Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 4:
Concern about False Teachings
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 2:1-5
I want you to
know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may
be encouraged in heart and united in
love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order
that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4 I tell you this so that no
one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent
from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how
disciplined you are and
how firm your faith in
Christ is.
The overall
message of this epistle to the church is;
“The Supreme Glory, Deity and Dignity of
Christ Jesus”.
I. WHAT
GREAT (LIT.) CONFLICT I HAVE FOR YOU
a. Paul had
concerns over false doctrines in the church
i. Judaism had come in (circumcision and the old ways PLUS Christ)
ii. Gnosticism had come in (Christ NOT God but
an Avatar for Him)
iii. Asceticism had come in (self-mortification,
torturing one’s self)
b. Many in these
two churches were not familiar with him
i. Paul did not establish these two churches
c. However Paul
wanted them to be saved
i. Paul wanted their hearts to be comforted, because there was conflict
within the church because of the false teachings
II.
PAUL ALSO WANTED THERE TO BE UNITY IN THE CHURCH
a. By a knitting
together in love
i. I Corinthians 13
ii. This is the only way true unity can be
obtained
b. And to have all
riches of full assurance of understanding
i. In other words, receive the blessings which come from knowing
your understanding of the Word of God is the Truth.
ii. True Doctrine
c. In order (so
as) they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ
i. True doctrine is the only way to find Christ
ii. Christ, and “Christ in you” is the mystery
iii. IN CHRIST are “hidden” ALL the treasures of Wisdom
and Knowledge
1. True Wisdom and Knowledge can be found NO WHERE
ELSE
iv. False doctrines are taught for one of a few reasons
1. To gain control of the people
2. To gain control of money
3. To gain control of the church (people & money)
v. They (false teachers) obtain followers by offering something “they”
have, and “you” need
1. “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
2. “Who say to the seers, "You must
not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us
what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.” – Isaiah 30:10
3. “Hold on to the pattern of sound
teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ
Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 1:13
4. “when they said to
you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their
own ungodly desires." – Jude 1:18
vi. Paul takes away the “power” of False Teachers by giving the
Body of Christ True Doctrine
1. True Wisdom and Knowledge do not come from
men, but God alone, through Christ Jesus
III.
I TELL YOU THIS SO THAT NO ONE MAY DECEIVE YOU WITH
ENTICING WORDS
a. This statement
was directed at the false teachers
i. Who deceive by scratching itchy ears, speaking pleasant words, giving
you nothing but “feel good” messages to empower you (motivational speakers),
rather than giving you True Doctrine in Christ Jesus who empowers you by His
Spirit rather than the words of men.
b. Though I am
absent in body, I am present with you in spirit
i. Paul speaking metaphorically, saying he thinks about them often, and
prays for them.
ii. Obviously so, since he writes them this letter.
c. Delighting to
see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is
i. Although the church had been struggling with false teachings, they were
holding firm to the cross of Christ Jesus
ii. Their understanding of doctrine may have been
skewed, but they did not waver from Christ
iii. We may not (should I say will not) understand every
single bit of God’s Word, however, we must stand firm on that which we do
understand.
1. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest
for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your
children.” – Hosea 4:6
2. “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
– Romans 14:12
CONCLUSION – how firm is your faith in christ?
Paul’s letters have a common theme, Spiritual
Maturity.
Revealing the “root” of all of the problems within
the Body of Christ is simple, dealing with them is where the challenge begins.
The root is Spiritual Immaturity, a lack of knowing
God’s Word.
Hosea 4:6 “…my people die because of lack of knowledge…”
Ephesians 4:7-16
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9(What does “he
ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one
who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13until we all reach unity in the
faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to
the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then (or therefore, because He has equipped His people) we
will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown
here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of
people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in
every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined
and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.
If you fill yourself with the Word of God, being “saved”
and having the Spirit of Christ in you, you WILL obtain Wisdom and Knowledge
from that Word, and become a Spiritually Mature member of the Body of Christ.
And as the scripture states, “16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
If the Body of Christ (Church) is suffering,
or NOT being held together, not growing, not building itself up in love, then
two things are happening
·
There are not
enough “supporting ligaments” (Spiritually Mature within the church
·
Some or many of
the “each part” (the members) mentioned is NOT doing their work
Has Christ died for us?
Has Christ risen again?
14Then (or therefore, because He has equipped His people) we
will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown
here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of
people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in
every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined
and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.
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