Let No One
Introduction:
The Christians in Colosse were being told by some that they
needed to adopt certain principles and practices from various religions in
order to be saved. These were necessary, they were told, to supplement the
gospel of Christ. In our text, Paul very forcefully informs Christians that
the gospel is sufficient and all other religions are from man, not God.
Text:
Colossians 2:16-23
Body:
I.
The Law of Moses
Colossians 2:16-17
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a
new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the
substance is of Christ.” NKJV “So” – therefore These
conclusions are based on evidence just given. Since Christ and His gospel
were all that they needed, no one should condemn them for not participating
in those elements of the Law of Moses. That system was nailed to the cross
by Christ and was no longer in force. Teachings of the Law of Moses are not
necessary for one to be saved.
o
“Food and drink” were daily offerings and services.
o
“Festival” was a yearly observation.
o
“New moon” was a monthly service.
o
“Sabbath” was observed weekly.
These are all described in I Chronicles 23:30-31. “to stand
every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening; and at
every presentation of a burnt offering to the Lord on the Sabbaths and on
the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinances
governing them, regularly before the Lord;” NKJV
Some were trying to bind the keeping of these
festivals and ceremonies on Christians but that system [Law of Moses] was
only a shadow which led up to Christ. His church, of which He was the head,
could not be justified by it. (Galatians 5:4) “You have become estranged
from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from
grace.” NKJV
Application:
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is all we need. We do not need to
start observing various religious festivals from the Law of Moses or any
other religion. Many criticize us for not observing Christmas and Easter as
religious days. Listen to Paul in Galatians 4:8-11. “But then, indeed, when
you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But
now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you
turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to
be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am
afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.”
NKJV
II.
The Worship of the Inferior
Colossians 2:18-19
“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and
worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly
puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom
all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows
with the increase that is from God.” NKJV “Cheat you
of your reward” refers to a judge or referee’s decision against a runner who
was not competing fairly or according to the rules. The Colossian
Christians needed to be on the alert so that no one would deprive them of
their due rewards. That would happen if they yielded to some other religion
or philosophy because they would not be running the Christian race according
to the rules, the Law of Jesus Christ, the one with all authority. Some
were teaching that you had to approach God through angels, not through
Christ. These claims were possibly based on alleged visions,
hallucinations, and self-deceptions. They were inflated by conceit like a
pair of bellows. They were really only concerned with fleshly things, not
spiritual ones. These teachings showed that they had no grasp or contact
with Christ. Only if we are attached to Christ, the Head of the body, can
we grow as God desires. (Ephesians 4:15-16) “but, speaking the truth in
love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from
whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
NKJV This is extremely important, especially as to how it
relates to competing according to the rules. One could be the fastest man
in the world, but if he doesn’t enter the race [fill out paperwork, etc.],
he can’t win the prize. People with high moral standards who are not in
Christ will not receive the reward because they never lawfully entered the
race.
Application:
Angels are a hot topic today. The worship of angels is
forbidden in the New Testament. (Revelation 22:8-9) “Now I, John, saw and
heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before
the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, ‘See
that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren
the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ ”
NKJV Worship of idols is
forbidden in the New Testament. (Romans 1:22-25) “Professing to be wise,
they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an
image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and
creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the
lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who
exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
NKJV We all need to be like those in I
Thessalonians 1:9-10. “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner
of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the
living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised
from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
NKJV
III.
Self Imposed Religion
Colossians 2:20-23
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world,
why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations
– Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which
perish with the using – according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion,
false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the
indulgence of the flesh.” NKJV Verses 20-22: They
had died with Christ in baptism. (Colossians 2:11-13) “In Him you were also
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the
body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him
in baptism in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the
working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your
trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He has made alive together
with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,” NKJV
“Basic principles” include the Law of Moses and philosophies
and religions of men. The Law of Moses contained regulations about not
eating certain foods: pork, certain kinds of fish and birds. (Leviticus 11)
Some man-made religions of the 1st Century also had these types
of regulations: No meat of any kind . . . These were all taken away in
Christ. (I Timothy 4:3-5) “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain
from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who
believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing
is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified
by the word of God and prayer.” NKJV
Point:
Since you have died with Christ, you are no longer of
this world. Don’t be entangled again; don’t have your liberty be taken away
by submitting to these religious regulations. Many religions today
incorporate these same kinds of regulations that bind where God has not
bound. An apt description of them is given in Romans 10:2-3. “For I bear
them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
NKJV Many were saying that
these regulations would separate one from his physical passions and make him
more spiritual. But Paul says they are of no help at all. (I Corinthians
8:8) “But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the
better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” NKJV
The origin of these regulations was from men, not God. They appear to be
wise, but come from a self-imposed religion [Will-worship]. Any religion
which teaches neglect of our body is a false one. “Will worship” is when
men put into the Bible what they want instead of what God intended. They
have an attitude: “If the Bible doesn’t expressly forbid it, I can do it.”
Many who do this, also display a false humility. They claim their attitude
toward Scripture makes them more loving and spiritual. This is not so!
(John 14:15) “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
NKJV Cain was a will worshipper. (Hebrews
11:4) “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of
his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
NKJV Cain did not worship as God had
told him. Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire which God had
not commanded. (Leviticus 10:1-2) “Then Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron,
each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered
profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went
out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”
NKJV Will-worshippers are still among
us. Taking the Lord’s Supper on days other that Sunday may appear more
spiritual, but it’s not because the Holy Spirit told us to partake of
it only on Sunday. Solos and choirs in worship assembly are offering
profane worship because God has not authorized such. We are not free to
worship according to our will and our desires. Worship and life of the
church must be directed by Christ, the Head.
Closing:
Christ and His gospel do not need help from any other
religion. They are sufficient to save us. Will you not enter the Christian
race by believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized? Then run
according to the rules so that one day you can receive the reward.
Bobby Stafford January 22, 2017 Colossians: Lesson 8
Colossians 2:16-23
