Don't be deceived: Stay in the Word. Colossians 2:8

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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
I have been seeing this a lot of my readings of late. Watch out, Paul shouts, again. Watch out for the Judaizers! (Gal. 2:4) Watch out for the Pharisees! (Phil. 3:5) Watch out for the Gnostics! Watch out for the false teachers! (2 Cor. 11:4). Watch out! Don't be deceived. There is only one path to heaven, Paul is reminding us, again. And that is, Jesus (Col. 1:13-14).

Christ lived for you! Christ died for you! And now, Christ lives for you!

That's right, Christ LIVES for you!

Jesus was dead (John 19:33-34). He was rotting in the grave (John 19:42). But now he is alive (John 20:27). The Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8), the creator of the world (Col. 1:16, Gen. 1:1), the Living Word, who was with God and was God (John 1:1-2), was dead but is now alive, and most importantly, lives in you (Col. 2:9-10).

Make no mistake: You have done nothing to merit salvation. (Rom. 3:10). So, if you believe, rejoice (Phil. 4:4), for you are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8).

It's important to remember this, because it's easy for us to get trapped into thinking we can save ourselves. That's what Paul was warning the Colossians about. We don't know exactly what heresy Paul was addressing in his letter; there were many heresies in the early church.
In fact, there still are many heresies, including that only "good Christians" go to heaven  (Galatians 3:2).

It's not that difficult, Paul reminds us. Believe, he says, by allowing the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16).

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