WARNING ABOUT A COMMON PERIL

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8 NKJV).

Here the apostle Paul gives a strong warning about a deadly peril that is quite common in our day. We need to pay attention to this verse. It tells us about the nature of the peril, the naming of the peril, and the negating of the peril.

Nature of the peril - “Cheat.” The word means to rob, capture, and enslave. Being cheated is no pleasant experience. However, many folks today have been ensnared, captured, and enslaved by evil philosophies because they were not told to “beware” of these evils. We hear much talk about political freedom today. But all the political freedom in the world will not compensate for the enslavement to evil philosophies.

Naming of the peril – “Philosophy…empty deceit…tradition of men…basic principles of the world.” Here the apostle Paul name four of these evil philosophies which “cheat” mankind. First, philosophy: This is any system of human thought which is apart from Divine revelation. It is reasoning apart from the Scriptures. Second, vain deceit: This is clever philosophies which promise much but deliver little. Sin promises much profit, but the promises are empty and deceitful, for sin brings much loss instead. Third, tradition: This refers to what is popular thinking. It is like what we call political correctness. Such thinking is corrupting and hypocritical. Fourth, basic principles of the world: This is a philosophy that puts the flesh first. Much of our society is engaged in doing this. They base their conduct upon the appetites of the flesh not upon holy principle.

Negating of the peril – “And not aaccording to Christ.” These evil philosophies of the world which ensnare, and ruin are those which leave out the Lord Jesus Christ or dishonor Him. To avoid being cheated by the evil thinking of the world, we need to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. To be able to discern between true and false, good and evil, we need to be devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, we need to beware of philosophies that rejects and criticize the Lord Jesus Christ and replace Him with something else.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Only Christianity and its teachings can explain the purpose and meaning of this world - and also gives the basis for right and wrong, good and evil, etc!”

Kenneth Alfred Ham (1951 -)

Australian Christian Apologist, Founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis

Word Study

Fixing our eyes

In Heb. 12:2 we read, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (NASB).

“Fixing our eyes” is the Greek word aphoráō (ἀφοράω = af-or-ah'-o). It is made up of two words: “apo” which means away from something near, and “horáō” which means to look, see, behold, consider intently. Thus, the word means to look away from all else and to look steadfastly, intently toward a distant object. The idea is to direct one’s attention without distraction. Further, aphoráō is in the present tense describing a habitual attitude and not just a single act. In classic Greek, aphoráō carries the idea seeing with undivided attention, or regarding with great earnestness. In the Septuagint, aphoráō carries the idea of watching intently. And in the New Testament, aphoráō means to give full attention to.

It is good to ‘glance’ at the godly examples of the Old Testament witnesses and be encouraged by their faithfulness. However, it is imperative that each of us firmly fix our gaze on our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Did You Know…

Samaria was named after its original owner whose name was Shemer. King Omri of Israel had bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He then built a city on the hill which he named Samaria, after its owner (1 Kings 16:23-24).

Bible Quiz

How did the spies describe themselves when compared to the inhabitants of the land God promised them?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

My name is Phinehas. My father was a faithful high priest, but he did not correct my brother and me for our wrongdoing and so we were disobedient to God and to him. Do you know the name of our dad who allowed us to do as we pleased? Eli (1 Sam. 1:3; 2:12-17; 3:13).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

His acquaintances fled from Him (Psalm 31:11; cf. Mark 14:50)

"I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee from me” (Psalm 31:11 NJKV).

In context, David’s enemies were spreading malicious lies about him and people believed them. What made this especially hard to bear was that his enemies were his own neighbors or fellow-citizens. Even his acquaintances, those who knew him personally, were afraid to be associated with Him. How true this was of the Lord Jesus. He was disparaged, defamed, plotted against by the rulers of the people, and deserted by His disciples. Mark 11:45 reminds us that “They all forsook Him and fled.” Our Lord was denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, and forsaken by all in the hour of His utmost need. They did exactly what the Lord Jesus had said they would do (cf. v. 27). At that time, they all had promised never to deny or forsake Him. But, self-interest rules the best of men, and so they failed the Lord Jesus in the time of His greatest need. And while He was forsaken by men, He will never forsake those who put their faith and trust in Him.

Did You Know – Christian History

The Twenty-Six Martyrs of Nagasaki, Japan (1597)

On February 5, 1597, twenty-six believers in the Lord Jesus were executed at Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki after arrests ordered under General Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s anti-Christian edicts of 1587. Seized in Kyoto and Osaka, they were marched hundreds of miles through winter roads as a warning to others. Their punishment of a public crucifixion was meant to shame and silence the growing church. Instead, their steadfast witness strengthened the church, marking Nishizaka as a place remembered for courage, purity of confession, and hope that death cannot extinguish.

Among the condemned was Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit known for clear preaching and calm conviction. From the cross, he testified that salvation is found in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, urging listeners to repent and believe. His words reflected the apostolic gospel: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Even in agony, he spoke as a shepherd to the crowd, calling them not to revenge, but to faith.

The group that was executed included fellow missionaries and Japanese lay believers, some still youths. Their unity was striking: prayer, hymns, and forgiveness shaped their final hours. They did not present themselves as political threats, but as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ willing to lose everything rather than deny Him. Their composure mirrored the Lord’s own teaching: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Their courage was not bravado, but reverent trust, faith expressing itself through obedience. At Nishizaka, each was fixed to a cross and then pierced with lances to hasten death. Yet their testimony endured beyond the moment. Their deaths proclaimed that suffering cannot defeat the gospel, because the Lord Jesus Christ has already conquered the grave. “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:11-12). The martyrs of Nagasaki remind the church to hold fast, to forgive freely, and to cherish resurrection hope when faith is costly.

A Little Humor

During an Easter play rehearsal, one kid playing the angel kept forgetting his line. Finally, he stepped forward dramatically and announced, “Fear not… I forgot what happens next, but it’s good news!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“God’s justice and mercy met at the cross!”