“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col. 2:8 ESV)

The above passage warns us to watch out for several things that could trap you

• Philosophy: Philosophy has to do with matters concerning existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. A personal philosophy is summed up by one's ethical beliefs and/or goals in life for achieving success, love and happiness.  There are many definitions for this, but it all boils down to whether your personal philosophy of life comes from a worldly point of view or comes from the Word of God. “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” (1 Cor. 2:6-7 ESV)

• Empty deceit: Deceit is defined as anything to do with  deception, duplicity, double-dealing, fraud, cheating, trickery, fake, lying, pretense, treachery, crookedness, or scheming. The opposite of deceit is truth. “The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.” (Psalms 15:2-3 NIV)
• According to Human tradition: “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” (2 Thess. 3:6 ESV)
  
• Elementary spirits of the world: “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” (Col. 2:20-22 NIV)
  
• And not according to Christ: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Col. 2:9-10 NIV)
  

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:21 NLT)

The above passage is the gospel (good news) stated very simply and clearly in only one verse. Let’s look at and define the verse a few words at a time:

• FOR GOD - The Father, creator, maker, ruler of the universe, and the source of all moral authority
• MADE – caused, compelled, assigned, appointed
  
• CHRIST – Jesus the Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed  one, the King of Kings, the Lord of lords.
  
• WHO NEVER SINNED – a man of pure and perfect nature, untouched by sin.
  
• TO BE THE OFFERING – to be the acceptable gift sufficient to pay the total cost
  
• FOR OUR SIN – for our transgression against God’s moral laws which have separated us from Him.
  
• SO THAT WE COULD BE MADE RIGHT – so that we could be made righteous, blameless, and irreproachable in God’s sight
• WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST – and have peace with God through what Jesus has done.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15 ESV)

Last week I attended the funeral of a Christian friend. It was a joyous occasion as relatives and friends gathered to celebrate her life. She had lived it well and there was no doubt that she had placed God first in her life. Funerals of friends and loved ones remind us that life on earth is temporary and death is certain for everyone. The Bible has a lot to say on the subject.

Blessed are those who die in the Lord

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Rev. 14:13 ESV)

You will be at home with the Lord

“And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43 ESV)

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:6-8 ESV)

God will wipe away every tear

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4 ESV)

Our spirit returns to God who gave it

“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Eccles. 12:7 ESV)

Those who believe and put their trust in Jesus have eternal life

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” (John 5:24-26 ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 ESV)

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 ESV)

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (2 Cor. 15:22 ESV)

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9 ESV)

Integrity – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. honesty, honor, good character, ethics, righteousness, virtue, decency, fairness.

Integrity means renouncing wrong ways and walking in God’s truth

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor. 4:2 ESV)

The integrity of the upright is their guide

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” (Prov. 11:3 ESV)

“By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. “ (Psalms 41:11-12 ESV)

The righteous walks in integrity and their children are blessed

“The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!” (Prov. 20:7 ESV)

In your teaching show integrity

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” (Titus 2:7 ESV)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

Religious stereotypes

As a child I lived with many different families as part of the foster care program. Some of them attended church, so I went with them and was exposed to a variety of churches. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of them and had no reason to go to church after becoming an adult. My opinion of religious people was mainly formed by what I saw in movies with stereotypes such as Elmer Gantry. Religious characters were usually weak, effeminate, mean, or hypocritical and I didn’t want to be around anyone like them! But, then I met a man who totally changed my mind about what a church goer should look like. It happened in the most unlikely place, at U.S. Army basic training!

A positive example

I was drafted into the Army in 1968 and sent to Fort Lewis for basic training. I was put into a platoon with other young men to learn how to become soldiers. One of them was Jim Bosman, a young man who looked like the perfect soldier. He was strong, learned things quickly, followed orders correctly, and excelled in everything that was taught. Whenever I spoke to Jim, he looked me in the eye, listened intently to what I had to say and replied clearly with genuine friendliness. I noticed that he never complained, had a positive attitude, and he didn’t swear or smoke. Over the next few weeks of basic training we became friends. I was surprised to find out that he liked going to church. On Sundays there was chapel service on the base and he invited the rest of us to go with him. I did, and he was nothing like any of the religious characters I had seen in movies. In fact, he was quite the opposite and changed my mind about religious stereotypes. After basic training, whenever I thought about church, I had only good positive feelings and it was because of the great example demonstrated by my friend, Jim Bosman.

Be a model of good works

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” (Titus 2:7 ESV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

The verse at top is a promise about God’s kind of peace

Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” Notice that he mentions peace twice in the first sentence. That’s because the peace that God gives is more powerful than fear. He says he has given peace to you, and it’s a  different kind of peace than what the world gives.That’s an important distinction to understand.

The verse at top is also a command not to allow fear

Because of the “different” kind of peace that Christ gives, you have been given God’s power over fear. He commands his people, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

God has delivered you from all fears

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 NIV)

Be strong and do not fear, God will help you

“Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” (Isa. 35:4 NIV)

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isa. 41:13 NIV)

Be strong, courageous and do not be afraid

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 NIV)

Because God cares for you, cast all your anxiety on Him

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (2 Peter 5:6-7 NIV)

“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thess. 5:6 ESV)

Awake, put on strength

“Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago.” (Isa. 51:9 ESV)

Awake, for salvation is now nearer than when we first believed

“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Rom. 13:11-12 ESV)

Wake up for some have no knowledge of God

“Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.” (1 Cor. 15:34 ESV)

Stay awake at all times

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36 ESV)

Wake up and strengthen what remains

“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” (Rev. 3:2-3 ESV)

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed,  and overflowing with gratitude.” (Col. 3:6-7 NASB)

Walk in newness of life

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4 ESV)

Walk in the way the Lord has commanded you

“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” (Deut. 5:13 ESV)

Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord

“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:10 ESV)

Walk in love

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:2 ESV)

Don’t walk in darkness

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

Walk in the same way as Jesus

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6 ESV)

Walk humbly with your God

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

Walk in good works

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

Walk in God’s ways

“ Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.” (Zech. 3:7 ESV)

Walk in a Manner worthy of your calling

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Eph. 4:1 ESV)

“But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:15 NLT)

God’s free gift leads to being right with God

“And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. (Rom. 5;16 NLT)

God’s wonderful grace and gift of righteousness

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:17 NLT)

Brings new life and a right relationship with God

“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:18-19 NLT)

God’s wonderful grace rules

“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 5:20-21 NLT)