There seems to be a misunderstanding

(Colossians 2:8-15)

Introduction:

A. I recently saw a video where a man put together a whole bunch of passages to say that we are save by solely believing that Jesus is the Christ.

B. He used a lot of philosophical thoughts and verses of the bible taken out of context and as a result misunderstood what God’s will for man is. (Mt. 7:21; Jn. 6:29)

C. This is exactly what Paul tried to warn the Colossians against.

Body:

I. The things of men are empty.

A. Philosophy is “The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.”

(Oxford Dictionary)

1. Philosophy broken down in the simplest terms is men sitting around thinking about everything trying to figure the universe out.

2. Question, who created the universe? (Genesis 1:1)

3. If we as men want to understand the world around us, we only need to look to God and his word.

B. Human tradition and philosophy have in times past led people away from God.

1. Think about Paul and the “traditions” of his fathers. (Galatians 1:13-14)

2. Paul was so zealous for the Jewish traditions that he persecuted Christ and his church.

3. Jesus even said that those traditions violated the will of God. (Matthew 15 1-9)

II. The things of men take some captive.

A. People will latch onto philosophies and empty words to their own destruction. (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

1. How many denominations today still believe in Jesus but also believe in a whole bunch of wild doctrines that clearly contradict God’s word?

2. The answer is all of them…

B. Those things that go against the word of God earn punishment.

1. There were those who were teaching things that weren’t a part of the true gospel in Galatia and Paul said that anyone who preaches another gospel should be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

2. The bible teaches that we are saved not by faith (as the world would call it believe) alone but also by works. (James 2:17-19)

3. Based on that those teachings of men not only lead people astray but lead to some of them being accursed.

III. The things of God make men free.

A. The word of God contains everything that we need for salvation. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

1. No wisdom of man can change the truth of the gospel of Christ. (John 14:6)

2. That truth is that everything that Christ commands and God inspired is what we need to live a godly life. (John 14:21-24)

B. If we turn back to the bible, rather than men, we will realize that our salvation is not based on just believing that Jesus is the Christ but in following through with whatever he has commanded us.

1. This includes baptism for the remission of sins. (Mark 16:16)

2. The truth is that all men are a slave to something. (Romans 6:16)

3. There is only (Romans 3:23-26)

IV. The things of God are full.