for in him dwells all the fullness of the godhead …mislead, beguile, the lead astray by false...

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete

in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 2:9-10

The Great Deception

Colossians 2:4

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

Colossians 2:4

Now this I say lest anyone (or, a specific one that shall remain nameless) should deceive (or, mislead, beguile, the lead astray by false

reasoning) you (how) with persuasive (or, enticing, alluring) words.

Colossians 2:4

Colossians 2:5

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and

the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:5

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing (or, to be filled with joy, to

rejoice exceedingly or greatly) to see your good order (or, arrangement, condition,

disposition, rank, position) and the steadfastness (or, firmness, stability, strength) of (what) your

faith in (who) Christ.

Colossians 2:5

Colossians 2:6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Colossians 2:6

As you therefore have (what) received (who) Christ Jesus the Lord, so (what) walk (how) in Him,

Colossians 2:6

Colossians 2:7

rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in

it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:7

rooted (or, to firmly fix, establish, to be thoroughly grounded) and built up (or, to build upon, to erect a super-structure) in Him and established (or, to be sure, fixed, firm, reliable, to inspire confidence) in

the faith, (how) as you have been taught, abounding (or, to be in excess, to have more than

enough) in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:7

Question

But what if I’m not?

Question

What if I’m not rooted and grounded in Him and established in the faith?

Question

What if I’m more concerned about this world and what it thinks of me rather than pleasing Him?

Question

What if I want “My Best Life Now”?

Question

What if I want “My Best Life Now”?

What if I’m more earth bound than heaven bound?

Answer

Then I’m in grave danger of being taken captive by the seductive teachings of this world.

Answer

I’m in imminent peril of being deceived by the father of lies, Satan himself.

Answer

I’m dangerously close to elevating the teachings of fallen men to the same, if not to a higher place in

my life, than the Word of God.

Answer

I’m dangerously close to elevating the teachings of fallen men to the same, if not to a higher place in

my life, than the Word of God.

And we do it all the time.

Examples

To your own self be true.

Examples

Follow your heart.

Examples

Follow your heart.

You can’t love others until you first love yourself.

Examples

Follow your heart.

Be all you can be.

Examples

Follow your heart.

Be all you can be.

Go for the gusto in life.

Examples

Follow your heart.

Be all you can be.

Be who you are.

Examples

Follow your heart.

Be all you can be.

Be who you are.

Don’t change who you are for anybody.

Examples

Follow your heart.

Be all you can be.

Be who you are.

Don’t change who you are for anybody.

You’re beautiful, just like you are.

Examples

Follow your dreams, believe in yourself and don't give up.

Examples

Live, love, laugh.

Examples

Live, love, laugh.

First time, shame on you. Second time, shame on me.

Examples

“You can get what you want or you can just get old.”

Examples

“You can get what you want or you can just get old.”

Billy Joel

Examples

I got this Jesus tattoo on my wrist when I was 18 because I know that it's always going to be a part of me. When I'm playing, it's staring right back at me, saying, “Remember where you came from.”

Examples

I got this Jesus tattoo on my wrist when I was 18 because I know that it's always going to be a part of me. When I'm playing, it's staring right back at me, saying, “Remember where you came from.”

Katy Perry

Examples

“In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the

Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of

vipers and adders. How terrific was His fight for the world.”

Examples

“In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the

Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of

vipers and adders. How terrific was His fight for the world.”

Adolf Hitler.

Examples

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy. It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not

prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more

than enough for us.”

Examples

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy. It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not

prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more

than enough for us.”

David Platt, Radical

Examples

“Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put

Christ and His will first in everything you do.”

Examples

“Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put

Christ and His will first in everything you do.”

Billy Graham

Colossians 2:8

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.

Colossians 2:8

Beware (why) lest anyone cheat (or, spoil, rob, to lead away as prey, to carry off as a captive) you

(how) through philosophy (or, the love of human wisdom) and empty deceit (or, vain, worthless

deceit), according to the tradition of men (or, the teachings of men), according to the basic

principles (or, primary rudiments) of the world (kosmos), and not according to Christ.

Colossians 2:8

Question

What are the traditions of men, philosophy and empty deception, and the elementary principles of

this world we are warned about?

Question

Human wisdom and philosophy.

Question

Human values and purpose.

Question

Human logic and understanding.

Question

Human logic and understanding.

Human teachings about the nature of life.

The Great Deception

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again

with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

The Great Deception

Stand fast therefore in (what) the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and (what) do not be

entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

The Great Deception

Galatians 5:1

The Great Deception

Galatians 5:1

The Great Deception

Galatians 5:1

The Great Deception

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are

ravenous wolves.”

Matthew 7:15

The Great Deception

“Beware of false prophets, who (what) come to you in sheep’s clothing, but (what) inwardly they

are ravenous wolves.”

Matthew 7:15

The Great Deception

Matthew 7:15

The Great Deception

Matthew 7:15

The Great Deception

Matthew 7:15

The Great Deception

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:6

The Great Deception

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of (what) the leaven of (who) the Pharisees and

the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:6

The Great Deception

the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:6

The Great Deception

the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:6

The Great Deception

the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:6

The Great Deception

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the

disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to

warn everyone night and day with tears.”

Acts 20:29-31

The Great Deception

Acts 20:29-31

The Great Deception

Acts 20:29-31

The Great Deception

Acts 20:29-31

The Great Deception

Acts 20:29-31

The Great Deception

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation (or, false circumcision)!

Philippians 3:2

The Great Deception

Philippians 3:2

The Great Deception

Philippians 3:2

The Great Deception

Philippians 3:2

The Great Deception

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall

from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.

2 Peter 3:17

The Great Deception

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, (what) beware (why) lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, (how)

being led away with the error of the wicked.

2 Peter 3:17

The Great Deception

2 Peter 3:17

The Great Deception

2 Peter 3:17

The Great Deception

2 Peter 3:17

The Great Deception

2 Peter 3:17

The Great, Liberating Truth

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the

head of all principality and power.

Colossians 2:9-10

First, the Sufficiency of Christ

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

Colossians 2:9

For in Him (Christ) dwells (or, inhabits, resides, abides) all (or, every, the totality, the whole,

oneness, absolutely all, to be complete in every part) the fullness (or, completeness, to make full,

whole) of the Godhead (or, God, Deity) bodily (or, in bodily form);

Colossians 2:9

Next, His Sufficiency for Us

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 2:9

and you (you and me, the redeemed) are complete (or, to render full, to be supplied abundantly, to

impart richly) in Him (Christ), who (described as) is the head (or, the uppermost, top, preeminent) of all principality (or, dignitary, first rule, that which

was from the beginning) and power (exousia – authority, right, permission to do something).

Colossians 2:9

Question

But what happens when we don’t feel complete in Him?

Question

What happens when we try to meet our deepest felt needs ourselves?

Question

What happens when we try to meet our deepest felt needs ourselves?

What happens then?

Proverbs 1

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

My son, if (or, when) sinners (or, those reckoned as offenders, those facing condemnation for their

actions, those under the wrath and judgment of God) entice (or, deceive, persuade, allure) you,

(what) do not consent (or, yield, be willing, acquiescent).

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:10

Question

Why would a Godly son be enticed by sinners?

Question

What could they possible offer him that he would want?

Question

What would he gain from that relationship?

Question

What would he gain from that relationship?

What’s the payoff for the son?

Answer

The son would seek out the companionship of the sinners in order to have his deep needs met that

should have been met in Christ.

Answer

The son would seek out the companionship of the sinners in order to have his deep needs met that

should have been met in Christ.

In other words, the son would try to satisfy his own longings for acceptance, belonging, love and purpose in his own flesh when Christ has already

satisfied those needs in His flesh on the cross.

Proverbs 1:11-18

Acceptance and Belonging

If they say, “Come with us…”

Proverbs 1:11a

If (or when) they say, “Come with us (acceptance and belonging)…”

Proverbs 1:11a

Power, Violence and Excitement

Let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; let

us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

Proverbs 1:11b-12

Let us (acceptance and belonging) lie in wait (excitement) to shed blood (power and

violence); let us (acceptance and belonging) lurk secretly (excitement) for the innocent without

cause (power and violence); let us (acceptance and belonging) swallow them alive like

Sheol (power), and whole, like those who go down to the Pit (power).

Proverbs 1:11b-12

Greed, Lust and the Love of Money

We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil.

Proverbs 1:13

We (acceptance and belonging) shall find all kinds of precious possessions (greed, lust and the love of

money), we (acceptance and belonging) shall fill our houses with spoil (greed, lust and

the love of money).

Proverbs 1:13

the love of money).

Proverbs 1:13

the love of money).

Proverbs 1:13

the love of money).

Proverbs 1:13

the love of money).

Proverbs 1:13

Companionship and Belonging

Cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse.

Proverbs 1:14

Cast in your lot among us (companionship and belonging), let us (acceptance and belonging)

all have one purse (companionship).

Proverbs 1:14

Our Sufficiency in Christ

Christ is Complete in Himself

Colossian 2:9

And We are Complete in Christ

Colossian 2:10

My Sufficiency in Christ

And I am Complete in Christ

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were

created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or

dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the

church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the

preeminence.

Colossians 1:15-18

preeminence.

Colossians 1:15-18

And you are in Christ.

preeminence.

Colossians 1:15-18

And you are in Christ.

And you are complete in Him.

for in him dwells all the fullness of the godhead …mislead, beguile, the lead astray by false...

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