Remedy for False Teaching

KEY VERSE: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” —Colossians 2:6,7

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2:6-19

THE Gospel of Christ is received by faith, but not instantaneously. It is revealed gradually as faith is able to receive and act upon it.

The apostles are good illustrations of this ‘faith to faith’ revealment and receiving of the Gospel. Even before they heard of Jesus they knew something of the messianic promises and had faith in them. When they came into contact with Jesus and his wonderful ministry they believed that he was the Messiah, and left all to follow him. Thus upon the basis of their faith God was dealing with them.

In his prayer, Jesus said to his Father concerning his apostles, “Thine they were, and thou gayest them me; and they have kept thy Word.” (John 17:6) These men were completely dedicated to God. They had faith in his Word, and were obedient to it. Prior to Pentecost they did not clearly understand the divine plan, but they believed and obeyed that which they did understand. Because of this God looked upon them as his people. “Thine they were,” said Jesus. Like Abraham, they were God’s friends. How richly their faith was rewarded!

It was Abraham’s faith in the promises that constituted the basis for his friendship with God. This was true of the apostles—it is still true today.

During the Gospel Age God reveals his plans and purposes through his written Word. The objective of this revelation, even as in the past, is to invite cooperation in the out-working of the divine plan. During the Gospel Age this cooperation can be only through association with Jesus, and under his headship. But Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” (John 6:44) This shows that there is a certain selection on God’s part. He is not at the present time drawing the whole world, but only those whom he chooses.

God chooses those whom he knows are able to exercise faith in him and in his promises. In addition to their ability to exercise faith, these are also humble of heart and willing to learn. The first evidence of God’s drawing power in their lives may well be in an experience or series of experiences which cause them to realize the futility and worthlessness of the material values so highly esteemed by the world in general. Just as no one can come to Jesus unless drawn by the Father, Jesus explained that only through him could anyone have access to the Father. (John 14:6) This means that the truth by which God draws points the way to Jesus, and to the redeeming merit of his shed blood.

During this Gospel Age the only object of thus being drawn to God through Christ is to become disciples of Christ—which means to follow in his footsteps of self-sacrifice. It means to deny self and to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus into death. It means to be “planted together in the likeness of his death.” (Rom. 6:3-5) The footstep followers of Jesus walk in a path that is difficult to tread. It is a “narrow way.” To walk in this way means sacrifice, suffering, and death. In Revelation 20:4 it is described as being “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God.” And even though the word beheaded is thus used symbolically, it denotes suffering, and the loss of life.

This is the age of sacrifice, the “better sacrifices” mentioned by Paul in Hebrews 9:23. Now his followers are invited to suffer and die with Jesus. Their bodies also are presented in sacrifice.—Rom. 12:1

It is possible for these to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God only because they are made free from Adamic condemnation through the merit of the blood of Christ. Paul speaks of their bodies being offered a “living sacrifice.” This can be only because, through the merit of Christ’s blood, they are no longer under death condemnation, but through faith have been made alive in Christ. Think of what this means to us! It means that we are co-sacrificers with Jesus, and, in a manner acceptable to God are laying down our lives both for the brethren and in the interests of the whole world of mankind.

This is what is meant by the words of our text. Jesus’ walk in life was solely in the interest of truth and righteousness, and the salvation of mankind. As footstep followers of the Master, we have the unspeakable privilege of being taught by him through the Word of truth those principles which guided his life, and which are to guide us also.

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