The Place to Be #70

 Colossians 2:8 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. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Havin called on this church to be deeply rooted in Christ, Paul gets to the core of his letter: Don't let anyone or anything pull you away from Him.  There are all sorts of "isms" out there - false doctrines - that Satan uses to draw people from full faith in Christ. The devil tries to deceive us into thinking we are not full, making us discontented. He wants us to add rites and ceremonies as requirements for salvation, instead of trusting in the resurrected Christ.  He wants us to doubt His power to forgive, and therefore live in doubt and shame, fearful of the very spiritual beings He has driven out and conquered on the cross.  Christ is more than enough, and when made to think otherwise, be sure Satan is not far away.