Against the Grain
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Introduction
Introduction
W.R. Hearst Painting story
We found the painting in your warehouse. You already own it.
We already have the answer too!
So stop looking for it!
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
How did you receive Christ? In simplicity
I’m a sinner, Christ offers salvation, you accept it, DONE!
Church isn’t “aren’t we so smart!”
It’s “doesn’t God love us!”
AND be thankful!
We’re going to talk about 5 problems that creep in
Each one the Colossians struggled with
And we struggle with them today
Problem 1: Intellectualism
Problem 1: Intellectualism
Problem One: Liberals
Problem One: Liberals
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
This is mainly a Greco-Roman or gentile problem
They believed in cause and effect rationale
If you’re good, you get good. If you’re bad, you get bad
Today, many would refer to Hindu/Buddhist tradition
They call that “Karma”
Like a road rage guy gets out of his car to yell at a grandma in her van and walks back to a locked car.
This goes directly against what Jesus teaches
He teaches “grace”
The entire message of grace is that we DON’T get what we deserve
In some Bibles, “take you captive” means “see that no one cheats you”
In Colossae there was a mix of Greek philosophy, Roman philosophy, gnosticism, mysticism and local religion
It was obviously sinful and wrong, but it was hard to ignore
The people talking about it seemed so smart!
We still struggle with that one today:
Documentary by Ben Stein called “Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed”
Documentary by Ben Stein called “Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed”
Let’s talk about science
Dr. Richard Von Sternberg (Editor, Smithsonian) - Intelligent design might explain life
Pressured to resign
Dr. Caroline Crocker (Professor, George Mason) - Mentioned intelligent design in a lesson
Fired
Dr. Michael Egnor (Neurosurgeon) - Said Darwinism isn’t necessary to be a doctor
Threats and phone calls to retire
Dr. Robert J. Marks II (Research Scientist, Baylor) - Included intelligent design in his research
Website shut down, grant money returned
Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez (Astronomer, Iowa State) - Wrote a book about intelligent design in astronomy
Was not granted tenure after discovering new planets!
Dr. Paul Nelson says, “If you define evolution precisely to mean, ‘the common decent of all life on earth from a single ancestor via undirected mutation and natural selection,’ that’s the textbook definition of neo-Darwinism, biologists of the first rank have real questions.”
However, Richard Dawkins says, “Evolution is a fact. It’s a fact which is established as securely as essentially any other fact that we have in science.”
Here’s the problem: science is a method, not an answer
Nacho Libre Clip
Here’s the problem: science is a method, not an answer
Doesn’t all the evidence point to life being an accident?
Life needs a minimum of 250 proteins to work
The odds of this happening by chance are crazy
First, you need DNA which provides information like a thumb drive
Big question, where does that information come from
It’s like throwing burying a canvas underground and finding it later with the Mona Lisa on it
Would you suspect the sand and water and clay accidently made it?
Or did someone intentionally put that painting on there?
Then this information codes (like a CPU) the sequence of amino acids
These then form proteins
The simplest cell needs AT LEAST 250 proteins to form life
Want to know the odds of that?
1 in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion
If you put together a perfect March Madness bracket
1 in 9.2 quintillion
Record is 49 (need 63 not counting play ins)
72 time in a row
That’s still not enough
Evolution is a theory, and one that is not proven by any means
AND doesn’t even do what Darwin claimed
His infamous book was called, “The Origin of Species” in 1859
The book explains how life transformed over time, but not how it started!
Scientists in the 1950’s claimed that “primordial soup” was struck by lightning
Experiments never worked and were abandoned
Modern scientists say random elemental mutations happened on the backs of forming crystals
Some say life was started on another planet and transplanted here
Still doesn’t explain how life started there
So scientists are talking about lightning, crystals and aliens...
But Christians are ridiculed for believing, maybe this incredibly complex system of life on earth was done on purpose...
Never!
I’m not saying ll of this to give you a science lesson...
I’m saying this because we need to know that Christianity IS NOT STUPID!
We assume that because scientists are smart they must be right
That is dangerous!
There
Nazi scientists were intelligent - They murdered 6 million Jews in concentration camps
Percival Lowell was intelligent - He believed aliens were farming on Mars
Aristotle was intelligent - He didn’t believe that eels reproduced
Scott Berkun says, “The problem with smart people is that they like to be right and sometimes will defend bad ideas to the death rather than admit they’re wrong… Somewhere in your town there is a row of graves at the cemetery, called smartypants lane, filled with people who were buried at poorly attended funerals, whose headstones say, ‘Well, at least I was right.’”
The truth is, smart people are not always right
This is mainly a Greco-Roman or gentile problem
This is mainly a Greco-Roman or gentile problem
We often believe science and faith are at odds
There is nothing wrong with being intellectual
But when you allow human thought to override the truth, your intellect is polluted
That’s why:
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you want truth, talk to Jesus
Divine, fully God and man, the Creator, Head of the church, Savior
He’s the one that created it all anyway!
If He is the Creator, shouldn’t we go to Him for questions about His design?
Problem 2: Ritualism
Problem 2: Ritualism
This is trying to accomplish something ourselves...
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 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.
In other words, it’s about making our salvation about works
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
This is mainly a Jewish problem
This is mainly a Jewish problem
They were pushing people to be circumsized
It was a Jewish requirement
Do you have to be baptized? YES!
We’re often self-centered in our faith
We think the only things we “have to” do save us...
We “have to” be baptized because Jesus tells us to!
BUT it doesn’t save you!
col 2:11-1
Baptism is an outward sign of the inward change
Some churches teach that you have to be baptized to be saved...
and 11 reveals that we DO NOT need water baptism for salvation
Every last bit of what we need was accomplished at THE CROSS
When Jesus turned to the thief, He said “today you will be with me in paradise”
He didn’t say, hop down and get baptized real quick...
Our faith is not about ritual
Man’s greatest need is God’s greatest deed
Greatest need for man? FORGIVENESS!
God’s greatest deed? FORGIVENESS!
I have to get my life right before I go to church
We have the ability to respond to
No you don’t!
It’s not about you and what you have to do
It’s about Him and what He already did
Back to this verse:
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.
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.
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Our sin has been wiped clean!
Our sin has been wiped clean!
Our sin has been wiped clean!
Spear fishing situation
v. 14 “canceling the record of debt
I called, “There is no record of a judgment against you.”
But I want to pay it...
You don’t understand, there is nothing for you to pay
There is NO RECORD of your wrong doing
Several background checks...
Still, it’s hard to believe there’s no record, so I worry
If you have accepted Christ its almost the same
BUT the fine that was attached to your name was way too high for you to pay
But the record of your sin has been erased
It’s like Back to the Future Part II
He got a fax that said, “YOU’RE FIRED!!!”
But then Marty changes the future and it gets erased...
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
These rulers and authorities are Satan and his demons...
They actually stand before God and accuse us DAY AND NIGHT
Non-stop, Satan is reading our rap sheets
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
There’s a problem, when Jesus died, there’s nothing left for him to say...
Disarming and putting to shame is probably a reference to the Roman “triumphus”
I have to get my life right before I go to church
Finally, the victorious general rode in unarmed procession around Rome
2.5 mile journey over 2 or 3 days
He wore a crown, painted his face red, wore a purple and gold-embroidered tunic
Symbolized a near king or near god
He rode a four horse chariot
In the front were the captives
In the front were the captives
They were naked an chained
I have to get my life right before I go to church
They would be harassed and spit on
Eventually many would be used for further displays or execution
It was publicly painful and humiliating
And Jesus has done the same for our accusers in His victory!
In that situation though, these were huge, battle-hardened warriors
Imagine if you ran up to spit on one and a huge Dwayne Johnson guy leaned over and growled in your face...
Yelling “I’m going to kill you!”
It would be scary and intimidating...
Like a serial killer on death row in handcuffs
Even if they’re not a threat, they can be intimidating
That’s what Satan and his demons still have the ability to do
They’re helpless, but if they can convince you to believe the lie that they’re a threat they can still impact you
They will lie to you, saying:
You’re not good enough
God hates you
He could never forgive you!
You don’t have to listen to that...
Your victory has already been won!
If you aren’t experiencing that, you’re probably listening to the lies of your enemy...
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
rev 12:10
Problem 3: Legalism
Problem 3: Legalism
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.
This was another Jewish problem for the Colossians
Legalism and ritualism are similar
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.
Ritualism is taking something and trying to accomplish something with it that it can’t do
Legalism is taking something that is a good idea, and making it mandatory when it’s not
col 2:
It’s about throwing away our freedom
Likely because we forgot it’s intended purpose
This is worrying about actions, and forgetting about reasons
Shadows don’t carry any real purpose, but the physical object making the shadow is what is important
Nail in the board illustration
Doesn’t work!
It’s not the shadow or the practice that’s important, it’s the substance!
Later, we’re going to take communion together
Later, we’re going to take communion together
Communion is a shadow, the substance is the actual body and blood of Christ that was shed for us
Who moved my pulpit?
The pulpit makes preaching easier: It holds your notes and Bible
It is not heresy to not have one!
Reminds me of a story in Mark 2
Jesus and His disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath
Explain Sabbath - you cannot work
Pharisees accuse the disciples of not keeping the Law
Jesus responded with this:
27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
He’s saying, “you have taken something (rest) that’s a good idea, and made it mandatory when it’s not”
The rest is supposed to help you, not prevent you from helping yourself (food)
Problem 4: Mysticism
Problem 4: Mysticism
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.
col 2:18
Mysticism was a Roman and Jewish problem
A friend who loves talking about miracles
Calls himself “spiritually sensitive”
Means you see demons and angels all the time
Had breakfast and sat back and listened
They were ARGUING about who recieved what vision and blah blah blah
It was a contest to prove who was most “holy”
I see a soccer net and a heart
Means our “goal” is to “love” people tonight!
That’s what Paul calls “being puffed up without reason”
Even if it is true, miracles are not about YOU
Do we need mystical visions for that?
Mari and Andrew are sick, they’re not going to make it
Then they walked in
Guess I don’t have that gift!
Does that mean I’m less holy? Less used by God?
Are miracles supposed to prove our position?
NO!!
God uses miracles to prove HIS position!
God is not a magician, He is the creator! He has authority over all things
HOWEVER, these divine and miraculous occurences are rare
He is in control of all things
They are not to put on a show for us, it is to prove His power!
They’re supposed to be!
When Jesus came He performed miracles also referred to as SIGNS
This pointed to His authority
Remember ? Jesus heals a paralyzed man
Lowered through the roof
Jesus says, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Pharisees flip out in their minds “That’s blasphemy! Only God forgives sins!”
Jesus then needs to show His authority
So the man gets up and walks out with his mat
Did Jesus do a magic trick to entertain the crowds?
Ta-da! For my next trick I’ll saw a woman in half...
NO! Jesus was basically saying, I have authority over EVERYTHING
If I say get up and walk, he will get up and walk
If I tell the winds to stop, they will stop
If I want a little boys lunch to feed thousands, we’ll need to-go boxes
HOWEVER, these divine and miraculous occurences are rare
Because you’ve seen that, you should know...
They’re supposed to be!
I see a soccer net and a heart
If I say your sin is forgiven, your sin is forgiven!
I see a soccer net and a heart
Means our “goal” is to “love” people tonight!
Do we need mystical visions for that?
Seems pretty cheap compared to what we read in Scripture right?
I do believe God can work through visions and miracles today
HOWEVER, these divine and miraculous occurences are rare
They’re supposed to be!
When we see it it should be undeniable for His purposes
Not our own...
Problem 5: Asceticism
Problem 5: Asceticism
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 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.
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.
Remember last week we learned suffering is normal
But our suffering does not pay for our sins
Reminder: Ruben Enaje from last week...
Agnes de Rochier was a beautiful 18 yr old girl in Paris in 1403
Wealthy merchant father died and many wanted her
She was
She was miserable and hated men
She vowed to cut herself off from the world
Had a room built into the walls of St. Opportune Cathedral
It was a few sq ft
Huge pontifical mass ceremony
Tapestry, choirs and the Bishop of Paris
Priest sprinkled holy water and a mason placed the last brick
The girl was locked into her tiny cell for life
Only a small hole so she could receive food and hear the church services
She was 18 and died in that room at the age of 98
The French article concluded with this:
Her wealth... and her own personal exertions during so long a life, might have made her a blessing to all that quarter of the city, instead of remaining a useless object of compassion to the few, and of idle wonder to the many.
In trying to be more holy, the world had one less person to enjoy
One less testimony to hear
One less helper in the church
And her efforts didn’t cleanse her sin even the tiniest bit more
Bill Engvall talks about stupid things people do
I lost my keys, wouldn’t you believe it was in the last place I looked
Well I hope so!
Did you find your keys? Yeah, but I’m still looking for ‘em...
That’s what asceticism does for our sin
Have you been washed clean by the blood of Christ?
Yeah, but I’m still cleaning myself...
It’s a waste! It’s already been DONE!
You don’t need all the stuff the world throws at you!
Remember our first week...
You need authority? Jesus is God!
You need someone to understand you? He was fully human?
You were created by Him, the Creator
He is the Head of your church
And He is your Savior if you have accepted Him
He is all you’ll EVER need
Don’t supplement it with philosophy, ritualism, legalism, mysticism or ascetism
Accept Him with simplicty
Communion
Communion
For anyone who believes and confesses Jesus Christ is their Savior
Walk up or back, take bread and juice combo, go back to seat
We will take it together
Pray for Communion
Pray for Communion
We just talked about ritualism and legalism
What we are about to do together is important to remember
That’s why Christ says “do this in remembrance of me.”
This is a shadow, but we have to remember the substance
The substance was a man that felt every crack of the whip
Every punch to the face
And every nail through His hands and feet
All to cleanse us of our sins in a profound but simple way
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
TAKE THE BREAD
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
TAKE THE BREAD
Then we remember the blood that flowed from each of His wounds
This blood, although as red as yours and mine, makes us clean
Our records are white as snow
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
CLOSING
CLOSING
Take the juice
Pray and dismiss
CLOSING
CLOSING
