Sermon Tone Analysis

Colossians 2:18-23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell© 1999

Going Out of Business

 

This notice appeared in the window of a store in New York City: "Don't be fooled by imitators who claim to be going out of business.

We have been going out of business longer than anyone on this block."

This add is quite funny!

But the warning is true.

We need to be careful lest we are fooled by an imitation of genuine Christianity!

Introduction

 

Last time we looked at Colossians we saw Paul's warning about substitutes that take the place of Christ.

*/Firstly,/* /Paul warned them to not be spoiled by Gnosticism./

The Gnostics paraded their philosophy and wisdom for all to see.

They claimed to be the elite.

But Paul's answer was simple.

In Jesus Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

All the Godhead dwells in Christ and you are complete in Him.

*/Secondly/*/, Paul warned them not be judged by Legalism./

Which was only a passing shadow, the substance of experience with God is found in Jesus Christ.

You don't need to look any further.

*/Tonight Paul warns them to beware of imitations again.

He warns them to/*

 

I.

Beware Of Mysticism

II.

Beware Of Asceticism

 

I.

Beware Of Mysticism

 

The Command

 

*Colossians 2:18* /Let 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, /Paul commanded the Colossians /not to be cheated of their reward/.

In this verse, Paul describes a judge ruling that an athlete is disqualified.

During the Greek games when an athlete broke the rules he was declared unworthy of the prize.

He wasn't punished and didn't lose his citizenship.

But he lost the opportunity to win the prize.

Paul warned the Colossians to be on the lookout for the Mystics who would rob them of  their prize.

*/He says they display three things/*.

/A False Worship, A False Humility/,/ And They Forsake Christ./

/ /

/a.

A False Worship/

 

The /Mystics/ teaching appeared to very humble.

They said that they weren't worthy to approach God directly in worship or prayer.

So they worshipped Him indirectly through angels.

They claimed that after being initiated into the inner circle they saw visions of angels.

They then offered worship to such angels.

Through these angels they worshipped before God's throne.

But we walk by faith not sight.

We don't see the angelic realm.

/Do people claim to have visions of angles or heaven today?/

Yes they do!

Some churches always boast about visions and dreams.

To Heaven And back  Quote From " Charismatic Chaos " by John F MacArthur pgs 30-31

This experience was also idolatry.

God is the only one we should worship./

/We are not to worship any other creature including angels.

*Revelation 22:8-9 */Now I, John, saw and heard these things.

And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that.

For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book.

Worship God.”/

We should not worship angels or pray to them.

Jesus Christ gives us perfect access before the throne of God in worship and in prayer.

*1 Timothy 2:5* /For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, / We are to worship God through Jesus Christ.

We also pray to Him through Christ.

/How does Paul respond to such claims?*

*/ */He calls it false worship and   /*

/ /

/b.

A False Humility/

 

The experience the /Mystics/ had made them proud.

They weren't humble but rather puffed up in their fleshly mind.

In reality they looked down on those who hadn't shared this experience.

They weren't humble but in fact very proud.

They had replaced experience through the Spirit of God and the word of God with man made doctrine.

Their experience deceived them.

Satan is always ready to give people an experience if it will lead them away from God and His word.

Jesus said /“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

*They also*/

/ /

/c.

Were Forsaking Christ/

/ /

*Colossians 2:19*/ and 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./

Not only did the /Mystics/ have a false worship and false humility, they also forsook Christ.

True humility submits to Jesus Christ, God's Son.

But these Mystics were not holding fast to Him.

They were doing their own thing.

They wouldn't submit to His head ship.

As a result they didn't receive nourishment from Him.

They thought their experience made them spiritual giants.

When in reality they were under nourished babes.

It is only as believers, members of the body remain under Christ's head ship that they are nourished by the Spirit and other believers.

Only Christ can nourish the body.

Only He can knit it together in unity.

Jesus Christ is the only one who can cause the body to grow.

He causes it to grow into maturity.

Application

 

/We don't have people that pray to angels today do we?/

The catholic church has encouraged people to pray to angels and saints for centuries.

They teach people that we don't have direct access to God.

They teach that we must pray to angels, Mary, or the saints.

/People don't have visions of angels or Christ today, do they?/

Yes they do!

The Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches place great value on visions and dreams.

They are constantly seeking spiritual experiences.