2021-12-26 AM, Relationship Before Rules, Col 2:16-23
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
REVIEW
REVIEW
2021-12-26 AM, Relationship Before Rules, Col 2:16-23
Paul and Epaphras
Paul likely discipled Epaphras in Ephesus
Epaphras founded the church in Colossae
Sadly, heresy slipped into the church. It was of a pre-gnostic, Jewish folklore type.
Re-establishment of the ceremonial and dietary law
worship of angels
claims of visions
Epaphras went to Rome to discuss the issue with Paul (1000 mi. away). Somehow he became imprisoned himself (Philemon 1:23)
Paul’s Response to Colossae
Paul responds to this report with prayer and this letter.
Though he’s never met them, he counts himself as a spiritual father to them and feels strongly about them.
His message to them is to remain steadfast and unwavering in the gospel they received from him via Epaphras.
He wants them to be unmoved in the faith, love, and hope which grows out of the gospel.
He spends a great deal of this letter expressing that the heart of the gospel of salvation is Christ Jesus.
In response to the heresy they face, Paul holds up Christ in all his glory.
From a pastor’s heart, Paul exhorts them to remain true to what they have received from him. He warns them about falling away because of false teachings:
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.
Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV)
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.
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.
This week, Paul continues with his pleading with the Colossians. He goes into the elements of the heresies in order to tell them to steer clear of them.
Summary Statement
Summary Statement
Don’t put hoops between people and Jesus.
This week I want you to know...
Our acceptance before God is rooted in relationship with Christ. The Law of Christ follows after.
First, Paul says,
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.
So, the heretics in the church that were teaching a false gospel were telling the Christians they needed to make sure to hold on to Old Testament laws and rituals to be okay with God.
Jewish Dietary laws (Lev. 11); Forgetting what God told Peter in Acts 10:9-15
Annual Festivals (Passover, Pentecost, & Tabernacles; Lev. 23)
Monthly sacrifice offered on the New moon (first of the month; Numbers 10:10)
Sabbath; weekly celebration on the 7th day (Exodus 20.8-10; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-6
Paul tells the Colossians that the heretics, who were legalists, which teach the law as a means to acceptance by God are behind the times.
He explains that now that Christ has come, these things are no longer necessary.
He tells them that following these ceremonial parts of the OT were always meant to point the people of God to Christ, but now that Christ has come, you can just go straight to Christ. Going back to these ceremonies would be like worshiping Jesus’ shadow, when Jesus is standing right in front of you.
Jesus is the substance of true religion, not the rituals, so Paul says to quit putting them before Christ.
Paul’s word to them is “Don’t go back to lesser things!”
Let’s be honest, this is a regular tendency for us isn’t?
We will put hoops up between people and Christ; rules to obey the rules to be accepted by God.
You gotta come to church before you get saved, instead of having people grapple with the person and work of Christ; Telling a lost person, “You gotta get in church.” You have to go forward at the end of the service to get saved.
You gotta get your life cleaned up before you can approach Christ to be saved; You’ve got to master your addictions before you come to Christ.
I’m not advocating for no rules at all. Neither is Paul. But the Laws of Christ to be a people who trust Him, are godly, and declare the gospel come from Christ and His Word and they come to be written on our hearts.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Laws do not come on the front end.
What we warn against is what the heretics and legalists of Colossae were doing: putting “dos” between people and the grace of God.
This is Jesus+ theology.
This is “but first...” evangelism.
No, there is no, “but first...” There is only come into the arms of the risen Christ.
In the action coming to Christ is
-Admitting you are a sinner and repenting of sin
-Believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and was raised.
-Calling on Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Once there with Him, He will save you, He will love you, but He will also begin the work of changing you. Don’t worry, the changes are for your benefit and His glory.
Trust-Holy-Evangelism
So it is not, do this so He will love you.
It is more, I love Him, so I will do this.
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Paul continues...
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.
Asceticism was the idea of winning God’s favor by suffering in the flesh. Whip myself, starve myself
Worship of angels- fascination with created bring more than with Jesus Christ the Creator
Visions- heavenly visions, heaven tourism
Sensuous mind- trading reason for pleasure of the senses.
Becoming detached from Christ the head, from which the church, with its people and teachings and congregations are united and built up spiritually.
In each of these ways, the Colossians run the risk of disqualification- quitting the true gospel before life is over and proving they never had it in the first place; forfeiting on countless rewards God has for the faithful who care to obey.
Our connection to Christ is based on right belief, trust, and the Word of God.
The heretics were trying to sell beliefs which were not upheld in the Word of God.
More on asceticism, Paul says...
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.
In Christ, the Colossians testified that they were no longer under the permanent power of the law which revealed their sin.
They testified that they were no longer under the influence of faulty human teachings and the influence of demonic teachings, yet here they were following ascetic rules like...
Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch
When Christians in Christ were free to handle, taste, and touch many true, noble, righteous, pure lovely, admirable, excellent, and praise worthy things in Christ .
The abstaining from good things, all looks like good religious practice, but these things do not cause life change, only the person and work of Christ does.
In fact, asceticism can breed arrogance which runs counter to trusting in Christ for salvation
Church
We begin with Christ and His word. We finish with Christ and His Word. This pair is the authority for what we believe and what we do. Intense abiding in in Christ and reasonable study of His Word will lead us to the rule of life He wishes us to have. We must be so careful not to adopt rules unsubstantiated by Christ and His word. We must be careful not to try and win His acceptance continually or believe that we need to repay Him for what He has done.
Rather, we walk with Him in friendship.
We trust Him in good times and bad.
We live godly lives and avoid sin in gratitude.
We speak the gospel because we love Him and love others.
May the Lord prevent us from putting rules between Christ and the people He wishes to save.
Our acceptance before God is rooted in relationship with Christ, not rules.