A Sufficient Gospel

Intro

Tell the story of being deceived by buying fake football tickets

Read Colossians 2:8-23

We see that Paul is addressing this “philosophy” that has fallen on this church. This “philosophy” that is pressing on these people and we can assume some have noticed and have great concern and written to Paul.

This “philosophy” is a new idea.

Philosophy is a way of thinking. There is a way of thinking spreading throughout this area that Paul sees and says, I need to interfeer so that the people that I love and have a passion for do not allow this thinking to corrupt and take over them. An idea that leads away from Christ and not a path to him.

Today I want us to examine this text and ask two internal questions “Do I share an sufficient Gospel?” “Do I believe in an sufficient Gospel?”

Do not be deceived or deceive with an Insufficient Gospel

Government & Policies are an insufficient Gospel v. 10 and 15

Paul encourages the church of Colossae not to be deceived that Government would save them from their problems, nor would they lead the community in which they lived to Christ.

We cannot rely on policies to be our way of sharing the good news

Do we really care about the sanctity of life? Do we really feel as though Jesus cares about the sanctity of life? Do we find it important that the first being ever to recognize Jesus was an unborn baby?

We can partner with policy and government to help us protect that belief but do we merely rely on them to do it? Or do we give those beliefs feet and realize that Government and policy fail in their sufficiency.

Traditions in the Church are an Insufficient Gospel v. 8, 16-17, 20-22

Church, Paul can see warning signs all over these people that some of them have fallen in love with the traditions of the church.

They like to keep the fashion the same

They like the times to be the same.

They like the music to stay the same.

They like the teacher to talk a certain way

They like their seat to be in the same spot

They like their class to remain the same

They like tradition because it keeps them comfortable instead of leading them to be more like Christ.

Tradition can lead us to the Gospel but it in no CAN replace the Gospel

Have you allowed some tradition to replace the Gospel in your life?

Have you become more tied to the way you do things and lost connection with the REASON you do things.

Church, we cannot accept tradition as a sufficient Gospel nor can we preach it.

Our evangelism cannot simply be come to church with me and do these things at church with me, and be at this church with me. Our evangelism is “This guy named Jesus has changed my life and he will do the same for you!”

Church, to be honest with you, we don’t need another thing today or tradition to follow on our calendar. What you and I need, what the world outside of these walls needs is a Saviour to change our life!

I love how Paul words it in verse 17 “These things are a shadow”

Don’t fall victim to the idea that tradition is sufficient it merely helps lead us to the all sufficient one!

A Clean Conscience is an Insufficient Gospel v. 16-17, 20-22

In that same vain, I believe the people in this area had fallen for an insufficient Gospel because it made them “FEEL GOOD”

In Matthew 7:22–23 “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’” “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’”

This is one of the scariest verses in all of the Bible

I am afraid in this group will be those who thought the Gospel was all about keeping your conscience clear.

I am going to do more good than bad.

Don’t eat, don’t taste, don’t handle

Paul is screaming this is man made stuff, and man does it why? To feel good and hold power over one another.

If we accept and preach a feel good gospel a gospel that says you can’t xyz and you have to do abc, we have been deceived.

The good news isn’t that we feel good, the good news is that our lives are changed.

The Worship of Other Beings is an Insufficient Gospel

Church this one isn’t as deceiving for you and I but rather we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, what is the “Good news” I am hanging on today?

What do I worship, what do I bow down to and hold higher than myself? Is in money? Vacation time? Brief moments of comfort? Food?

The church at Colossae was getting close to falling into the trap that worship of other beings, other things would bring them more LIFE than Jesus?

Church, we have a world out there that is searching! Do you know this new generation over half have said “I want to learn more about Jesus!” You say “half? That’s low!” Not when you look at how many in their schools have no afiliation with the church.

Out of that 50+% do you know only 49% of them say the church is a beneficial place to teach them about their curiosity? Why because I am afraid they see us as a people not afiliated with Jesus but rather some other forms of worship, self, tradition, and not Jesus.

Accept & Preach a Sufficient Gospel

A sufficient gospel is only found in Jesus Christ and why is that? Because Jesus is over all. Why can we rely on the truth that he is sufficient? Look what Paul reminds this church of. He has all authority v. 10b. He has more value than any other v. 17b, He has victory v. 12b, He gave sacrificed for you v. 14b, He will remain when all others fail v. 15.

When we accept and preach a sufficient gospel there are 3 things involved.

Christ’s Death

God made us alive with him, forgave us of our trespasses, he erased our debt and everything that came along with that, and how did he do that? What does Paul say He nailed it to the cross.

Why is this sufficient because our sin, our separation, the judgement we stand under with God, was FORGIVEN.

Why? Why did it have to be this way? Turn with me to Romans 3:24–26 “they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.”

We serve a just God. He couldn’t simply pass over our sin and say here’s a restoration card for free no rather we see in both the Colossians passage and here in Romans there had to be payment for sin. The only adequate and sufficient payment was the death of Jesus! The innocent and perfect blood of Jesus, is a sufficient payment.

Christ’s Resurrection

Go back with me to v. 12, just as Christ was raised we are raised with him. There is no more fear in death and separation from God, Jesus overcame that on our behalf.

This is a sufficient gospel because of Christ’s victory over all, look in v. 15, there are no more that can stand against you and I when we are found in Christ!

Do you think if fall into the lie that tradition can save us, someone can stand over us more churchy? You bet they can and they will

But not in this gospel. In this gospel we have victory overall because Christ has victory over all.

Faith in Christ’s Death and Resurrection is how we accept this Gospel