Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 6: Freedom from Human Rules

Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 6:

Freedom from Human Rules

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Paul’s letter (Epistle) to the Colossians was a letter to correct Heresy.

Heresy is having an opinion which is in opposition to true doctrine. In other words, the Colossian church had, as many other early churches, fallen prey to false doctrine.

THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH

We see a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism, Asceticism, Angel worship, etc.

Judaism would be the adherence to Old Testament teachings while ignoring the completed works of the cross.

Gnosticism is the belief that “secret” knowledge existed, specifically that the world was created by a lesser divinity, and ruled by an emissary of the remote Supreme Being. This belief system, which was carried over to Christianity, placed God the Father as the Supreme and Jesus as the lesser ruling divinity.

Asceticism is the severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.   The doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification (embarrassment and shame – “mortified”) and the like. Rigorous self-denial; extreme abstinence; in a severe nature.

It is obvious why this is false doctrine, and has no place in a Christ following church.

The heresy, destroyed the Supreme lordship and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, it dethroned Him, destroying the mediator-ship of Christ, making Him only 1 of a multitude of mediators, (such as the Hindu belief in avatars, a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.)

However, we know Jesus is so much more than that, He was, is and always will be God.

TODAY’S SERMON

Paul’s Concern about the False Teachings

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Colossians 2:16-23

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

²⁰ Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. ²³ Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Supreme Glory, Deity and Dignity of Christ Jesus”.

 I. THE OLD (TESTAMENT / COVENANT) WAYS WERE A FORESHADOWING OF CHRIST

a. Who is now here, and to whom you belong

                                                                 i. The New Testament / Covenant

                                                              ii. So don’t let others judge you for not keeping the Old Ways

b. What you eat, drink, the festivals, celebrations or the Sabbath Day

                                                                 i. These were all a shadow of things to come

                                                              ii. The Law with all of its observances was only meant to point Christ, the One who was to come)

c. All of these are found in Christ

                                                                 i. What you eat and drink

1. Acts 10:9-16 “About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

2. Mark 7:18-23 “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

                                                              ii. The festivals and celebrations (Jewish Feasts)

1. Passover

a.  (Leviticus 23:5) – Pointed to the Messiah as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover at the same hour that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening (John 19:14).

2. Unleavened Bread

a. Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) – Pointed to the Messiah's sinless life (as leaven is a picture of sin in the Bible), making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life.

3. First Fruits

a.  (Leviticus 23:10) – Pointed to the Messiah's resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to him in 1 Corinthians 15:20 as the "first fruits from the dead."

4. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

a. Weeks or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16) – Occurred fifty days after the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and pointed to the great harvest of souls and the gift of the Holy Spirit for both Jew and Gentile, who would be brought into the kingdom of God during the Church Age (see Acts 2). The Church was actually established on this day when God poured out His Holy Spirit and 3,000 Jews responded to Peter's great sermon and his first proclamation of the gospel.

5. Feast of Trumpets (Rapture)

a. (Leviticus 23:24) – The first of the fall feasts. Many believe this day points to the Rapture of the Church when the Messiah Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:52).

6. Day of Atonement (Judgment)

a. (Leviticus 23:27) – Many believe this prophetically points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when He will return to earth. That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:1-6, 25-36).

7. Feast of Tabernacle

a.  (Leviticus 23:34) – Many scholars believe that this feast day points to the Lord's promise that He will once again “tabernacle” with His people when He returns to reign over the entire world (Micah 4:1-7).

                                                           iii. The Sabbath Day

1. Matthew 12:1-8 “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

II.      DO NOT LET OTHERS DISQUALIFY YOU (with false teachings)

a. Those who delight in false humility

b. Those who worship angels

                                                                 i. This pertained to the Gnostic teaching that man could not go directly to God through Christ, but must reach God through successive grades of intermediate beings, such as angels.

c. These people are puffed up (prideful / arrogant) with idle notions by their unspiritual mind

                                                                 i. Claiming things such as seeing things outside the revealed world of God

                                                              ii. Their unspiritual mind refers to the mind of man and its imaginations

1. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

2. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

III.   SINCE YOU DIED WITH CHRIST TO THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITUAL FORCES OF THIS WORLD;

a. Though you still belong to this world (physically)

                                                                 i. Do not submit to its rules

b. Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch

                                                                 i. These rules which have to do with things that are all destines to perish with use are based on HUMAN commands and teachings

                                                              ii. Meaning there is NO SALVATION in anything taught by men, rather only in Christ Jesus

c. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom

                                                                 i. Worship devised and prescribed by men has an appearance of wisdom, but are only for show

                                                              ii. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3

CONCLUSION – Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Words, teachings, instruction of men;

             Have an appearance of wisdom

             Self-imposed worship

             False humility

             Harsh treatment of the body (neglect under the guise of piousness)

However they lack and value in restraining sensual (physical / the flesh) indulgence…meaning SIN.  The Sadducees and Pharisees did this, modern churches, cults and false religions do this.

Man’s wisdom cannot save, self-imposed rules and regulations of men cannot save, false humility cannot save, and ascetic observances cannot save These may appeal to men as indications of superior wisdom and piety; they hold no value as remedies against sin. Only Christ forgives, only Christ fulfills, only Christ empowers you through His Holy Spirit, to make it possible for you to repent, and walk in the Spirit.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 5: Spiritual Fullness in Christ

Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 5:

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Paul’s letter (Epistle) to the Colossians was a letter to correct Heresy.

Heresy is having an opinion which is in opposition to true doctrine. In other words, the Colossian church had, as many other early churches, fallen prey to false doctrine.

THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH

We see a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism, Asceticism, Angel worship, etc.

Judaism would be the adherence to Old Testament teachings while ignoring the completed works of the cross.

Gnosticism is the belief that “secret” knowledge existed, specifically that the world was created by a lesser divinity, and ruled by an emissary of the remote Supreme Being. This belief system, which was carried over to Christianity, placed God the Father as the Supreme and Jesus as the lesser ruling divinity.

Asceticism is the severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.   The doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification (embarrassment and shame – “mortified”) and the like. Rigorous self-denial; extreme abstinence; in a severe nature.

It is obvious why this is false doctrine, and has no place in a Christ following church.

The heresy, destroyed the Supreme lordship and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, it dethroned Him, destroying the mediator-ship of Christ, making Him only 1 of a multitude of mediators, (such as the Hindu belief in avatars, a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.)

However, we know Jesus is so much more than that, He was, is and always will be God.

TODAY’S SERMON

Paul’s Concern about the False Teachings

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Colossians 2:6-15

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Supreme Glory, Deity and Dignity of Christ Jesus”.

 I. THE KEYS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

a. Just as you received Christ, continue to live your lives in Him

                                                                 i. Statistics have shown that after only 3 years, less than 5% of professed converted Christians are still living as such

                                                              ii. I believe this is one of the results of “Emotional Decisions” rather than making a decision for Christ out of reason

b. Rooted and built up in Him

                                                                 i. The foundation for followers of Christ MUST be the Prophets and Apostles teachings with Jesus Christ the Corner Stone

1. “…having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.” – Ephesians 2:20

                                                              ii. If your “faith” or “belief” is built on anything else, your faith will fail.

1. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matthew 7:24-27

                                                           iii. This is why people who claim salvation fall away later…because the decision for Christ was not logical, made with reason, but emotional, or founded upon something other than true doctrinal teachings.

c. Strengthened in faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness

                                                                 i. You strengthen your faith by what is taught…then by the Apostles, today by the Word of God

1. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17

                                                              ii. Faith comes by the Word (true doctrine), but it is also strengthened and increased by THANKFULNESS

1. Thankfulness is a form of contentment

2. Being content in all things, and overflowing with thankfulness for God’s working in your, your family, your life is the key to receiving blessings and an increased faith.

II.      SEE TO IT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE

a. Through hollow and deceptive philosophy

                                                                 i. It is our responsibility to ensure no one takes us captive

                                                              ii. We must guard ourselves from hollow and deceptive philosophies

1. How?

2. By reading and studying the Truth of God’s Word

                                                           iii. We will then be able to measure everything else against it

1. “Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The LORD said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” – Amos 7:7-8

b. Philosophy which depends on human tradition

                                                                 i. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…” – Hosea 4:6

1. We are destroyed when we are ignorant of the Word

2. When we reject the Word, we reject God

3. When we reject God, He in turn rejects us

c. And taken captive through elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ

                                                                 i. Wiccan, witches, magic, nature worshippers, those who worship the elements themselves (earth, fire, water, wind,), Mother Nature, etc.

                                                              ii. These elements, and creatures of earth were all “created” by the Lord

                                                           iii. Therefore, we should worship the Creator rather than the creation.

1. Romans 1:18-25 “18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

III.   SPIRITUAL FULLNESS (MATURITY) IS ONLY FOUND IN CHRIST

a. He is over every power and authority

                                                                 i. Not in worshipping elements of earth

                                                              ii. Not in worshipping created things of earth

                                                           iii. Not in believing the teachings of mere mortals

1. Buddha

2. Confucius

3. Joseph Smith

4. Charles Taze Russell

5. L. Ron Hubbard

6. Muhammad

7. Or any other man made teaching, faith or religion

                                                            iv. Christ is over EVERY power and authority

                                                               v. And with Christ IN you, you will come to His fullness and Spiritual Maturity

b. You were ruled by your flesh

                                                                 i. You were DEAD in your sins

                                                              ii. Your FLESH was uncircumcised

                                                           iii. How do you know if you are dead? If you have not let the old pass away?

1. Ephesians 5:3-7 “among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.”

2. Galatians 5:19-21 “¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

c. But now God made you alive with Christ

                                                                 i. Colossians 2:9-12 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

                                                              ii. Colossians 2:13b-15 “God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

CONCLUSION – what are the outward signs that you are spiritually mature and have the fullness of christ at work within you?  

Ephesians 5:8-20

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22b-26

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

This is why we are told;

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

…and this is where the battle is fought in us, between the flesh and the Spirit of God.

Daily we surrender to Christ so that we may “Continue to live our lives in Him” (vs 6), just as when we first received Christ Jesus as Lord.

We have been made alive in Him, so we must feed our Spirits with the Word of God so that we may continue to grow in Him, and become Spiritually Mature in Christ Jesus.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!