Colossians 2:16-23 LEGALSISM: DEFRAUDING YOU OF YOUR PRIZE

Introduction: Recap on how Colossians is written to a specific false teaching and teacher Paul calls him out specifically in vs 18.

Colossians 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

Colossians is a wonderful presentation on the excellence of Christ Jesus and His sufficiency. As believers we have the only “cure” to the spiritual ailment. Those that don’t know the cure or don’t believe in the sufficiency of Christ, turn to legalism.

Central Propositional Statement: Let no one defraud you of your PRIZE, with legalism, but hold fast to the HEAD!

Let no one judge you in regard to already fulfilled laws (vs 16-17)

16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

These rituals and laws were a mere shadow of what is to come: The reason why he frees Christians from the observance of them is, that they were shadows at a time when Christ was still, in a manner, absent. For Christ is now manifested to us, and hence we enjoy him as being present

Hebrews 8:4-5 “Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.””

Hebrews 10:1 “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”

Mosaic laws into three categories: moral, civil, and ceremonial (Understanding the difference)

Moral: A description of God's character and ethical will for humanity, meant to give humanity an absolute morality,

Most of the Ten Commandments, including both behaviors (murder, theft, adultery) and internal attitudes (do not covet).

Civil: Pragmatic aspects of civil order, meant to preserve the nation

inheritance laws, penal laws (murder, theft, etc.), health laws (sanitary codes). Exodus 22:14-15 ““If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.”

Ceremonial: Israel's prescribed pattern of rituals for approaching God

Sacrificial system (blood sacrifices), religious feasts and the Sabbath, the ritual system regarding ceremonial purity, circumcision, some health and dietary law Leviticus 1:1-13 the Law of Burnt Offerings

The John Calvins’s 3 Fold uses of the Law

Its first function is to be a mirror reflecting to us both the perfect righteousness of God and our own sinfulness and shortcomings. The law is meant to give knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11), and by showing us our need of pardon and our danger of damnation to lead us in repentance and faith to Christ (Gal. 3:19-24).

A second function, the "civil use," is to restrain evil. Though the law cannot change the heart, it can to some extent inhibit lawlessness by its threats of judgment, especially when backed by a civil code that administers punishment for proven offenses (Deut. 13:6-11; 19:16-21; Rom. 13:3, 4). Thus it secures civil order, and serves to protect the righteous from the unjust.

Its third function is to guide the regenerate into the good works that God has planned for them (Eph. 2:10). The law tells God's children what will please their heavenly Father. It could be called their family code. Christ was speaking of this third use of the law when He said that those who become His disciples must be taught to do all that He had commanded (Matt. 28:20), and that obedience to His commands will prove the reality of one's love for Him (John 14:15). The Christian is free from the law as a system of salvation (Rom. 6:14; 7:4, 6; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 2:15-19, 3:25), but is "under the law of Christ" as a rule of life (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2)."

2. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize (vs 18-23)

Read verses 18-23

The Law/Gospel distinction

These are often confused in the New Testament

The Law = Do, Gospel = Done

The Law commands us to do, emphasis is on our efforts/Gospel is what’s been done for us

Legal preaching, mixes up the 1st and the 3rd uses of the Law

Putting a fence around the law, more than God requires (Eve saying do not even touch it in Gen 3)

This also happens when someone tries to bind their conscience more than the scriptures do, they say things like the law says: do these things and have life. Meetings, routines, circumstances

The problem is the first use of the law doesn’t lead to life, it actually leads to death. Condemnation.

Legal preachers have 2 fears their people are lazy and don’t want to be Holy or Christlike or their people are unconverted

Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) Flesh Tank and Peashooter Regulations

In 1965, the church amended the covenant to add the sentence, “We engage … to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.” The constitutional effect of this amendment in 1965 was to make total abstinence from the use and sale of alcoholic beverages a prerequisite for church membership.

Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) Flesh Tank and Peashooter Regulations

It would read as follows: “We engage … to seek God’s help in abstaining from all drugs, food, drink, and practices which bring unwarranted harm to the body or jeopardize our own or another’s faith.”

Legalism is not of Christ, nor will it ever lead to true Godly living.

We preach the 1 use of the law…properly 1 Tim 1:8 “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,”

Jesus used the law properly, we must distinguish between the law/gospel

Mark 10:17-22 “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

This is not the gospel.....this is law!

Mark 10:23-27 “And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.””

The sermon on the mount all law, Jesus turns up the fire

You’ve heard it said YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER, but I say to you whoever is angry with his brother shall be guilty

You’ve heard it said YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, but I say to you everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart

You have heard it said, AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, but i say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

You have heard it said YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!! THAT’S THE POINT

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all 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.””

This is the GOSPEL! It brings peace, trust, hope, assurance, REST

THIS IS OUR PRIZE! LET NO ONE DEFRAUD YOU OF YOUR PRIZE, THE WORK OF THE PERSON , THE GOD MAN, CHRIST JESUS!

Moses knew the problem in Deut 30:6 “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”

God’s commandments now become the 3rd use of the law

John Calvin-said the law is our kind advisor in Christ Jesus

We are not Antinomians : one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation

Quite the opposite: now that we’ve been freed, we love to obey God, we’ve been given the very heart to do so.

The law now becomes our Christian Duty, but our duty derives from our identity in Christ.

Application/Conclusion

St. Augustine- Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all

Once we come to Christ for healing, let us not run back to the law to keep us right with God.

To me, this is what sets New Hope Refuge apart: We not only want to be a faith based ministry, BUT A GOSPEL BASED MINISTRY

Today we’ve been reminded what Christ has actually done. He has freed us from the law of sin and death.

What can wash away my sin Nothing but the blood of Jesus What can make me whole again Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my pardon, yes I see Nothing but the blood of Jesus For my cleansing there's my plead Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Nothing can for sin a tone Nothing but the blood of Jesus Not of good that I have done Nothing but the blood of Jesus

This is all my hope and peace Nothing but the blood of Jesus This is all my righteousness Nothing but the blood of Jesus Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow No other fount I know Nothing but the blood of Jesus