charity

CHARITY IS NOT PUFFED UP: chapter V

Scotty Erb

24 Mar 2026 — 7 min read

People often get puffed up over foolish things. One area of things is in what they think they understand, getting puffed up in their fleshly minds.

Colossians 2:18-19 KJV Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

These types do not put their trust and hope in God at all. Rather they lean unto the wisdom of men through lexicon learning, running to the Hebrew and Greek and constantly changing the word of God. This type of thinking is what has led into various off shoots of Christianity. From your Catholics and Mormons to your Amish and JW's. All these recognized government institutions, even Baptists and Pentecostals are amongst these. As they each have there own traditions through the rudiments of the world as well as follow after philosophy for deeper understandings in the word of God. And the Bible plainly warns against such things.

Colossians 2:8-9 KJV 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. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

All we need is Christ Jesus. However when these organized religions are formed they always have their own traditions and commandments of men they impose upon their congregation. such traditions and commandments that are only implied to the word of God through a private interpretation... Which is why the other off shoots of Christianity do not follow the same traditions. All the while claiming they are the ones following the scriptures but not the others. It is all quite laughable as they all have their eyes in their own heads.

Colossians 2:10 KJV And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:18-19 KJV Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

And in not holding the Head (Jesus Christ the Lord) as the author and finisher of our faith as in Hebrews 12:2. These supposed Christians think they must hold to worldly ordinances to be in right standing with God. And even though some of these things may sound good, they are not of God and do nothing for someone's walk of faith. Faith is not something see, neither is it ever made better by something seen or any rudiment of the world.

Colossians 2:20-23 KJV Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

people puff up at one another in various areas of pride in things like this. basing their faith on what they do or do not do. Or what church they go to, or even what man they follow. This is all very carnally minded according to the word of God. It is God who gives the increase not any man or man made organization. (which is quite sad as there are groups of Christians named after a man even: some examples are the Mennonites, after Mino Simmons; and Calvinists, after John Calvin.)

1 Corinthians 3:3-7 KJV For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

These groups as well as each listed, and any others you can think of are all carnally minded and foolish, no matter how wise they think they are in their own doctrines. Comparing themselves amongst themselves and measuring themselves amongst themselves. Not looking at Christ Jesus but being entangled with the affairs of this life thinking they are made perfect by the flesh. They have gone seeking after wisdom and got blinded by the god of this world caring for the things of this world.

1 Corinthians 3:18 KJV Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Galatians 3:3 KJV Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

2 Timothy 2:4 KJV No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

And with this last verse here above in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 we can really see how such self proclaimed Christian groups have gained traction. As according to the word of God people enjoy a fables that want something that itches their ear instead of truth. No wonder many of the denominations of false converts have only spang up in the last 200 years. But Catholics don't go getting highminded as you have your part in Mystery Babylon mentioned in Revelation chapter 17 and 18. But that is anther study topic entirely.

The sum of things here is that the Lord hates a proud look! In fact it is the first thing he hates on a list given in the word of God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

And if you have a boastfulness at all in yourself or a group you subscribe to or join in attendance regularly. Understand such boastfulness is pride and evidence that you have been turned aside from the faith. Turned unto something other than the Head, Jesus Christ our Saviour and the Lord. And instead of walking in the simplicity of the gospel of Christ you will find yourself worried more about what you do or don't do in the flesh more than just preaching the gospel of salvation and being an ambassador of Christ. Don't let any man beguile you through such subtlety and smooth words supposing to teach what the word of God really means by what it says. Instead just accept the word of God in its simplicity to mean what it says without and grand wisdom of this world. it is the simplicity of the gospel after all and if you leave that for various side matters as a top concern then you are as Eve was in the garden of Eden... deceived through subtleties that sounded good but ain't of God... only implied to the word of God through extra info...

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 KJV But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

2 Peter 1:20 KJV Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

...remember...
...the Devils first word were, "yea hath God said"...
Genesis 3:1 KJV Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Why would his ministers deceive by any different means today? They also come and say, "Yea, hath God said". Adding to the scriptures and taking away from its simplicity.

In these things rest just one side of the matter how men get puffed up. And then lack charity to edify and care for the things that be Christ's.

Galatians 5:4 KJV Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

2 Corinthians 6:1 KJV We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

We all have knowledge with such matters and can go on about many conspiracy type things as well. But what profit is there in it. Does a man get saved when understanding dark truths? Or does he get saved when hearing the gospel of salvation?
What is the power of God unto salvation?

Romans 1:16 KJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

So what you think you know does not matter become a fool for Christ and preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21). set aside the things you or others can be puffed up in and have charity!