How to beat the system

Read Colossians 2:20–23 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Intro

Just recently, a study was released on burnout in the work place.

Today, 42% report burnout when it was 38% back in 2021, making it a new record.

Why?

Some of the reasons include that difficult era that we live in.

The uncertainty of what’s going on in the world today, with war, and a poor economy.

But I spoke to someone a week ago, telling me their reason of feeling burn out.

And it’s due to the monotony of life.

The seemingly endless feeling of going through the same routine every singe day for years.

Waking up super early in the morning, going to school, eat, go home, go to bed, and do it all over again.

And what does this make us feel?

It makes us feel, mid.

It makes us feel like our lives are mediocre and have little impact on the rest of society and the world.

That there’s little meaning in our lives.

It’s this feeling of living in a system that can’t be changed.

But today, the Bible will teach you that your life, has significant meaning.

Eternal meaning!

That you will rise above the system that you are placed in.

That’s why today our title is How to beat the system.

So that instead of feeling apathetic and indifferent about this world, you will know and understand the true and eternal hope that God gives us!

1. Recognize that you are no longer a part of the system (v.20-22)

See the first step to overcome a problem is to recognize the problem.

Because if you don’t see a problem in the first place, then you won’t want to change anything.

We see this with the first word in v.20, therefore.

We come to a point in Paul’s letter, where this constant teaching that Christ is all you need, was so he could finally address a problem that he saw in the Colossian church.

The problem of living by rules.

And he addresses it by asking the Colossians a question.

He writes, if you died with Christ.

Now at this point, there’s not much needed to explain here.

Because Paul has already been teaching earlier in this letter, that as Christians we are united with Christ.

Then when He died on the cross, we also died, and when He rose again, we also rose into new life.

But he adds more to this by writing, from the basic principles of the world.

Another translation says, Col 2:20

Colossians 2:20 (ESV)

to the elemental spirits of the world

What Paul is saying here, is that through the cross and resurrection, Jesus has set us free from demonic influence.

We learned earlier, that demonic forces, are not merely in the business of possessing people like you see in the movies.

But their primary business is in the creation of false religions.

False religions, that teach you, that you need to follow certain rules in order to go to heaven.

Galatians 4:3 (NKJV)

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

Paul says, we were in bondage, we were slaves to the evil system that demons, and sinful people have created.

But Paul is saying that, Christ has set Christians free from that!

And yet, some of these Colossians were still living by rules, living by the authority of demons.

He writes, ‘why, as though living in the world’.

Some of these Colossians, were still living in the old system, the old world, even though Christ has set them free.

Or has he?

You see, there is one little world, that is so easy to miss, that Paul wrote earlier, and that’s the word if.

Look again at the beginning of the verse, he says, if you died with Christ!

And this is what Paul is teaching, that just because you are sitting here today does not mean you are a Christian!

If you are still living you old ways, according to the old world, the system, then are you really a Christian?

Ask yourselves that!

That’s what Paul writes!

He says, ‘why as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations?

What he means is, ‘if you have been set free by Christ, why do you still live according to rules?’

Paul is saying, ‘it doesn’t make sense!’

If you are a Christian, you should no longer live in the old way of thinking.

The system of rules, and the rat race of earning your way into heaven!

Romans 6:2 (NKJV)

Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Here, Paul was responding to those saying, ‘well if I’m saved, can’t I just continue living a sinful life so God can continue forgiving me, and continue giving me grace?’

And Paul says, ‘no!’

If you were living in the mud, and then God brings you into his glorious palace, why go back to the mud?

And then to remind us of what that mud is like, he gets specific in v.21.

He writes, do not touch, do not taste, do not handle!

Sounds like kindergarten right?

Don’t touch this, don’t eat that, etc. right!

Did you enjoy being told to not do certain things, and then being swatted on the hand when you do?

Did you enjoy living by rules that don’t make sense like don’t eat pork, or don’t drink caffeine, or else you’ll go to hell?

I don’t know about you but bacon, and coke taste pretty good!

Did you enjoy earning your way to heaven, when you know it’s impossible like trying to jump into the air and start flying?

Because that’s not what student ministry is about.

We’re not here to teach you abstinence, don’t have sex before marriage, live a good life, be a good person, and be a good moral person.

And obviously those are good things, and you shouldn’t do sinful things like that.

But many times I’ve seen in other student ministries, it’s all about teaching abstinence, and playing dodgeball.

There’s no gospel.

There’s no good news, that Christ has set us free from living a life of works, and trying to please Him to get to heaven.

But that’s what we’re about here.

We’re not here to teach you to be a good person, we’re here to teach you the grace of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We’re here to teach you to come to Jesus.

The gentle, caring shepherd of our souls.

The only One who can give us true rest.

And yet often we are too concerned with quick and temporary fixes.

Paul writes in v.22, which all concern things which perish with the using.

Paul is saying here, is that ‘what all of these rules have in common is that they all deal with temporary things’.

Like don’t eat this food, or drink this drink.

What happens to food when we eat it, and drink when we drink it?

Believe it or not, Jesus answers this question,

Matthew 15:17 (NKJV)

Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?

Jesus is saying, eating certain foods doesn’t make you sinful because it’s temporary.

And often we are far too focused on what’s temporary.

The here and now.

Things that don’t really matter.

Some of you might be thinking, I can’t wait till this guy is some so I can go eat lunch. Or maybe you’re thinking of some boy or girl. But what’s the point of that when that lunch you eat that will go into your stomach and become waste?

What’s the point of these fleeting thoughts of boys or girls when what’s being taught to you right now will impact you forever.

We need to have an eternal perspective.

That’s what Paul writes here,

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

This life is so short, that in the grand scheme of things, when we are in eternity with God, our current life will only be a dot in the never ending line of eternity with God.

So what kind of things are we overly concerned about that don’t really matter?

Are we preoccupied with the next thing that we want to buy?

To bring hope, or a feeling in your life?

Are overly worried with school, that it causes us to miss out on church, and serving God and others, which counts for eternity?

What are you so worried about, when God can provide everything?

It is nothing to an eternal God.

Matthew 6:26 (NKJV)

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

This is why Jesus, taught us to not worry about anything, because God cares for us, and it is nothing compared to eternity.

And eternity is not what the old system is about.

Paul’s last phrase in v.22 says, according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

All of these silly rules these religions, and sometimes even Christians make, are all made-up Paul is saying.

It’s made by men, not God.

This phrase is also a reference to Isa 29:13

Isaiah 29:13 (NKJV)

Therefore the Lord said:“In as much as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

What God is rebuking here, were people in Old Testament Israel, that came to worship God merely on the outside and not with faith on the inside.

They were going through the motions.

Their worship was fake.

Don’t come to church like that.

Don’t come just because your parents tell you to, come for the Lord.

Come to worship Him.

Church is not about us, and having everything the way we like it.

Church is about us coming to give God worship and praise.

When you come to church, be thinking, ‘I’m here to praise you, learn more about you, and deepen my relationship with you Lord.’

All of these, old wicked ways of living, are a part of the old system that we used to be a part of.

Remember, Christ has set you free from that.

You are no longer a part of the system.

So live like it!

2. Stay humble (v.23)

Let’s look at v.23, where we will learn this.

Paul writes, these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom.

What Paul is saying is that he old system looks wise.

Seems to be the right way of living, I mean everyone is doing it!

If everyone is doing it, I should do it too!

That’s going to be the biggest lesson for you and middle and high schoolers as you grow up.

That just because someone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you should too!

The idea, that everyone follows, ‘be a good person, live a good life’ seems like good advice.

And that’s why we need to stay humble.

Our flesh will always find this way of living attractive.

It thinks its wise.

And these are some more system based characteristics.

Paul writes, ‘in self-imposed religion’.

Paul is saying that these false teachers are the ones who decide all the rules, and rituals for their false religion.

They’re the ones who put all the names of random foods in a hat, pick one, and then say, ‘hey, no shellfish allowed!’

They are the ones who decide, hey, we need angels to protect us from evil, so let’s worship them by praying to them, and appeasing them by constantly thinking of them!

They’re the ones who decide, hey if something keeps going wrong, that means its cursed, so avoid it all costs!

The next one is, false humility.

Again, it’s also translated asceticism.

A way of living that is aesthetic or looks good to others.

‘I come to church to show off that I’m holier than thou with the good works that I do, and my strict following of certain days’.’

Another one is and neglect of the body.

Paul is writing, that these laws are so strict that they actually harm the body.

Imagine not eating or drinking a single thing for about 12 hours a day for an entire month.

That’s Ramadan in Islam.

And so Paul, finally gives a final condemnation to all these things.

He writes, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

All of these things that seem to work, seem to make a person more holy and righteous, actually do nothing.

They’re snake oil, Paul says.

It’s a scam.

There’s a reason why in Ramadan, with all that fasting, people actually overeat because from 7am-7pm of not eating or drinking, they overcompensate and eat and drink more than normal!

There’s a reason why there’s a controversy within Roman Catholicism, with priests messing around with young boys.

You see, all these rules don’t do anything to stop the flesh.

It might seem like it does, but it’s a lie.

And that’s where we need to stay humble guys.

Because the flesh wants to live a life by rules.

The flesh wants to just be a good person and call it day.

The flesh doesn’t want to just accept that the only way is Christ and that works are unnecessary to earn God’s favor.

Do you know what these false religions end up doing?

They make you there hero of the story, not God.

In these religions, you save yourself.

You earned your way to heaven.

You receive the glory.

And the flesh likes that.

You may think right now that it’s silly to live a life by rules, but you must also stay humble, because there’s a reason why some people in the church leave the church and become Catholic, Orthodox, or Muslim, because the flesh likes rules.

Stay humble because only God deserves glory, when you get to heaven.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

What does Paul write here?

Does he say, by your works, you have been saved?

Does he say, by being a good person you have been saved?

Does he say, by living a moral life you have been saved?

No it is by grace and grace alone.

The unmerited favor by God.

And what’s the final phrase?

Lest anyone should boast?

So that when Christians can get to heaven, not a single one of them can boast!

But that only God can boast!

Because God deserves all the glory!

Salvation belongs to God and God alone!

Psalm 3:8 (NKJV)

Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

Conclusion/gospel

If you are here today, and you are still living according to the old system of rules and regulations.

I urge you to repent.

Because the old system it is perishing and so is everyone in that system.

But the good news is that Jesus Christ sets free anyone those who believe in Him.

That believe, that we have no hope other than Christ, who died on the cross to pay for the sins of those who believe in Him, and rose again on the 3rd day.

He offers this to you as a free gift, and all you have to do is take it!

Let’s pray!