The Danger of Jesus "and"

Introduction

The seduction of religion is the failure of many who now find themselves in hell. They lived religious lives but never had a relationship with the Living God.

Many of these went to church…others to a synagogue or a mosque. They fasted, prayed, went to services on high holy days. They were teetotalers, moral and maintained high standards of propriety and modesty. They looked the part of someone who had a changed life but never had faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross

This is what Paul was speaking about to the Colossians 2000 years ago. The false teachers Paul was confronting were legalists. They were religious. They practiced an aesthetic lifestyle and taught one must believe in Jesus and work hard to achieve salvation through religious activities and observances.

Did you know that when the wireless mic was first invented, parts of the church opposed it, because the radio waves went through the air and Satan is the prince of the power of the air?

You might remember the days when you weren't supposed to say that God or church are "fantastic" because fantastic originally meant relating to a fantasy?

There was a time in Southern Baptist life that you would never see a deck of cards inside the doors of the church. Cards were thought to be inherently evil from which nothing good could ever come. Dominoes…forget it…Going to the theater was for the lost.

Later all television was seen as a spawn of the devil…then it was any music that had a beat that made you want to tap your foot too fast.

A creative youth leader decided to show his youth group a missionary film. The film projector hadn’t been off an hour before a group of the leaders in the church called him in and asked him about what he had done. They asked, “Did you show the young people a film? He responded that he did. “We don’t like that,” they replied. Without trying to be argumentative, the youth worker reasoned, “Well, I remember that at the last missionary conference, our church showed slides–” One of the church officers put his hand up signaling him to cease talking. Then, in these words, he emphatically explained the conflict: “If it’s still, fine. If it moves, sin!” You can show slides, but when they start movin’, you’re gettin’ into sin.

Paul says, “Do not let anyone judge you with regard to food or drink” — And this same principle applies in a lot of different areas of life beyond food and drink. In short, “do not allow anyone to set up a standard of life outside of the one God has set up for you.

There was a time in Southern Baptist life that you would never see a deck of cards inside the doors of the church. Cards were thought to be inherently evil from which nothing good could ever come. Dominoes…forget it…Going to the theater was for the lost.

Later all television was seen as a spawn of the devil…then it was any music that had a beat that made you want to tap your foot too fast and with too much rhythm.

A creative youth leader decided to show his youth group a missionary film. The film projector hadn’t been off an hour before a group of the leaders in the church called him in and asked him about what he had done. They asked, “Did you show the young people a film? He responded that he did. “We don’t like that,” they replied. Without trying to be argumentative, the youth worker reasoned, “Well, I remember that at the last missionary conference, our church showed slides–” One of the church officers put his hand up signaling him to cease talking. Then, in these words, he emphatically explained the conflict: “If it’s still, fine. If it moves, sin!” You can show slides, but when they start movin’, you’re gettin’ into sin.

Personal, extra-Biblical moral codes have nothing to do with scripture or the doctrine of salvation.

You might remember the days when you weren't supposed to say that God or church are "fantastic" because fantastic originally meant relating to a fantasy?

There were also those who wanted to become Gandalf. These worshipped religious experiences and mysticism. They are always searching for some kind of higher religious experience than that which can be enjoyed in Christ.

These worshipped angels, sought visions and were always looking to the next religious high. They worshipped signs, wonders and anything that can be termed a higher experience.

Righteousness was once something to be attempted through works and the law. It was once something we sought through religious activities and sacrifice. But that time and those efforts were a shadow of the things to come.

Jesus came to put an end to life in the shadows. He came to actually make us righteous and save us from all vain attempts at saving ourselves.

Paul is not addressing his words to the teachers themselves but to those who are the victim of the condemnation of the teachers. Paul says do not allow them to judge you…isn’t this an interesting idea? Do not receive their condemnation.

Paul says do not allow them to judge you…isn’t this an interesting idea? Do not receive their condemnation.

The false teachers could judge us and pronounce judgement over us but we have the option as to whether or not we will recognize their authority and receive their verdict over our life!

What will our answer be? Will we allow extra biblical judgement of our life? Will we allow ourselves to be condemned?

Something More

Paul says, “Do not let anyone judge you with regard to food or drink” — And this same principle applies in a lot of different areas of life. In short, “do not allow anyone to set up a standard of life outside of the one God has set up for you.

There was a time in Southern Baptist life that you would never see a deck of cards inside the doors of the church. Cards were thought to be inherently evil from which nothing good could ever come. Dominoes…forget it…Going to the theater was for the lost.

Later all television was seen as a spawn of the devil…then it was any music that had a beat that made you want to tap your foot too fast and with too much rhythm.

And those who held to such beliefs judged the life of others based on their own set of do’s and don’t’s. This moral code had nothing to do with scripture or the doctrine of salvation but it didn’t matter.

But before we conclude discussion about the false teachers and their heresy…some of them also wanted to become Gandalf or the equivalent of a Christian wizard. They worshipped religious experiences and mysticism. They were always searching for some kind of higher religious experience than that which can be enjoyed in Christ.

They worshipped angels, sought visions and were always looking to the next religious high. They worshipped signs, wonders and anything that can be termed a higher experience.

There are groups out there who believe you are living some sub-Christian standard if you are not speaking in tongues, performing miracles or having an ecstatic, emotional, sensational experience on a regular basis.

There were also those who wanted to become Gandalf.

n There were also those who wanted to become Gandalf. These worshipped religious experiences and mysticism. They are always searching for some kind of higher religious experience than that which can be enjoyed in Christ.

These worshipped angels, sought visions and were always looking to the next religious high. They worshipped signs, wonders and anything that can be termed a higher experience.

These worshipped angels, sought visions and were always looking to the next religious high. They worshipped signs, wonders and anything that can be termed a higher experience.

The opinions and teachings of those who hold such beliefs often make their opinions equal to scripture…and their judgement always seems to follow.

But Paul says here that these kind of people are not connected to Christ. Their notions are empty and unspiritual.

Righteousness was once something to be attempted through the law. It was once something we sought through religious activities and sacrifice. But these were a shadow of the things to come.

Jesus came to put an end to life in the shadows of what was to come. He came to actually save us, make us righteous and save us from all vain attempts at saving ourselves.

The interesting things here is that Paul is not addressing his words to the teachers themselves but to those who are the victim of the condemnation of the teachers.

Paul says do not allow them to judge you…isn’t this an interesting idea? Do not receive their condemnation.

The false teachers could judge us and pronounce judgement over us but we have the option as to whether or not we will recognize their authority and receive their verdict over our life!

This is an important point. Everything we believe must be connected to Christ…it must come from Him…it must coincide and agree with Scripture. If your ideas, beliefs and practices are not connected to Jesus you are practicing a made up religion of “Jesus and...”

What will our answer be? Will we allow extra biblical judgement of our life? Will we allow ourselves to be condemned?

The Gospel: Jesus is Enough

Verses 20 through 23 are of vital importance to all believers of all time. The real question Paul is posing is a simple one…Will you believe you are saved by the completed work of Jesus on the Cross or will you submit your life to a mixture of law and grace?

And this is really just a choice. Will you submit yourself to the regulations, self made religion, false humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism)…a system created by man or will you trust your life to the grace given through the cross of Christ?

We have died to the elements of this world — We have died to all vain attempts created by man to achieve a relationship with God. We have died to self effort. We have died to sin!

We must not choose to live as though the grace of God is not enough. We must choose to live by faith alone and not a mixture of faith and works. We must not submit ourselves to a legalistic religion created by man!

A life of legalism may satisfy our flesh in that it makes us feel a sense of accomplishment…it is of no real value to us at all and in the end brings no sense of victory…it does nothing to curb our appetites for sin not does it help us reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ by faith.

Dr. Sewall, an old Methodist, when dying, shouted aloud the praises of God. His friends said, "Dr. Sewall, do not exert yourself; whisper, doctor, whisper." "Let angels whisper," said he, "but the soul cleansed from sin by the Blood of Christ, a soul redeemed from death and hell, just on the threshold of eternal glory—oh, if I had a voice that would reach from pole to pole, I would proclaim it to all the world: Victory! Victory! through the Blood of the Lamb!"

"Let angels whisper," said he, "but the soul cleansed from sin by the Blood of Christ, a soul redeemed from death and hell, just on the threshold of eternal glory—oh, if I had a voice that would reach from pole to pole, I would proclaim it to all the world: Victory! Victory! through the Blood of the Lamb!"

Conclusions

A soap manufacturer and an evangelical preacher were walking along together, the former not being a Christian. The soap maker said, "The Gospel you preach has not done much good, for there is still a lot of wickedness, and thousands of wicked people." The preacher was silent awhile, and in a few moments they passed a child making mud pies in the street. He was exceedingly dirty. Then the preacher's turn came. "Soap has not done much good in the world, I see; for there is still much dirt, and ever so many dirty people!" "Oh, well," said the manufacturer, "soap is only useful when it is applied." "Exactly," replied the other, "so it is with the Gospel."

The gospel is only good for those who have faith to apply it to their life. Have you had a time in your life when you believed the gospel and put your trust in the saving power of Christ and Christ alone?

If you are clean by grace through faith in the work of Christ…you are clean indeed! You need not attempt to improve upon the effectiveness of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.

And you do not need to submit yourself to the judgement of others who have set up standards beyond that which God would have you live. Do not live condemned and judged by those seeking to find their cleansing by their works and legalistic living.

And if you are a believer you need not live under the judgement of those who set up standards of experience which may not be your own. The Lord gives visions and spiritual gifts to those whom He chooses…and for His glory not ours.

This sermon is about believing the truth, trusting the truth and not allowing ourselves to be shaken by those who refuse to do the same.