HCC Sunday Service

Text: Colossians 2:5-10

Title: The Importance of Apostolic Tradition

INTRODUCTION

Today we’re gonna

Continue our series

in Colossians.

Let’s turn together

in our Bibles

To Colossians

Chapter 2.

& we’re gonna read

verses 1-8

Colossians 2:1-8.

& when you find that

in your Bible

pls stand for the reading

of God’s Word.

The title of today’s teaching is:

The Importance of

Apostolic Tradition

In Colossians 2:5-9

The Scriptures say:

Colossians 2:5–9 (NIV)

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form...

You may be seated.

How important

is Apostolic Tradition

in the Church?

How important

is Apostolic Tradition

for our salvation?

Some of you may be

thinking:

“I would answer

“those questions

“But I don’t know

“What Apostolic Tradition is.”

Today we’ll talk abt

what Apostolic Tradition is.

& talk abt why

it’s so important

in the Church

& for our salvation.

Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father we thank you

for your word.

We ask you

to open our eyes

to see the truth.

Open our ears

To hear the truth.

Open our hearts

To believe

the truth.

& give us grace

to obey the truth.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

Paul starts this passage

Using military language

to describe

the saints in Colossae.

Paul has inspected

the troops

& found them living

disciplined lives.

They’re ready for battle

In the good fight

of the faith.

& what’s very interesting

is how Paul knew

they were ready

for battle.

In Colossians 2:5

Colossians 2:5 (NIV)

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in [the] spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

How was Paul

present w/ them

in the spirit?

& how cld Paul see

in the spirit

how disciplined

they were?

Does Paul mean

the HS gave

Him some kind

of window to see

into the lives of the saints

in Colossae?

Honestly?

I have absolutely

no clue

how this works.

But that is

what Paul says.

So, I’ll just

Take his word

for it.

Somehow

in the spirit

Paul was present

w/ them

& saw that the saints

in Colossae

were ready for battle.

That’s what Paul means

when he says

he’s delighted to see

how disciplined

[they] are.

The Greek word

behind the word

“disciplined”

is a military term.

Paul praises

the saints

in Colossae bcs

Every person

knows their rank.

& every person

knows their role.

So, they’re ready.

They’re standing in

fighting formation

& standing firm

in their faith in Christ.

They’ve stood together

& stood against

false teaching

abt Jesus.

Epaphras was a faithful

man of God

who had taught them

the One true faith well.

& they were

standing firm in

& holding tight to

to the Faith

as it was

passed dwn to them.

& Paul goes on:

In Colossians 2:6-7

to talk abt the faith

they had received.

Paul says

Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught...

The Greek word

behind the word

“received” here

expresses the idea of

being formally taught

& accepting traditions

that are handed dwn

frm an authoritative source.

Paul’s talking

abt the traditions

they had received

abt Christ.

Paul also calls

these traditions

The faith

they were taught

& the true message

of the gospel

that has

come to them.

In Acts 2:42

Luke calls these traditions

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

...the apostles’ teaching...

All of those phrases

“The Faith”

“The Gospel”

& “the Apostles’ Teaching”

Are dfrnt ways

of talking abt

The Apostolic Tradition.

Now

Let’s talk abt

tradition for a minute.

I think most of the

Christian world

has the idea

that all traditions

are bad.

We treat

the word “tradition”

like a cuss word.

& anyone who

talks abt tradition

is dismissed

as a legalistic Pharisee.

But we’ve gotta understand

There are:

Good traditions:

& bad traditions.

There are

traditions we must

follow.

& traditions

we must not follow.

Jesus talks abt

bad traditions:

In Mark 7:8-9.

He says to the

religious leaders

of His day:

Mark 7:8–9 (NIV)

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

So many ppl

talk as if

The religious leaders—

The Scribes & Pharisees

in Jesus’ day

were these really righteous ppl

who were sticklers

for obeying

God’s Commands.

But when we read

the gospels

we see that’s just

not true.

In fact

it was just the opposite.

These leaders

shld’ve been

righteous men

who obeyed God’s commands

& taught God’s ppl

how to obey

God’s commands.

Instead

They did everything

they cld

to side-step

God’s commands

so they cld keep

their own traditions.

Jesus goes on

In Mark 7:10-13

to give an example of

one of these traditions.

He says:

Mark 7:10–13 (NIV)

“For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’

But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—

then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother.

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

God’s command

thru Moses is

to honor your

father & mother.

One way to do that is

By supporting your parents

financially

in their old age.

But the religious leaders

Had a human tradition

that wld allow a person

to side-step

that command.

They said:

“If you say:

‘My money,’ or

‘My property,’

is devoted to God

it then becomes

“set apart”

& you’re

no longer obligated

to use your things

to support your parents.

That was a bad tradition—

A human tradition

That set aside

God’s clear commands.

& nullified

God’s Word.

This is the same

kind of tradition

Paul talks abt

in Colossians 2:8

When he says:

Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

False teachers

were bringing bad

teaching into the Church.

Empty & deceptive

philisophies

that were

based on human traditions.

Those types of traditions

are always bad

& they shld always

be avoided

by God’s ppl.

Anything added to

the gospel of the kingdom

that contradicts

God’s clear commands

or nullifies God’s word

shld be rejected

as human traditions.

But the answer

for bad traditions

is not to get rid of

all traditions.

There are other types

of traditions.

Good traditions.

Traditions God

put in place

in the Church

for His ppl

to learn & follow

so we can be sure

we’re living in line

w/ God’s will.

These are called

The Apostolic Traditions.

Paul talks abt

these traditions:

in 1 Corinthians 11:2.

He says:

1 Corinthians 11:2 (CSB)

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

The word “traditions”

is frm a Greek word

that means:

A specific set of

teachings & practices

handed down frm

authoritative teachers.

The phrase “delivered them”

is frm a Greek word

that means:

“to formally give

“or hand down

“authoritative teaching.”

We cld literally translate

Paul’s Greek here

“I praise you

for holding fast to

the traditions

just as I tradition-ed

them to you.

The Christian Faith is

A specific set of

Traditions—

Authoritative

teachings and practices

that were handed dwn

to the Apostles of Jesus

by Jesus.

Jesus then gave

the Apostles the authority

to deliver or

hand dwn

those teachings

& practices to others

in the Church.

& it’s thru receiving

& holding to

these teachings

that we receive

Christ Jesus

as Lord

& live a life

that pleases God.

Paul says more

abt these traditions

in 2 Thessalonians 2:15

2 Thessalonians 2:15 (CSB)

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.

Notice that phrase

“hold to the traditions.”

It’s the same

phrase Paul used

in 1 Corinthians 11.

Paul was

always encouraging

the saints

to hold on to the

the Apostolic Traditions—

they were taught.

& here we see

Apostolic Traditions

came in two forms

to the Church:

(1) There were Oral Traditions—

Traditions that were spoken

by the Apostles

but not written down.

& (2) Written Traditions—

Traditions the Apostles

or others wrote dwn

that became

the NT Scriptures.

Both forms of

Apostolic Tradition

are equally valid

& equally important.

& both were

passed dwn

in the Church

by the Apostles

And became know as

the Faith.

Now

I wanna show you

An example of

Apostolic Tradition

& how it

was delievered

or handed dwn

in the Church.

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Paul says:

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (NIV)

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Notice again

the language of

receiving the faith

& passing on the faith.

Paul says:

“What I received

“I passed on to you

“As of first importance

“& you received it frm me

thru the gospel

or the word

I preached to you.”

What did Paul receive?

Apostolic Traditions.

Clear teachings

abt the Death

Burial & resurrection

of the Lord Jesus.

Christ died for our sins

According to

the Scriptures.

Christ was buried

& raised on the 3rd day

According to

the Scriptures.

& then Christ appeared:

1st to Cephas or Peter.

Then to the Twelve.

Then he appeared to:

More than 500 ppl

at the same time.

Then he appeared to

James;

Then all the Apostles.

That’s what

the Apostles Believed

& handed dwn

to the Church

Concerning Christ’s death

Burial

& literal

bodily resurrection.

Anyone who veers

away frm those traditions

abt Jesus

has walked away

frm the only faith

that can save them.

Notice Paul’s strong words

In 1 Corinthians 15:2.

He says:

1 Corinthians 15:2 (NIV)

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Paul says:

“You are saved

“If you hold firmly

“To the word

I preached to you.”

What “word”

did Paul

preach to them?

The gospel.

What is the gospel?

The Apostolic Traditions

abt the death

burial

& resurrection of Jesus.

It’s thru the Apostolic Traditions

We receive

& pass on the faith

thru which ppl are saved.

So, all traditions

are not bad.

There are good

traditions—

Apostolic Traditions—

that were handed dwn

in the Church.

APPLICATION

Now

Let’s talk abt

why Apostolic Tradition

is so important.

In Paul’s day

ppl who claimed

to be Christians

had begun to deny

the resurrection of Jesus.

So, Paul reminds

the church in Corinth

that what they’d been taught

abt the resurrection

is the Apostolic Faith.

& to deny the literal

bodily resurrection of Jesus

wld result in

a loss of salvation.

You might be surprised to know

Many in our modern day

call themselves Christians

But they deny the literal

bodily resurrection

of Jesus.

A very famous

NT scholar

and former bishop in

the Anglican Church named

N.T. Wright said this

abt those who deny

the bodily resurrection

of Jesus.

He says:

"I have friends who I am quite sure are Christians who do not believe in the bodily resurrection."

Wright continues:

"Marcus Borg really does not believe Jesus Christ was bodily raised from the dead. But I know Marcus well: he loves Jesus and believes in him passionately.”

How is it possible

that a well respected

NT scholar &

former bishop

cld say something

so ridiculous?

Well

To take that position

he’s gotta blv

that holding to

the Apostolic Tradition

abt the bodily Resurrection

of Jesus is optional

for Christians.

Marcus Borg may

love & believe passionately

in a Jesus.

But it’s not

the real Jesus.

It’s a Jesus

he made up

to fit his fancy.

Wright may be

“quite sure”

that ppl who do not

believe in the bodily

resurrection of Jesus

“are Christians.”

But the Apostolic Tradition

handed dwn to the Church

nearly 2000 years ago

says otherwise.

& this is the purpose

of Apostolic Tradition.

Apostolic Traditions

are the referees

that keep us

w/in the bounds

of what is

& is not

Christian teaching

& practice.

When we go outside

the bounds of

the Apostolic Traditions

We’ve stepped outside of

Authentic

Historic Christianity.

& we’re not following

the real Jesus.

W/o the Apostolic Traditions

Theology is

a free for all.

Bible interpretation

is a free for all.

& one interpretation

of the Scriptures

is just as good

as any other.

& we end up

progressing to a place

where ppl are free to

accept or reject

whatever fits

their fancy

abt who Jesus is

& still

call themselves Christian.

So what is

The Importance of

Apostolic Tradition?

Apostolic Tradition

was put in place

by Christ

in the Church

To guard the Church

frm false teaching

& false teachers

who lead ppl away frm

the One Lord

& The One Faith

revealed to the Apostles

by Christ .

& that’s why

when facing false teachers

in Corinth

Paul Appeals to

Apostolic Tradition.

& why he does the same

in Colossians 2:6.

He says:

Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught...

The Greek word

for ‘received’ here:

is the same word

Paul used

in 1 Corinthians 11.

Remember

I already said it means

“To formally receive

authoritative teaching.”

The saints

in Colossae

had formally received

the Apostolic Tradition

that Epaphras handed dwn

to them abt Jesus.

They were taught

that Jesus is the Messiah

The Son

of the Living God.

& therefore

He is the Lord.

& therefore

He is to be obeyed.

& notice here

that Paul says

the same thing

he said in 1 Corinthians.

The saints needed to continue

in the faith

they were taught.

Just as they had

received Christ Jesus

as Lord

they needed to continue

to live their lives in Him.

Just as they had

embraced the truth

They needed to hold on to it

& continue to live their lives

in line w/ that truth.

Paul’s talking abt

Two parts

of their salvation:

The past

& the present.

The word “rooted”

in Colossians 2:7

is more literally translated

“Having been rooted.”

When they heard

the Apostolic teaching

abt Jesus

Accepted that teaching;

& were baptized into Christ

They were rooted

in Christ.

That’s past tense.

But being built up in him

& being established

in the faith—

Both of those

are continuous actions.

Paul reminds the Colossians

Just as they have been

Firmly rooted in Christ

So, now

they must continue

to cling to Christ

& live their lives

in Him.

& to do that

They must continue in the faith

as they were taught.

Paul says the same thing

in Colossians 1:21-23.

He says:

Colossians 1:21-23

Indeed you were formerly being excluded, and were enemies in the mind in-connection-with evil works.

But now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through His death, that He might present you holy and without-blemish and blameless in His presence—

if indeed you continue in the faith, having been founded, and steadfast, and not being moved-away from the hope of the good-news which you heard, the one having been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

It’s not enough

to be founded

or rooted in Christ

by embracing the faith.

We’ve gotta

remain steadfast

Not be moved away from

& keep being built up

& strengthened

in the Faith.

& to continue in the faith

We need to

keep being reminded

of the true teachings

of the faith.

& to keep being encouraged

to practice

the Apostolic Traditions.

ILLUSTRATION

You know

Once you’ve been

a part of the Church

for a while

you’ll notice

you hear & do

the same things

all the time.

& this is at least

one reason why

ppl don’t get excited

abt coming to Church.

& why pastors feel pressured

to come up w/ something new

every Sunday.

Ppl are like:

“I’ve heard this bfr.”

“We already sang

this song.”

“He’s already

taught abt this.”

Ppl get tired of hearing

the same truths

taught repeatedly.

But hearing the truths

of the faith taught

over & over

Well, that’s exactly

what we shld expect

to happen

when we gather together.

You shld not

come to Church

expecting to hear

something new;

But something old.

something ancient.

Pastors are not called

to come up w/

something new.

& ppl who do

come up w/ something

new shld be avoided.

We’re called to communicate

the ancient faith

just as it was

once for all

delivered to the saints.

Pastors are called

To teach ppl

to practice

the Apostolic Traditions.

& if pastor’s

Repeatedly teaching

the truths of the faith

is not enough

to keep ppl interested.

If that’s not enough

to bring ppl

into the Church

& keep them in the Church

Let me just say it like it is:

the problem is not

w/ the pastors.

It’s essential

That we be repeatedly reminded

of the truths of the Faith.

We all need to be told things

Multiple times.

Did you hear me?

We all need

to be told things

Multiple times.

If you’ve ever read

the Scriptures

You’ll see the same things

repeated over & over.

Why?

Bcs we all need

to be told things

Multiple times.

We need to keep hearing

The same teachings

over & over.

So we can

learn to recognize

when what we’re hearing

or being taught to practice

is in line

w/ the Faith

that was delivered

to the Church

2000 years ago.

So we can be better equipped

to spot error

when we see it.

CONCLUSION

So, as we close

Let me ask again:

How important

is Apostolic Tradition

in the Church?

How important

is Apostolic Tradition

for our salvation?

We’ve seen today

that Apostolic Tradition

is the vehicle

thru which the Faith

by which ppl are saved

is distributed.

So the importance

of Apostolic Tradition

cannot be overstated.

Let’s keep doing

everything we can

To learn & practice

the Apostolic Traditions.

Let’s keep absorbing

& obeying

the faith.

PRAYER

Let’s all stand for prayer.

Most gracious & glorious Father.

We’ve all heard your Word.

Pls give us a deeper understanding...

That leads to...

a more perfect practice...

Of your will.

Transform us...

Thru Your grace.

Make us more like You.

Heal us...

Where we need healing.

Cleanse us...

Where we need cleansing.

Encourage the hearts...

of all your ppl...

Thru the power

of Your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus name...........

Amen.