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Paul writes this epistle to the faithful Christians in Colosse. In Colossians 1, he informs these saints that he thanks God for their faith in Christ and love for each other. Paul prays for them, desiring that they “be filled with the knowledge of his [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col. 1:9),” and that they “might walk worthy of the Lord” and increase “in the knowledge of God (Col. 1: 10).”
In Colossians 2, Paul again expresses his concern that they will have an understanding of God the Father and of Christ “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2: 3).” This is why: “lest any man should beguile you with enticing words (Col. 2:4).”
Paul warns the Colossians about those who would beguile the believers with their own enticing doctrines that added to Christ’s doctrine. It was vitally important for the Colossian believers to grow in wisdom and understanding so that they would not be fooled by man’s words.
To know and grow, they needed to walk with God in Christ—by faith AND according to knowledge. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving (Col. 2:6,7).”
They needed to be rooted in Him, otherwise, they would be easily “plucked up” and tossed about by false doctrines. They needed Christ for a solid foundation. Also, they needed to be thankful for their relationship with Christ and the ability to live for Him. When ingratitude creeps in, we take for granted our position in Christ, and He ceases to hold the importance He once in our lives.
In his Bible commentary on the New Testament, Warren Wiersbe writes of Colossians 2:6, “We are to walk in Christ the same way we originally received Christ—by faith.”( Colossians 2 – Wiersbe Bible Commentary (biblestudytools.com) , p. 676) Shortly after salvation, many Christians are strong in their faith.
They are eager to read God’s Word, hear it preached, and share the Gospel with others. As time passes, the Christian’s faith wanes as he endures trials, absorbs false teachings, surrounds himself with less spiritual friends, and spends less time with Christ. Thus, Paul reminds the Colossians to continue to walk with Christ as they received Him.
In verse eight, Paul warns the saints to “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.”
Like the Colossians, we are in danger of being fooled by human philosophy. Many Christians are beginning to believe the world’s definition of Who Christ is and what Christ wants. But the world has no idea who Christ is, because they don’t know Him. Unfortunately, there are also professing Christians who don’t really know Him either.
They know a counterfeit Christ—based on Who and what they want Christ to be and not Who He actually is. This is why Paul stresses that it is important for us Christians to grow in our knowledge of Who Christ is.
We must read the Bible, pray regularly, listen to sound preaching, and fellowship with true believers. When we know Him better, we won’t be fooled by man’s philosophies. When we know Him better, we will love Him better, and we will want others to know Him, too.
Christians, are we walking in Christ as we received Him—by faith—or is our faith lacking as we walk instead after man’s philosophies?
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