that was honest effort to obey God becomes bad when the reason and meaning are forgotten

Dangerous Worldly Basic Principles Elementary principles (stoicei'on / stoicheion) - “first things in a series” such as the alphabet Used for basic doctrine (Hebrews 5:12), & for the elements that make up the physical world (2 Peter 3:10,12) Rudimentary things of this world - lesson for children (Galatians 4:3), religious rituals (Colossians 2:20)

Dangerous Worldly Basic Principles Elementary because we learn how to do things before we learn why - but maturity learns the why Elementary because the religious rituals & the law were shadows of the substance (Col. 2:17; Heb. 10:1) Elementary because the Law is a tutor to bring us to Christ - Galatians 3:24

Captured by Christ Do not allow yourself to be taken captive by anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ Be on guard by making sure you are walking in Christ

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ