Colossians 2:8–9 (NKJV)
8 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. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
As followers of Christ, we must be careful of the world’s philosophy. We are to seek after the truth of God! Where do we find the truth of God? Know your Bible! Know the Word of God.
Worldly philosophy should not be taught or preached in the church. But how do we know if it is or not? We are to know the Word of God by studying the Bible. Any teaching that puts the things of this world ahead of Christ is of this world. The church is a place of fellowship and love. It is a place of acceptance. It is a place where Christ is not only taught but exalted. Nothing should ever come before Him.
This is where we have come to in the church today. We have quit teaching the elementary principles of God. Many have come to preach and teach a prosperity gospel which is no Gospel at all. Nothing in this world will last. One day we all are going to leave this world and nothing of this world will go with us. But there is a prosperity found in the Bible. That prosperity is Jesus and Jesus only. John writes of this in 3 John 2–4 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” We live in Jesus, walk in Jesus through the power of His Word.
So, how do we know the truth. We read and study God’s Word. We attend God’s church; we fellowship in God’s church. We share in the Word of God in His church. But our fellowship with God is not left in the church. We fellowship with God daily as we live in the world.
We need God. Daily we need God. We realize our citizenship is not in this world but in heaven. We look forward to being with Christ in heaven. As Paul writes in Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”