Lie: There is no truth

Introduction

Blast from the past movie illustration

You see this movie was a comedy about what might happen if someone grew up believing this lie only to discover that none of it was true.

I mean, imagine living your whole life with the assumption that what you have been told about the how the world works is true and then discovering that your entire worldview was built on a lie or a series of lie.

Unlike the movie, it would not be funny, it would be quite devastating.

But this is not just a hypothetical scenario, this is reality.

And it is this reality along with the leading of the Holy Spirit that has led me to develop a new series that addresses this very idea.

The Great Deception

It is in this series that I hope to expose some of the lies that our world has deceived so many of us into believing and then highlighting what the truth on the subject actually has to say.

All our lives since we were young children we have been taught the importance of telling the truth. To be honest and trustworthy.

And while that is a good thing, It is not enough that we can tell the truth, we need to be able to discern the truth as well.

And this is an area where unfortunately, many are lacking. And it isn’t all our fault. The problem is that we live in a world that is infected by sin and therefore is designed to keep us from discerning the truth.

Paul when writing to the Colossians understood this fact and gave specific instructions on how to avoid letting the world distort their understanding of what was true and what was not.

The believers here were at risk of setting aside the truth they had learned as followers of Jesus and accepting a worldview built on lies.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Paul here is directly addressing the issue of those in the Church who were listening to the voices outside who were clamoring for their attention and leading them away from the truth.

A Warning

Look at the warning he gives them in verse 8

New Living Translation Chapter 2

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

You see, believing a lie here is likened to being captured by something. In the Greek this work means to take by control or force and carry off as plunder.

What this means is that when you and I choose to ignore the truth of God’s word and believe the world’s lies about how everything works. we become plunder in the enemies battle against truth.

But what is it specifically that we are in danger of being captured by?

Paul calls it empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that comes from human thinking.

Empty Philosophies

In other words human wisdom that has no substance, it is empty. You see God has given us the ability to understand and exercise wisdom. What Paul is warning against here is foolishness masquerading as wisdom.

We see a lot of that today don’t we.

In an election year we hear from all sorts of people on how they are going to be the one to fix all of our country’s biggest problems. That they will be able to do what no other leader has been able to do before them.

And if you and I are foolish enough to believe them, then we are buying into empty philosophies.

High Sounding Nonsense

In other words Paul is saying that there are some who when they speak, what they have to say might sound intelligent, logical, and even sensible. But at the end of the day, it is still nonsense.

A good lie shouldn’t cause us to stop and wonder if it is true. A good lie will cause us to accept it without questioning it.

Paul is warning the early Church and by extension you and I, that just because someone can make a convincing argument or say something that appeals to our desire to things to make sense and be logical doesn’t mean it is true.

And look at where this high-sounding nonsense comes from in verse 8.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world

Satan is a master deceiver and ultimately that is where the world finds its high-sounding nonsense.

Paul is saying don’t be fooled Church. There are people around you who are going to say things that make a lot of sense or sound good and sound legitimate but be careful, not all of it is good and true.

And if you and I aren’t careful we will be taken captive and made prisoners of these lies.

So the question we must ask ourselves is “what can we do to prevent us from being deceived?”.

3 Things

There three things that Paul says we should be doing in Colossians 2:6-7

New Living Translation Chapter 2

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Continue to Follow

Develop a Root System

Build on the Truth