As we learn the Bible, we grow in our appreciation of the endless immensity of God’s love for us. As we grow in our appreciation of God’s love for us, as ultimately expressed in His Son, Jesus, we won’t be deceived by siren songs in the world that attempt to draw us away from our singular devotion to Christ. Paul explains in verse 5, “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.” The KJV replaces the word “delude” with “beguile.” It’s better because it expresses intent. There is a personal agenda behind the brands of so-called religion that dilutes the message of Christ. The agenda is anything but peaceful. In one of Spurgeon’s sermons, he addressed those who beguile instead of delude. Although both might be right in some ways, beguile carries with it the intent of the author. Spurgeon says, “He gives a special warning against some others who would beguile you; that is to say, who will try to turn you out of the right road, but who will not tell you that they mean to do so. They pretend that they are going to show you something better than what you have, to teach you something that you knew not before, some improvement upon what you have hitherto learned.”[1]
But Paul, in the next verse, verse 6, says that he is so glad that the Colossians haven’t fallen for the “siren songs” of their culture. Even in Paul’s day, there were those who would turn believers away from their faith. We face a major effort today, especially in the public school system, that makes the Christian faith look ridiculous. They promote the evolutionary theory of origins. They dismiss the moral teachings on sexual purity. They hold up the common assumption that all religions are the same and all lead up the mountain to God, albeit by different routes. They make the specifics of the Christian faith anathema in the public forum. There is even an element today that tries to beguile children into not accepting the way that God made them. Genital mutilation is referred to as gender-affirming surgery. The Colossians are not fooled. Paul writes, “I am…rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”
“Good order” and “Firmness” are military terms. Paul loves to use military metaphors when encouraging us in battle. Good order deals with unity of purpose. Firmness means they haven’t broken ranks. At times, you can almost feel Paul’s exhaustion with his battle for the faith. It’s especially true in the last books he wrote, the Timothy and Titus Epistles. Paul stood firm. He hung on. He fought the good fight, and we must, too. It’s not just the quality of the lives we live here on earth that’s at stake. It’s an eternity as well. Like the Colossians, our faith is under attack. Like good soldiers of the cross, we need to stay in the ranks and stand firm in the faith. Stand firm, like a concrete fencepost.
[1] Spurgeon, C. H. 1915. “A Warning to Believers.” In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, 61:315. London: Passmore & Alabaster.