Distractions from Christ

In this seventh message, Paul commands the Colossians to avoid the various distractions of the day that were seeking to lead them away from devotion to Christ - teaching that Jesus was not enough. The first distraction was LEGALISM which taught that conformity to man-made rules made one spiritual or holy. Paul's demand was that they not submit to a list of religious taboos and fall into the danger of trying to keep extra-Biblical commands. The second distraction was MYSTICISM which taught that trust in personal religious experiences provided ultimate reality. Paul's demand was that they not allow false teachers to declare them unworthy of reward and fall into the danger of being puffed up in their fleshly minds. The third distraction was ASCETICISM which taught that rigorous self-denial is the way to godliness. It required a deference to strict abstinence and the danger of self-made religion, self-abasement and neglect.