The Supremacy of Christ over Man-made Religion
Notes
Transcript
he Supremacy of Christ over Man-made Religion
he Supremacy of Christ over Man-made Religion
You can be turning in your bibles to Colossians Chapter 2.
The last time we looked at Colossians together was at the end of November for our Evening Lord’s Supper sermon.
For that service, as we prepared to take the supper, we took a very fast walk through Chapter 2, verse 6 -15 - and we saw the recurring themes of Union with Christ.
We saw that we were united to Christ in his Death, united to Christ in his Burial, and United to Christ in his resurrection. The main point, or takeaway was that “All of our spiritual blessings and Position are BOUND UP in Christ - they are rooted in Christ” - “We are alive IN CHRIST”
Our passage today, verses 16-23 immediately follows that declaration, so we are going to pick up reading a few verses back - starting in verse 13.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
[PRAY]
Introduction
Introduction
If you’ve been here for the the prior sermons, you know that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Colossea. This church was probably lead by a friend of Paul named Epaphras.
And Paul is writing to encourage them, to tell them truth about who they are in Christ - but he also is writing to deal with false teaching that has made its way into the church.
We see this throughout the book - but we see it very clearly at the beginning of Chapter 2:
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Paul’s heart, and desire for this church is the encouragement of their hearts, their growth together as a body, and their maturity into the knowledge of Christ. He wants them to be mature Christians - and his approach is giving clear and proper teaching.
In fact he says: I say this in order that no one may DELUDE you, or CONVINCE you with plausible arguments. He does’t want them to be deceived - he rejoices to see their Good order and Firmness of Faith in Christ.
And so - as we look at this passage, we’ll see Paul really starting the take the scalpel to some of the infection that has crept into this church. The church has started to become infected with false teaching, false views of God, of Christ, and Christian living.
Paul deals with this in many of his epistles - because false teaching isn’t harmless. It affects the faith and lives of people who embrace it.
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
The Holy Spirit has given us these words of Warning - warnings of those who have labored for the growth and maturity of Christians, and don’t want to see it abandoned for heresy.
We can see an example of Paul’s passion for truth THROUGHOUT the book of Galatians.
In fact - as homework - I’d encourage you to read the book of Galatians this week with the perspective that it is being written by someone who is both heartbroken and angry at the same time.
Listen to how Paul feels about those that distort the truth about God, and try to add to what Christ has done.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
You can sense the passion Paul has for this church to stay running in the correct path, and the disdain he has for those teaching falsehood.
God wants bad teaching, bad theology, bad doctrine far from his church - which is why he has given us His word - which contains both correct teaching and theology, but also some of these examples of his Apostles heartbreaking appeals against what is incorrect and false.
And so - as we look at the passage today - keep closely in mind - Paul’s intent, really God’s intent - is that we aren’t lead astray by false teaching or false gospels - false hope outside of Christ.
And it’s MY intent, that with the aid of the Spirit, we can see not only ways the Church in Colossea had let false teaching creep in, but also how we ourselves may have bought into false teaching.
So today, we are going to look at
the False teaching that was being promoted at Colossae
the Correction Paul provides
Application
The False Teaching at Colossae
The False Teaching at Colossae
When we first started looking at Colossians, I had said we don’t have a clear, identifiable doctrine or system of teaching that Paul was trying to address. But we can look at his allusions to it - we can read his statements about it and the corrective response he gives to it - and we can come up with an idea of what was being taught.
The consensus amongst most biblical scholars and commentators is that there was a “Syncretistic Proto-Gnosticism” going around the Church.
That’s a mouthful - “Syncretistic Proto-Gnosticism” You’ve may have heard of Gnosticism before - it is a variety of second-century religions that believed that people could only be saved through revealed knowledge. They also held negative view of the physical or material world - placing value on the spirit and soul - and the spiritual realm of angels.
Gnosticism was the secret society of the second century - claiming to have secret knowledge about God, how to get to God, how to interact with the spiritual realm, etc.
So Proto-Gnosticism is just early Gnosticism, still developing Gnosticism. It’s not formalized into a system, but already it is coalescing and taking shape.
And then to complicate it even more - we throw in the word Syncretistic.
Syncretism is the gathering together of multiple ideas from various places. A Syncretistic religion is one that takes some teaching from this religion, some from another, some pagan ideas, some newly made up ideas - with the intent to make something new.
This is SOMETIMES done to make people feel comfortable - but oftentimes it’s done because the one doing the picking and choosing likes, or “feels” that the elements chosen are good and beneficial.
Another way to put it might be: “A messy collision of Jewish, Christian, and Pagan theology” - “A messy collision of Jewish, Christian, and Pagan theology”.
It seems in this case the teacher or teachers in this church had sought to re-institute some of the Jewish Ceremonial Law and throw in some gnostic and pagan teaching.
Paul starts addressing how this church should respond to the false teaching in verse 16
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
Wrapped up in Paul’s exhortation and warning, are three distinct areas that he is addressing in the passage - three errors that all share the core problem - the teaching is not rooted in Christ. They are distinct errors because the false teaching has its roots in different parts of this messy collision of Jewish, Christian and Pagan theology.
These three errors aren’t unique to this situation - they, and others, are almost always found in Human, or man-made religion.
They are the result of what we as humans would dream up when we contemplate God, and our place in the universe. When we look at ourselves, and our failures and shortcomings, and then look at creation and see the general revelation - that there is a creator - or some SOURCE of life - when we look at that - mankind ends up creating religion systems, rules, and guidelines in an effort to bridge the gap we’ve identified. And they are in stark contrast to the Good news of the Gospel.
The three errors Paul calls out and addresses are: Legalism, Mysticism, and Asceticism - look at any worldly religion, or offshoot of biblical religion and you will see these present in one way or another.
We’ll look at those three - and then look at how Paul addresses them.
False Teaching: Legalism (Verses 16-17)
False Teaching: Legalism (Verses 16-17)
Legalism is the concept or belief that the positive actions of an person make that person more acceptable, or more righteous before God.
It promises life in exchange for obedience. In the case of this false teaching - there was a appeal made back to the old testament, the Jewish ceremonial law.
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
False teachers were going around, judging people on whether or not they ate certain food, drank certain wine, or celebrated Jewish festivals and holidays.
You can picture this right? It doesn’t have to be from the pulpit for this teaching to spread.
All it takes is a conversation - a quick chat before walking into worship, or talking with someone at their house, or place of work. It just takes a minute for a conversation to turn to spiritual judgement.
“You AREN’T celebrating Passover this year?!?” - “You ordered a Pork Lover’s Pizza - Don’t you know Pork is unclean!?” - and suddenly the opportunity is open to judge the person - to make them feel spiritually inferior - or even unsaved in their response.
It’s interesting - Paul doesn’t tell them to start or stop doing these things. His focus is on the JUDGEMENT that was occuring.
People were taking these Old Testament Ceremonial Laws and judging people by them - they had CREATED a position of judgement about a person’s spiritual state, maturity or even salvation on keeping these Old Testament Laws
These teachers were expecting people to keep the ceremonial laws intact, and as a requirement for spiritual salvation or growth - that’s what people do. They FIND rules to obey - and if they can’t keep them, they make new ones on top that they can. That’s what Paul fought in Galatians - Judiazers insisted on circumcision and other parts of the ceremonial law in order to be right with God. It’s tangible - it’s visible - it’s something that can be done - and FEELS like its the type of thing that would get God’s attention.
R. Kent Hughes says Legalism is something our flesh looks for:
“The idea that spirituality can be quantified provides an unfortunate basis for pride and judgmentalism. The flesh finds doing truly spiritual things difficult, as “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, nasb). But the flesh has no trouble with religious rules and regulations. There is an authentic lure to legalism.” R. Kent Hughes
We see this today too.
We see this today too.
People create standards, and rules upon rules - often to protect people - to keep them far from breaking the actual rule. But those rules BECOME equal with God’s rules - they get treated like they are God rules, and even CLAIMED to be God’s rules.
Or we create new rules - with no scriptural basis - because of tradition. There was a video clip making its way around, where a pastor is preaching on men and women’s holiness. And he makes the claim, very loudly and angrily, that it’s WRONG for men to have beards. That a beard is wordly - and that any person, no matter how good of a preacher he was, could never stand in his pulpit without being clean shaven - because it was a “holiness issue” - you know where I stand on beards in the pulpit - but today men are preaching rules with no foundation in scripture - no biblical support, or even in this case, biblical support against their position - and judging people for not maintaining those rules.
We see this with parenting, dating, courtship, etc - how many of you have read a book that held up a standard, a rule, or set of rules - that if you could obey them - God would bless you? I’m not talking about biblical rules like Ex 20:12 “12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” - I’m talking about rules and systems that are man made - and judgement is made by others in the other camp.
You see this in action when someone brings up breastfeeding vs bottle feeding, on-demand vs scheduled feeding, processed food, or organic, homeschool, public school, or private school.
Paul’s point is that people love creating standards and rules and guides - and holding others to them - and judging them when they can’t do it, or don’t agree.
False Teaching: Mysticism (Verses 18-19)
False Teaching: Mysticism (Verses 18-19)
The other error present in this theological mess is the mixture of mysticism - specifically this pagan rooted mysticism. Mysticism is defined as the pursuit of the divine - trying to understand, or get close to God. That sounds great - but this error was in the assumption and teaching of various was to know and get to close to God.
Paul hints at some of them in verse 18
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
The NIV translates and arranges this sentence differently:
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.” - NIV
It’s saying the same thing - there are people who are promoting spiritual practices and experiences that they can’t stop talking about - but their mind is unspirititual. They go on and on about the benefits of their religious practice - and disqualify those who don’t do the same.
The word disqualify can mean judge in a way that you are no longer allowed to continue - you could translate it: “Don’t let anyone pretend to be an umpire or referee, and declare you “out” because you don’t follow their man made rules”
They go around promoting a system, method, or process that they claim will get you closer to God - and set themselves up as the referee or umpire for those that don’t meet those standards.
We see this today too.
We see this today too.
People promote books like Jesus Calling that read like personal discussions with Jesus - as a way to get closer to Him.
People suggest eastern meditation the new way to pray and hear from God.
People look to other rituals or guides from other religions to assist with their spiritual journey - prayer labyrinths - contemplative prayer (which is praying without words in order to be emptied and enlightened)
There are books by TV Mega church “Pastors” with crazy titles like “The Power of I AM” that promote positive thinking, and Name it and Claim it Theology to get what ever you want.
False Teaching: Asceticism (Verses 20-23)
False Teaching: Asceticism (Verses 20-23)
The last error Paul addresses is the Asceticism - or rather the insistence that asceticism is a requirement or mandatory step to get and maintain God’s favor and closeness.
Asceticism is when someone lives in a way that they deprive themselves of luxuries or even necessities for a period of time. This may be a result of the early Gnostic thought - that held that the Spiritual is good, but the BODY, the PHYSICAL is bad.
In their mind - if the body is bad or evil - then it should be treated severely - it should suffer sometimes in order to keep it in check.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
These teachers were creating standards based on man-made rules - they insist on asceticism - or self-deprivation and self-denial for spiritual growth.
It could be that these regulations were derived from the Jewish purity system - the ceremonial law that declared certain things unclean, and those that even touched them were unclean as a result.
They sought the spiritual experiences, and promoted the neglect or even abuse of the body. They promoted the idea, while holding others to it as well - that the way to grow spiritually - they way to get close to God is to despise the physical things in the world - Don’t Handle, Don’t Taste, Don’t Touch.
It’s like they were saying: “Unless you live like a monk, or nun - and live with few possessions, and pursue intense spiritual experiences - you obviously aren’t a Christian”
These teachers were upholding regulations and restrictions for Christians that LOOKED good from the outside - but provided no spiritual benefit
We see this today too:
Monks and Nuns take Vows of Silence and live isolated from the world in hope of getting closer to God than if they lived a normal life.
People will treat fasting as a way to get God’s attention and favor
Some churches require Lenten fasting and celebration - and they require it because they see it as a way to please God, or gain his favor. Some people may do it out of fear of losing God’s favor, or fear of skipping the tradition - viewed that way - it is an act of asceticism that looks spiritual but doesn’t stop the indulgence of the flesh. There is nothing inherently sinful with taking 40 days to focus on Christ - but it should never been seen as a way of gaining merit with God, or addressing the sinful flesh.
The Correction
The Correction
All of these errors are symptomatic of a teaching that sets a bar - a legalistic guideline that says: “This is the mark of a true Christian” and then dismisses everyone that fails to meet the mark.
if you’ve been tracking in your bible, or on the screen - you’ve probably noticed I’ve missed something in every passage we’ve looked it.
I’ve discussed the theological error, some background on it, and some examples of it today. But if you looked at the passage, I didn’t cover how Paul dealt with the error.
I didn’t forget - I wanted to show the errors and heresy that this church was facing - and wanted to contrast that the main point of this whole epistle: Christ is Supreme - Christ is Better - Christ has DONE better.
So to the end, let’s look at how Paul deals with these errors:
Legalism - The Ceremonial Law was a Shadow
Legalism - The Ceremonial Law was a Shadow
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
The law was given as a tutor - IT IS GOOD - it is from God - but no one but Christ was ever ABLE to keep it.
At the end of Galatians Paul says the Judiazers insisted on circumcision, but could never keep the rest of the law:
12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
The law shows us that we could never do enough to earn God’s Favor - and the ceremonial law of clean and unclean existed to show us that there is only One who is clean. The dietary laws could never save - they could never draw a sinner closer to God - But they can, and they DO, point us to the real substance - the real bread of life - they point us to the real Sabbath rest, the real Lamb of God.
Mysticism - We are already brought close to God
Mysticism - We are already brought close to God
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
The Premise or draw of Mysticism is that you can do things the get you in closer proximity to God. The draw is that with the right tools, knowledge and experience you can work out how to get into REAL communication and connection with God.
But Paul’s point is that a person that thinks there is something new or novel, or unique that will get the closer to God has forgotten that they are ALREADY brought near to God. Believers - Christians, don’t need the next spiritual guru to tell them how to get God to like them more - because of Christ we are ALREADY THERE.
Paul’s statement to the Ephesians sounds similar and make the point even clearer:
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
We have been brought near - those in Christ have access to the Father through the Spirit! There is no need to look for new ways to experience God, interact with Angels, or learn ancient rites or ceremonies! No need to read books that claim to give you new details into who Christ is. No need to GO anywhere!
Brothers and sisters! - We - you and I are being build into a dwelling place for God!
He searched us out, redeemed us - brought us to HIM at sat us with Christ in the Heavenly places! He’s given us his Word - the bible - He’s given us Prayer to talk with him - and he has given us his Spirit.
We don’t need vision of angels when we have the spirit of God living with us!
And that leads us to our last “rebuttal” against this heresy.
Asceticism - We’ve already Died to Christ
Asceticism - We’ve already Died to Christ
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Paul is again appealing to what happened when we were united to Christ - we have DIED with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world. You’ve been freed from the need to try to make yourself pure and clean. But more than that - the part of you that was unclean - your flesh - the sin nature that you inherited from Adam - that was sentenced to death with Christ. You still struggle with it - I still struggle with it - but it was defeated and sentenced to death - and it is so sure - so definite - that Paul makes the statement that in reality - we’ve already died with Christ - he says it here, and in Romans 6
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
This is what makes the Gospel unique - like I said in the beginning - man made religion sees the sin - it sees the shortcomings and the failures. And it drums up ways to fix it.
Buddhist monks will work for years to empty themselves - they beat their body and endure all sorts of Ascetic practices in the attempt to get to the desired state of Nirvana - mythical state where all desire is gone, and nothing but happiness exists.
Paul warned Timothy to stay away from myths, and to prefer spiritual fitness over bodily fitness.
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Don’t look to punish your body to defeat your sin - there is nothing physical that you can do to make your self more presentable to God.
Paul has dealt with these false teachings in the 8 verses - he’s exposed where they differ from the Gospel, but there is a larger, bigger rebuttal in the Context around this passage.
We can step back a few verses before our passage and see how Paul starts the correction in verse 13-15
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
And then verse 16 of our passage reads:
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
The “therefore” in verse 16 connects everything he said about the Work of God Through Christ - all that Christ has secured and completed on the cross - is the reason why we shouldn't let people create legalistic requirements and judge us for not Keeping them!
God has already TAKEN CARE OF EVERYTHING we need to have fellowship with him. God made sinners alive with Christ - forgiving the sin that separated us - he nailed our sin - and our sin nature to the cross - cancelling the record of debt.
Paul wraps up this passage and goes into Chapter 3:
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Paul bookends his warning with truth about Christ and what he as done for those in Christ - what amazing salvation God has worked for those who believe.
If I can paraphrase Paul: “I love you guys - I want you to grow, and I don’t want you to be judged, or taken captive by false teachers who try to tell you there is still work for you to do in your salvation - because God already did everything needed!”
That’s his argument:
God has united you to Christ!
God placed your sin - your uncleaness on Christ - God forgave you, God crucified the old self - the sinful flesh on the cross.
You don’t need to beat up your body, or look for special spiritual experiences to be near to God.
God raised up Christ, and with him, raised up YOU!! God took you from far off and brought you near!
There is no need to look for special spiritual encounters or visions, just focus your vision on Christ - set your mind on heavenly things, not earthly things - you’ve died to this world, and you’re alive with Christ!
One day Christ will return, and since Christ is the believer's life, the believer will appear with him in Glory!
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That’s how you deal with bad theology - you show how Christ is better - you show how Christ and the work he accomplished on the cross is so much better - so much more superior than man-made religion - so much more effective at removing the separation with God than anything man could come up with.
Application
Application
Rules aren’t gone - God’s rules aren’t gone - but man made rules that try to get us close to God ARE
Paul will continue the rest of this book with commands for living the Christian life - as he does with Romans and Ephesian. The moral law - the 10 commandment, the command the love God and love you neighbor isn’t gone. Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law and the moral law - and his obedience makes us righteous - but the ceremonial law was the shadow that pointed to Christ - he fulfilled it, it’s no longer a law for Christians. But the moral law is still binding - not for salvation - it could never be for salvation - but it is and will remain a rule of life for creatures living in the world created by God.
Commonly accepted man-made rules and regulations
Be alert for “concentric circles of rules” - “concentric circles of rules”
Meaning, a rule, meant to protect another rule from being broken - the thought being, if we can make a rule the is more strict than the actual commandment - people will never be able to brake the command itself.
An example of that might be seen in purity culture books. The argument might go: “In order to prevent you from committing the sin of fornication, you need to have someone with you all times, and you can NEVER hold hands or touch”
But what should be a suggestion, and may well be a good idea, gets elevated to the same field as the commandment itself - and people can judge how holy or spirtual they are based on how many inches they leave between themselves when they sit together.
Be cautious of man made rules and regulations that promise life or blessings if followed and curses if not
Parenting books promising perfect children if you follow their principles
Purity culture - often promises a good marriage if both parties can abide by a courtship system, or even an arranged marriage.
Take Paul’s warning - don’t look to man made rules to improve your spiritual state - but also DON’T JUDGE PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN YOU THAT IS NOT CONTRADICTING SCRIPTURE. Don’t look at your success in keeping man-made rules, and judge others for not.
Romans 14:1-4 “1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Be on the lookout for Common Syncretistic additions to Christianity - watch for things that sneak in from outside.
It might look super spiritual, but anything that offers new insight, new methods, new approaches for “getting to God’s heart” or “hearing God’s still small voice” is trying to improve on the Word of God, and the Work of Christ.
Be cautions of things that promote an ISOLATED or INDIVIDUAL spiritual experience - don’t forget your Head - and the Body you are a part of - God made us to function together - and individual prayer and bible study is important, but God made us to participate in the CORPORATE worship - to sing, read, pray, and take the Lord’s supper TOGETHER.
Fix your minds on Things Above - not Earthly things - because our head is Christ.
Focus MORE on Christ, and what he as done for you, and your spiritual growth an maturity will grow from that - don’t literally beat yourself up because your body is still plagued with Sin. Cast your vision on the one who loves you, and redeemed you so that you could appear with him in Glory.
Our Union with Christ is Better
Finally - The only way we can rid ourselves of this body of flesh - our sinful heart that seeks sin and pleasure over God - is to have our wholes selves united to Christ. There is no salvation, or hope outside of the work that God has done through Christ.
We are United to him in his Death - where he takes on our sin, our record of Debt to the cross where he is crucified, and our old flesh crucified with him.
We are United to him in His burial - Romans 6:4 “4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
We are United to Him in his resurrection
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Brothers and Sisters - don’t let anyone disqualify you if Christ has already qualified you - and seated you with himself in the heavenly places. Set your mind on that heavenly place.
[PRAY]
Benediction
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.