COLOSSIANS #5
2:16-23
Greg Howse, April 13, 2014
FALSE TEACHERS: Arrogance
Exclusivity
Hidden mysteries that only they know
Manipulating, controlling, and brain-washing people
Legalism (rituals / observing days / diet / fashion)
Greediness for money
Sexual perversion
1:5 The Word of the Truth of the Gospel
1:16 Lord over creation
1:18 Lord of the Church
Christ is preeminent
1:27 Christ - - - in you - - - the hope - - - of glory
2:6 Rooted - - - Built-up - - - Established
2:8 Beware: Look out; take heed . . . there is danger
Philosophy & empty deceit . . .
Tradition of men: Superstition & Skepticism
Basic principles of the world: Earthly; sensual; demonic
2:9,10 Fullness in Christ . . . all of God is in Christ Jesus
There is no deficiency in Christ (John 15 > the SAP is flowing)2
2:11 Circumcision is in Christ: Cutting away and removing the body of sin
2:12 Baptism is in Christ: Not self-improvement, but a whole new self
2:13 We were dead in trespasses & transgression
We offer forgiveness
2:14 Jesus cancelled the record on our debt
2:15 Jesus disarmed His enemies, and made a public spectacle of His defeated foes
in his triumph
2:16-23
16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
18Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
2:16,17
DOING SOMETHING to be more acceptable with God will derail our faith and rob us of living in the Spirit of God
The flesh is very weak when it comes to spiritual worship and devotion to God
The flesh is very strong when it comes to practicing religion / rules & regulations
RED HERRING: A hunting term for training hunting dogs . . . once the dogs are focused on the scent of the prey, the trainer would draw red herrings (stinky fish) across their path. The dogs would initially be distracted from pursuing the prey. The dogs had to be trained to ignore that scent, and remain focused on the scent of the prey.
We must remain focused on pursuing Christ . . . the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him; we live in union with Him
FOOD & DRINK
Multiple OT dietary laws + NT food offered to idols in worship
I Timothy 4:3,4
3 Food God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.
Romans 14:17
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Festivals . . . New moons (a new month; sacrifices) . . . Sabbath days
A SHADOW of things to come . . . SUBSTANCE in Christ
The shadow has no value or use once we have the substance
Isaiah 1:13,14
13 Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
14 I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me. I am weary of bearing them.
LEGALISM & MYSTICISM
LEGALISM: Any effort to connect religious practices of diet, special days, rituals, and ceremonies with one’s salvation or spirituality
MYSTICISM: To conceal; practices and traditions aimed at human transformation; higher thought; ultimate reality
BOTH of these lead us into extreme postures of pride
2:18
CHEATING / DEFRAUDING: A judge or umpire that decides against us, declaring us unworthy of the prize
SELF-ABASEMENT / FALSE HUMILITY: Feelings of superiority
Asceticism: A lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various worldly pleasures, often with the aim of pursuing spiritual goals;
strict self-denial (vows of celibacy; poverty
WORSHIP OF ANGELS: Moving from respect to worship
INTRUDING / ENTERING in the hidden mysteries of “higher knowledge”; a super-spiritual experience; ecstasy; dreams & visions; spirit guides; human potential movement
INFLATED / VAINLY PUFFED UP: Intellectual pride
I Corinthians 8:1
Knowledge puffs up; love edifies.
2:19
NOT HOLDING FAST TO THE HEAD: Seize, or grab hold of
Seeing / Hearing / Deciding / Speaking
2:20
DEAD IN CHRIST
2:21
DO NOT HANDLE
DO NOT TASTE Extreme self-denial
DO NOT TOUCH
2:22
DESTINED TO PERISH
2:23
SELF-ABASEMENT
SEVERE TREATMENT OF THE BODY
3:1-4
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
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