Colossians 2: 8, 18 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceptions according to tradition of men...rather than according to Christ...defrauding you...in self abasement and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen..."  Paul was addressing false teaching that was meant to destabilize the faith of the believers at Colosse. All kinds of ideas and traditions to increase righteousness were circulating which were NOT focused on Christ and the sufficiency of "Christ alone."  Notice Paul clearly states "for in Him all the fullness of deity...in Him, you have been made complete...in Him!"  When we allow anything or any practice to usurp the supremacy, simplicity, and sufficiency of "Christ alone" for redemption, then we have strayed from the truth and have opened ourselves up to all kinds of other beliefs.  Paul notes that when this happens we will begin to believe traditions of men and not Christ and not the Word.

When men teach visions or revelations that they claim they have received from God, if we are not tethered to Christ and the Word, we will be easily led astray.  When we allow "traditions" to become the basis for our beliefs, we will begin to drift from worshipping Christ to worshipping "angels" and will elevate and incorporate other practices into our faith that do not enhance our faith but corrupt it and eventually replace it.  It is fundamental to Christianity that Christ is all we need, and Him only do we worship and serve.  It is not complicated and should NOT be confusing to others as to Whom we serve, Worship, and obey!  In Christ we have been saved, we have been made complete, and He alone and only is the head over all rule and authority (v. 10).  Our faith is called Christianity because it is all about CHRIST!  Any faith that claims to be "Christian" but has forsaken the Supremacy, Simplicity, and Sufficiency of Christ alone for redemption and sanctification is no longer Christianity.  It is "tradition-anity" or "angel-anity," or "saints-anity" or "church-ianity." This faith is no longer about Christianity--Christ alone!  We must "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 3)!  In Christ is the fullness of God and in Christ we have been made complete. Jesus IS Enough!

In Christ,
Tommy Middleton

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