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throughout the universe of God； is the hand that was nailed to the cross for
them。 〃By Him were all things created；〃 Paul wrote； 〃that are in heaven； and
that are in earth； visible and invisible； whether they be thrones； or
dominions； or principalities； or powers： all things were created by Him； and
for Him： and He is before all things； and by Him all things consist。〃 〃And
you； that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works；
yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death； to
present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight。〃
The Son of God stooped to uplift the fallen。 For this He left the sinless
worlds on high； the ninety and nine that loved Him； and came to this earth
to be 〃wounded for our transgressions〃 and 〃bruised for our iniquities。〃
Isaiah 53：5。 He was in all things made like unto His brethren。 He became
flesh； even as we are。 He knew what it meant to be hungry and thirsty and
weary。 He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep。 He was a stranger
and a sojourner on the earthin the world； but not of the world； tempted
and tried as men and women of today are tempted and tried； yet living a life
free from sin。 Tender； compassionate； sympathetic； ever considerate of
others； He represented the character of God。 〃The Word was made flesh； and
dwelt among us； 。 。 。 full of grace and truth。〃 John 1：14。
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Surrounded by the practices and influences of heathenism； the Colossian
believers were in danger of being drawn away from the simplicity of the
gospel； and Paul； in warning them against this； pointed them to Christ as
the only safe guide。 〃I would that ye knew；〃 he wrote； 〃what great conflict
I have for you； and for them at Laodicea； and for as many as have not seen
my face in the flesh； that their hearts might be comforted； being knit
together in love； and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding； to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God； and of the
Father； and of Christ； in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge。
〃And this I say； lest any man should beguile you with enticing words。 。 。 。
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord； so walk yet in Him：
rooted and built up in Him； and stablished in the faith； as ye have been
taught； abounding therein with thanksgiving。 Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit； after the tradition of men； after the
rudiments of the world； and not after Christ。 For in Him dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily。 And ye are complete in Him； which is the
head of all principality and power。〃
Christ had foretold that deceivers would arise； through whose influence
〃iniquity〃 should 〃abound；〃 and 〃the love of many〃 should 〃wax cold。〃
Matthew 24：12。 He had warned the disciples that the church would be in more
danger from this evil than from the persecution of her enemies。 Again and
again Paul warned the believers against these false teachers。 This peril；
above all others； they must guard
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against； for by receiving false teachers； they would open the door to errors
by which the enemy would dim the spiritual perceptions and shake the
confidence of those newly come to the faith of the gospel。 Christ was the
standard by which they were to test the doctrines presented。 All that was
not in harmony with His teachings they were to reject。 Christ crucified for
sin； Christ risen from the dead； Christ ascended on highthis was the
science of salvation that they were to learn and teach。
The warnings of the word of God regarding the perils surrounding the
Christian church belong to us today。 As in the days of the apostles men
tried by tradition and philosophy to destroy faith in the Scriptures； so
today； by the pleasing sentiments of higher criticism； evolution；
spiritualism； theosophy； and pantheism； the enemy of righteousness is
seeking to lead souls into forbidden paths。 To many the Bible is as a lamp
without oil； because they have turned their minds into channels of
speculative belief that bring misunderstanding and confusion。 The work of
higher criticism； in dissecting； conjecturing； reconstructing； is destroying
faith in the Bible as a divine revelation。 It is robbing God's word of power
to control； uplift； and inspire human lives。 By spiritualism； multitudes are
taught to believe that desire is the highest law； that license is liberty；
and that man is accountable only to himself。
The follower of Christ will meet with the 〃enticing words〃 against which the
apostle warned the Colossian believers。 He will meet with spiritualistic
interpretations of
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the Scriptures； but he is not to accept them。 His voice is to be heard in
clear affirmation of the eternal truths of the Scriptures。 Keeping his eyes
fixed on Christ； he is to move steadily forward in the path marked out；
discarding all ideas that are not in harmony with His teaching。 The truth of
God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation。 He is to
regard the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to him。 Thus he will
find the wisdom which is divine。
The knowledge of God as revealed in Christ is the knowledge that all who are
saved must have。 This is the knowledge that works transformation of
character。 Received into the life； it will re…create the soul in the image
of Christ。 This is the knowledge that God invites His children to receive；
beside which all else is vanity and nothingness。
In every generation and in every land the true foundation for character
building has been the samethe principles contained in the word of God。 The
only safe and sure rule is to do what God says。 〃The statutes of the Lord
are right；〃 and 〃he that doeth these things shall never be moved。〃 Psalms
19：8； 15：5。 It was with the word of God that the apostles met the false
theories of their day； saying； 〃Other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid。〃 1 Corinthians 3：11。
At the time of their conversion and baptism the Colossian believers pledged
themselves to put away beliefs and practices that had hitherto been a part
of their lives； and to be true to their allegiance to Christ。 In his letter；
Paul reminded them of this； and entreated them not to forget that in order
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to keep their pledge they must put forth constant effort against the evils
that would seek for mastery over them。 〃If ye then be risen with Christ；〃 he
said； 〃seek those things which are above； where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God。 Set your affection on things above； not on things on the earth。
For ye are dead； and your life is hid with Christ in God。〃
〃If any man be in Christ； he is a new creature： old things are passed away；
behold； all things are become new。〃 2 Corinthians 5：17。 Through the power of
Christ； men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit。 They have
renounced selfishness。 The profane have become reverent； the drunken sober；
the profligate pure。 Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have become
transformed into the image of God。 This change is in itsel