In this age of social media, internet, we see many doctrines floating around. Many state verse after verse and come up with persuasive arguments, which are very convincing. How do we know which one is true doctrine and which one is the delusional doctrine? Apostle Paul encountered this issue with the church in Colosse. He wrote to them about it in Col 2:4-5.

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Doctrines That Focus On Abusing Your Body is a Delusion

We see many teachings that focus on mistreating your body, and somehow connects it with fulfillment in Christ. I know people who deprive themselves of sleep, and even say that God got mad at them for sleeping. At three in the morning!! There are others who insist on wearing whites in churches, no moustaches, some that insist on not having a good mattress because they want to not “enjoy anything but Christ”.¹ These were also there in the church in Colosse as a way to grow spiritually.

So, what did Paul say regarding this? He emphasizes that Christ dwells in the believer, and that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 1:19, 2:2-3). Don’t go anywhere other than Christ for getting treasures. More often than not, the reason why people look everywhere else but Christ for treasures is because their treasure is not Christ.

Just Because It Sounds Right doesn’t mean its Right

Paul warns against “persuasive arguments,” where people may present logical and convincing points to promote falsehoods. However, truth is not determined by the quality of an argument but by its alignment with Scripture.

The Bereans in Acts 17:11 are a model for how to deal with anyone that comes with the Word:

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Believers should follow their example, always verifying teachings with Scripture, no matter how persuasive or eloquent the arguments. However, we see that people often look at the stature of the preacher, and how many degrees they have got, and then eat up whatever they say. Are you so? When is the last time you checked for yourself whatever was preached?

True Doctrine is not based on Legalism, but Disciplined Alignment with the Sufficiency of Christ

The phrase “good discipline” in Colossians 2:5 is translated from the Greek τὴν τάξιν (tēn taxin). The literal meaning of the greek is order, arrangement, or proper sequence. The word Taxis was often used in Greek military terminology to describe the discipline and orderliness of troops, emphasizing unity and coordinated action. Paul commends the Colossians for their spiritual discipline, not in a legalistic sense but as an intentional, Spirit-led effort. Paul mentions again in this context because he knows that they cannot be complacent and let their guard down in this battle to occupy the minds. Get your minds in order, fill it with the Word and renew it.

Disciplining yourself is very important to being fruitful in Christ. It’s not that discipline makes us perfect in Christ, because we already are. If spiritual life was all there is, it would make sense to stop here. However, God cares about our physical life, and he wants us to live out the victory we have in the spirit into the natural, and for that discipline is needed.

Our body is self-centered and tends to seek its own pleasure. Discipline involves controlling the body’s impulses, much like a parent disciplines a child. For example, a child might want to eat chocolate all day and neglect responsibilities. Similarly, the body may resist waking up early, crave junk food, or seek comfort at the expense of spiritual growth.

Paul’s concept of discipline calls for believers to live by the Spirit rather than being governed by the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). Discipline is not about legalism but about training the body to align with the will of God for holistic growth.

True Doctrine focuses on Stabilizing your faith

The stability of faith is another key phrase in Colossians 2:5. True Doctrine focusses on what we are in Christ, and encourages us to live it out in the natural, because that is who we are. It encourages unwavering assurance in Christ, rooted in trust and understanding.

Paul defines faith in Hebrews 11:1:

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith is not always about seeing or understanding every step from A to B; it involves trusting God even when the path is unclear. Stability of faith means:

• Having an unshakable assurance in God’s promises.
• Trusting in God’s Word even when emotions or circumstances suggest otherwise.

Paul alludes to this in Colossians 2:2, where he speaks of the full assurance of understanding, showing that stability of faith is rooted in a clear understanding of God’s truth. Stability doesn’t mean we won’t face doubts or challenges, but it means choosing to stand firm on what God has said, regardless of how we feel.

Conclusion

Paul’s teaching in Colossians 2:4-5 serves as a powerful reminder to:

• Guard against heresies and deceptive arguments by staying grounded in the sufficiency of Christ.
• Examine all teachings through Scripture, like the Bereans.
• Recognize that spiritual realities, such as being “present in spirit,” are not mere metaphors but reflect deep spiritual truths.
• Embrace good discipline, not as legalism, but as Spirit-led training to align the body with God’s will.
• Cultivate stability of faith by trusting God’s promises and holding fast to His Word, even amidst trials and doubts.

Through discipline and faith, believers can remain steadfast and resist the dangers of persuasive heresies or wavering convictions.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, thanking You for the wisdom and treasures hidden in Christ. You have made Him the source of all knowledge, understanding, and strength for us. Help us to remain rooted and grounded in Him, so that no false teaching or persuasive argument can lead us astray.

Lord, guide us to examine every teaching in light of Your Word, just as the Bereans did. Give us hearts that are humble to seek truth and bold to stand firm in faith, even when the world around us tries to shake us.

Father, teach us what it means to walk in good discipline, not out of legalism, but from a Spirit-led desire to honor You with our lives. Help us to train our bodies and minds to align with Your will.

Lord, we choose to trust in you. we will remain stable in that assurance in the storms of life. Teach us to never look at circumstances or emotions, even when we don’t understand the path ahead. May our assurance be firmly rooted in Your promises, and may our hearts rest in the confidence of Your truth.

Thank You, Father, for the unity we share as the body of Christ. Let our lives reflect the discipline, stability, and love that glorifies Your name.

In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray,

Amen.

Footnotes

1. These erroneous doctrines are prevalent even today because of Platonic philosophy that has crept into the church which teaches that our bodies are bad, and only spiritual is good. ↩︎