Focus Verse:

“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.” (Colossians 2:13)

There are many who sincerely follow philosophies, strict disciplines, and even a life of good works, all in the hopes that these will somehow bring them to perfection and the judgement of God that they have earned life eternal. The false teachers at Colossae were likely sincerely following their own teachings and seeking to lead others on what they believed to be the path of salvation through them. However, all of these teachings [like all the false teachings of today] would lead people away from Jesus, who is God’s gift of salvation, and away from His gifts that bring His forgiving grace, His cross, His Word, His Sacraments of Baptism and Communion. Such “noble paths” are all a trick of Satan and his forces of evil. Thankfully, our Lord uses Paul to point out the folly of such false teachings and point us clearly back to our complete and only source of sal-vation Who paid for that gift with His own blood.