HCC Sunday Service
INTRODUCTION
Today we’re gonna continue our series in the book of Colossians.
We’ll be in Colossians chapter 2.
& we’re gonna read verse 8-12.
The title of today’s teaching is: Living in God’s Fullness
In Colossians 2:8-12, the Scriptures say:
Colossians 2:8–12 (CSB)
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Where do we find the fullness of God?
How do we live in the fullness of God?
Today we’ll see that the fullness of God is found in the Church.
& we live in the fullness of God by being careful to stay connected to the Church.
PRAYER
Let’s pray. Father we thank You for Your Word.
Open our eyes so we may see wonderful things in Your Word.
& give us grace to put Your Word into practice.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
Notice Paul starts
Colossians 2:8
w/ a warning.
He says:
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit...
As we saw last week—in the verses right bfr this—Paul encourages God’s ppl
To hold tightly to the Apostolic Traditions of the Faith—just as they had been taught.
Why?
So, that no one deceives us w/ persuasive arguments abt Jesus.
In verses 8-12
Paul continues to urge us
to watch out
for false teachers.
Teachers who teach doctrines
that deviate
frm the teachings
the Apostles passed dwn
in the Church.
Paul likens
being led astray
by false teachers
to being taken captive
as slaves.
It’s like an enemy
Sneaks in among us
& carries us off
into captivity.
But our enemies
Don’t take us captive
by force.
They don’t
snatch us up
& carry us off.
Our enemies
take us captive
by deception.
They slip in among us
They entice us
& lure away
frm the truth thru
persuasive arguments.
Paul’s language here:
Takes us back to
Colossians 1:13
where Paul says
that God
Colossians 1:13 (CSB)
...has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
When we accept
false teaching
we’re led astray
frm the glorious kingdom
of God’s Son.
This is a kingdom where
we have a
phenomenal freedom
in Christ.
Not the freedom
to do what
we want.
But the freedom
to live as God
created us to live
by keeping
the commands of Christ.
In Christ’s kingdom
we experience
the fulness of God
thru God’s grace.
When we accept
false teaching
We’re lured away
frm the light
of Christ’s kingdom.
& we’re brought back
into bondage—
Back into enemy
territory—
Under the domain
of darkness frm which
God delivered us.
& Paul goes on
in Colossians 2:8
to show us
some of the bait
the enemies of God use
to lure us away
frm God’s kingdom.
Paul says
our enemies
take us captive thru
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
8 ...through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Here Paul’s talking abt
The human philosophy
& human wisdom
of the Gnostics.
Who based their teachings
on human traditions
& commands.
He’s talking specifically
abt Gnostic teachings
that are dfrnt frm
what the Lord Jesus
revealed to the Apostles
& what the Apostles revealed
to the Church
abt Christ.
We saw last week
all traditions
are not bad.
The Apostolic Traditions
are good
& necessary
for salvation.
Apostolic traditions
were put in place by God
to guard the church
frm error.
Those traditions
are based on Christ—
based on the teachings
of Christ
& His apostles.
So, Apostolic Traditions
Need to be:
Taught
Learned
& followed
in the Church.
Bcs it’s only by
holding to
the Apostolic Traditions
that we can live in
the fulness of God
& be saved.
But there are also
bad traditions.
Traditions we must
always avoid
in the Church.
These are human traditions
that are in conflict
w/ the Faith
once for all delivered
to the Saints.
Later on in Colossians
Paul calls it
self-made religion
that does nothing
to help us overcome
sin problem.
Why?
Human traditions
cannot bring abt
the inner change
or give us the
necessary power
to truly overcome
the sensual desires
of the flesh.
That change
only comes
by being born again
& becoming
Part of the new creation
That’s why
Paul appeals to the
Colossians to remember
they died to
the elements of the world
w/ Christ in baptism.
In Christ
they’re a part of
the New Creation.
So, they no longer
belong to this world.
They were made members
of the world
to come
thru their union
w/ Jesus.
& you cannot
use the weak
& miserable elements
of this world
Based on
human commands
to try to live
like citizens of the world
to come?
It just doesn’t work.
So, we’ve gotta
be careful.
We’ve gotta guard against
being taken captive
by human philosophies
that are based on
human traditions
& commands
that promote
human religions
that do nothing
to solve the human
sin problem.
We’ve gotta be careful
not to allow anyone
to take us captive.........
& move us away frm
the Apostolic Truths
of the true Faith
which we can only find
in the Church.
& notice in
Colossians 2:8
Paul puts this responsibility
on each one of us.
He says:
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
[You] be careful that no one takes you captive...
It’s up to each of us
to learn the truth;
know the truth;
& live out the truth.
Avoiding the deception
of false teachers
is largely left up to
each individual.
The primary purpose
of elders in the church
is to teach
the true Faith.
We’re called to
Keep watch
over the souls
God places
within our care.
We’re called to
keep the wolves
out of the church.
We do that:
By teaching the truth.........
By making sure
every element
of public worship
is in line w/ the faith.......
& by correcting error
when we see it.
As Paul tells Titus in
Titus 1:9
Titus 1:9 (CSB)
[An elder must keep] holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
An elder must
Hold to
the faithful message—
The Apostolic Tradition—
As taught by
the Apostles.
Why?
So, he can
Encourage w/ sound
teaching
& refute those
who contradict it.
Elders must make sure
only the Apostolic Faith
is taught in this Church
& correct ppl
who contradict it.
& the elders
of this church
will give an account
to the Lord one day
for how well
we’ve done that.
This is why
I spend hours & hours
in study
& preparation
for this every week.
Why I write
& rewrite what
I teach
even up to
the last minute.
& this is why I try
not to say anything
that’s not in
my manuscript...........
I’ve gotta
get this right.
For your sake
& mine.
Ppl often ask why
I get upset
when I hear ppl
say things in the Church
that are not true.
Or when I
or one of the elders
wants to stop singing
a song that’s
not exactly
doctrinally correct.
Can’t we just relax?
Do we really
Need to scrutinize
everything so closely?
ILLUSTRATION
How wld you
react if someone
came into your house
& carried off
one of the members
of your family?
Or what if
you found out
that we had been
allowing someone...........
to put just
a little bit of poison
in every cup of
Communion
we serve every week?
You’d probably
be upset
in either case.
Right?
APPLICATION
That’s how I see
false teachers
& false teaching.
The Church is
God’s household.
& I’m supposed
to protect
the members
of this household
frm being carried
off by false teachers.
False teaching
is poisonous.
& over time
even just a little bit
of false teaching
can lead
to spiritual sickness
& death.
So, there will not be
any false teaching here
on my watch.
As shepherds
of God’s ppl
The other elders
& I have a responsibility
to allow only true
teaching in the Church.
& to refute those
who contradict it.
But you also
have a responsibility.
When you go out
into the world.
You turn on the radio
The TV.....
You go to different websites
on the internet.
Different Bible
study groups.
You’ll hear a lot of
dfrnt messages.
Teachings
that are dfrnt
frm what you’re
taught here.
& it’s your responsibility
to see to it
that you don’t
allow yourselves
to be taken captive
by the false teachings
that are
so prevalent in
the world today.
The responsibility
of holding on
to the faith
& walking in the truth
& working out
your own salvation
w/ fear & trembling;
The responsibility
for living carefully
so you will not
be deceived—
that responsibility
is yours.
You’ve gotta
guard yourselves.
You’ve gotta
watch out for
the hollow
deceptive philosophies
of false teachers.
Guard against
human traditions
that nullify
the Word of God
& lead you
away frm the faith.
Why?
Bcs it’s only by
learning & living
The true faith
That we can stay filled
w/ God’s fulness
& be saved.
So, to stay filled
w/ God’s fulness
We must live
a careful life.
We must be careful
not to be
taken captive
by false teachers.
[Transitions: The 2nd thing
We must do
To stay filled
w/God’s fulness is...]
We must live a CONNECTED life
We must stay
connected to Christ
in the Church.
In Colossians 2:9-10
Paul goes on
to tell the saints
where they find
the fulness of God.
Paul says:
Colossians 2:9–10 (CSB)
9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him...
This idea of “fullness”
is Paul using
the false teachers
own language
against them.
The Greek word
Behind “fullness” is
πλήρωμα.
It means completeness
Fulfillment
Fulness
or perfection.
Gnostic falst teachers
Taught that πλήρωμα
was a level of
spiritual fullness
or perfection
that cld only be
attained apart frm
the physical world...........
& by progressing
in a hidden wisdom
That was not revealed
to the Apostles.
In practical terms
They taught that
The Apostolic Traditions
the Apostles taught
to the Church
were incomplete.
God’s ppl also needed
this secret wisdom
God had not revealed
to the Apostles
to be brought
to fullness.
So, Paul says:
“You want to talk abt
“God’s fullness?”
“I’ll tell you abt
“God’s fullness.”
“When you’re in Christ
“You are in the One
“In Whom
“All the fullness
“of God’s nature
dwells bodily.”
& Paul has
two bodies
in mind here:
First
Paul’s talking abt
The INCARNATION
of Christ.
When the Son of God
Took on human nature
& a real
physical human body
He filled that human body
& filled human nature
w/ His divine nature.
The entire fullness
of God’s divine nature
Dwells in the physical
human body
of the Lord Jesus.
& now that
Jesus has taken
his glorified
physical body to heaven
There’s another way
in which the fulness
of God’s nature
dwells in a body
on earth.
& that body is
the Church.
We’ve gotta get back to
An Apostolic view
of the Church?
We’ve gotta get back
to teaching the importance of the Church
in God’s plan
of salvation.
We’ve done the world
a devastating disservice
by downplaying
the importance
of the Church
for salvation.
An entire generation
has grown up
Being told
“Church is really not
“that important.”
“Your personal
relationship
“w/ Jesus
“is all that matters.”
& “You don’t need
“To go to Church
“To have
“that relationship.”
We’ve focused
so much on everyone’s
personal relationship
w/ Jesus
that we’ve
completely forgotten
the only place
to find a relationship
w/ Jesus
is in the Church.
Bcs the Church is
the body of Christ
on earth.
The Church is
the vessel
thru which God
has chosen
to save the world.
It’s in the Church
that we find the truth
abt the living God.
As Paul says in
1 Timothy 3:14–15 (NIV)
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that,
if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household,
which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
This is an amazing statement
abt the importance
of the Church.
The TRUTH stands
or falls
w/ the Church
of the living God.
As a pillar of truth
the Church holds up
& displays the Truth
for all the world see.
As the foundation
of the Truth
The Church keeps
the Truth frm being
twisted
By holding up
the standards
by which all Christian teaching
must be measured.
& this allows
The Apostolic Faith
to be passed dwn
frm one generation
to the nxt
w/o change.
If we have a faith
that’s different
frm what the Church
taught in the 1st century
We’re not a part of
the Church
of the living God.
The Church is
where we
come into contact
w/ Christ’s body & blood
& the healing power
of God’s grace.
The Church is where
we’re united w/ Christ
born again & recreated
in the image of God
thru baptism.
As Paul puts it in
Colossians 3:9-10.
It’s in the Church that
Colossians 3:9–10 (NIV)
…we have taken off [our] old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
The Church is
where we have
ongoing access to
The divine nature
of God in Christ.
& where the power
of God’s grace
is renewing us
in the image of God.
As Peter says in
2 Peter 1:3–4 (NIV)
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
We gain a knowledge
of Christ
& His precious promises
in the Church.
& those promises
allow us to escape
the world’s corruption
& participate
in the divine nature
of Jesus.
So, we’ve gotta get
Our focus back on
An Apostolic view
of the Church.
Bcs the Scriptures tell us
the Church is where
we find the fulness
of God in Christ.
Listen to what Paul says
abt the Church in
Ephesians 1:22–23 (NIV)
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
In not saying too much
to say that Church is
the biggest part
of God’s plan.
Christ’s INCARNATION
His DEATH
& RESURRECTION
were all leading to
the Church.
God appointed Christ Jesus
to be head
over everything.
All rule & authority
Power & dominion.
Why?
For the Church.
Everything God did
thru Christ
is for the Church.
The Church is
the Body of Christ.
& it’s in the Church
& only in the Church
that we find
the fulness
of God in Christ.
The Church is
the fullness of God
thru which God
fills everything
in every way.
When we gather
as the Church
the fulness
of the divine nature
dwells among us
in bodily form.
We’ve gotta understand
To be “in Christ”
is to be
“in the Church.”
The two are synonymous.
& since
the Church is
the body of Christ.
& since the fulness
of God dwells
in the body of Christ
This means
God is living
in the Church
filling His ppl
w/ the fullness
of His deity.
Come on!
That is the most
epic news ever!
When we gather
as the Church
God is here
in us & among us
not just in a measure
but in
His fullness.
& if that doesn’t
make us want
to come to Church
I don’t know what will.
Now
Before we close
Let’s talk abt
One more way
Paul applies the word
“Fulness”
to the Church.
The word fulness
Can also mean
Fulfillment.
In the Church
we find fulfillment
of everything God
promised His ppl
under the Old Covenant.
Paul gives us
an example of
what is fulfilled
in the Church
in Colossians 2:11.
He says:
Colossians 2:11–12 (CSB)
11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
12 when you were buried with him in baptism...
Paul brings up circumcision
to counter what
false teachers taught
abt physical circumcision.
False teachers
followed Paul around
doing what we read
in Acts 15:1
Acts 15:1 (NIV)
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:
“Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Circumcision
is where the foreskin
of the male member
is cut off
in a religious ritual
that binds a person
to a covenant relationship
w/ the God of Israel.
Under the Old Covenant
this is how males
became members
of God’s family.
This custom was
taught by God
thru Moses
in Genesis 17:10-14.
There Moses gives
The Lord’s command
concerning circumcision.
The Lord says:
Genesis 17:10–14 (NIV)
“This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised,
including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
You can tell
by this language
circumcision
is very important
to the Lord.
Everyone who wants
to be a part of
the Lord’s
covenant ppl
must be circumcised.
& every male
who did not
have the foreskin
of his flesh cut off
wld be cut off
frm the Lord’s ppl
bcs they broke
the Lord’s covenant.
In other words:
Under the Old Covenant
a person had to be
circumcised to be saved.
Now
False teachers—
like the ones in Acts 15—
Came into the Church
& started to use
Genesis 17
as their “go to” Scripture
to prove every male
still had to be
physically circumcised
to be saved
under the New Covenant.
& this
is the perfect example
of why
the Apostolic Traditions
are so important.
If we read Genesis 17
w/o the Apostolic
Understanding
of that Scripture
We can all see
God certainly said
circumcision of the flesh
wld be for all generations to come—
an everlasting covenant.
So, we not only
Need to know
what Scriptures say.
We need to know
What the Scriptures mean
As interpreted thru
the Apostles.
& the Apostolic Understanding
of Circumcision—
As w/ all things
in the OT Scriptures—
Is that circumcision
is now being fulfilled
in Christ—
In the Church.
Circumcision is still
required under
the New Covenant.
The everlasting covenant
still stands.
But it’s a different kind
of circumcision.
& it’s not performed
by human hands.
& the flesh
that needs to be removed
is not the flesh
frm the male member.
Instead
The whole person
we were outside
of Christ
needs to be cut off.
Under the New Covenant
circumcision is no longer
outward & physical.
It is now an inner work
performed by Christ
when we’re baptized.
As Paul says in
Colossians 2:11–12 (CSB)
11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
12 when you were buried with him in baptism...
This is a brilliant
HS inspired
play on words.
Just like the foreskin
of the male member
is cut off
in physical circumcision
So, in our baptism
Into Christ
In the Church
Jesus cuts off
the whole body
of our flesh.
Now
The way Paul uses
the word "flesh”
Confuses a lot
of ppl.
Many think
Paul’s talking abt
our physical bodies.
But Paul very rarely
uses the word “flesh”
to mean our
physical body.
Watch what happens
when we substitute
the words “physical body”
for “the body of flesh” in
Colossians 2:11 (CSB)
11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands,
by putting off [your physical body], in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism.
Wldn’t it be crazy
if we baptized somebody
& they came out
In a dfrnt body?
A lighter body
w/ more hair.
That’s not
what Paul means.
We don’t put off
our physical body
when we
put off the body of flesh
in baptism.
For Paul:
The body of flesh
Is everything
we were
in our old sinful selves
Outside of Christ.
Everything that belongs
to the old creation
& is passing away.
We had hearts
That drove us
twd sin.
We had minds
That drove us
to be enemies of God.
That’s what Paul means
when he talks abt
the body of flesh.
It’s that old sinful man
Or woman we were
Outside of Christ.
That’s what needs to be
Cut off;
& removed frm us.
That’s exactly what
physical circumcision
symbolized.
& that’s exactly
what is fulfilled
in the Church
when we’re buried
w/ Christ
in baptism.
In Baptism
We’re born again
we’re freed frm
that old sinful man
or woman we were.
That person
Is cut off;
Dead;
& buried.
We’re now
a new person
in Christ.
& part of the
new creation.
& as we stay connected
to Christ
in the Church
we’ll find ourselves
being transformed
frm one degree
of glory to another
by God’s glorious grace.
CONCLUSION
As we close
Let me ask again:
Where do we find
the fullness of God?
& how do we stay
Filled w/
God’s fullness?
We’ve seen today:
God’s fulness is found
in Christ’s body
which is the Church.
Thru the Church
God plans
to fill all things
w/ His fulness.
That process has
started now
as ppl become
members of the Church.
Let that truth
Marinate in your mind;
Until the hugeness of that
bcms a part of you.
Until you live
every minute of your life
in this reality.
When we’re in Christ
& Christ is in us
& among us;
When we’re connected
to Christ
By being members
of His body
In the Church;
When we participate
in His divine nature
& He’s filling us;
We have everything
we need
to live the godly life
God recreated us
to live in Christ.
In Christ’s body—
In the Church—
The fulness of God
is available to all of us.
& by living a careful life
in Christ’s body.
& by living a connected life
in Christ’s body.
We will stay filled
w/ God’s fulness.
PRAYER
Let’s all stand for prayer.
Lord we thank you
that in Your Church
we find and participate
in Your fulness.
BLESSING
May the Lord bless you...