Is Christ Enough
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.
3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.
5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).
9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.
10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.
12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . .
14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
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COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . . 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . . 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
Message Number:
COL 08
Scripture:
Col 2:16-23 Is there anything at all that we need to 'add' to Christ?
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<p>Is there anything at all that we need to 'add' to Christ?</p>
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.
3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.
5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).
9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.
10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.
12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . .
14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
[format] => 1 [safe] =>
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . . 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . . 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . . 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
COL 08 - Is Christ Enough? - Col 2:16-23
Paul started our last section with a strong Warning in Col 2:8
Beware of “empty” “high sounding” philosophies that come from
human thinking, & the principals of this world, rather than from Christ
& then he went on to explain just how COMPLETE we are In Christ
& then today – Paul begins w/ a THEREFORE
Because of the truths we saw last week – then these things are true
This passage is full of ref’s - to the Errant Teachings in Colosse
But they are written as RED FLAG WARNINGS to us
So we can watch for similar Errant Teaching
that might try to seep into the Christian Church today
The one thing we know about the False Teaching at Colosee
Is that it was claiming Christ was NOT sufficient
& it was necessary to ADD their religious requirements
to be really spiritual
& so – the Question today is - - - Is Christ Enough?
& the answer is a resounding YES !
But as much as we need to KNOW - that Jesus Christ is ENOUGH
We also need to know the warning signs
when people begin implying - that He’s NOT
Coming off that powerful section last message
Paul starts with a “SO - - THEREFORE”
Col 2:16 - NLT
16 So [therefore] don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
NKJ - 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
“Because of” (last wk) - don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
for what you eat or drink - or for not celebrating certain
holy days new moon ceremonies, or even Sabbaths
I believe God’s Word is perfectly clear here re: the
“Certain Foods” & “Certain Days” issues
Look how William Barclay translates Vs 16;
“Let no one take you to task in matters of food or drink, or with regard to yearly festivals and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths.”
Guys – we cannot judge (or be judged) based on observing
certain days of the Year, Month, or Week - (or certain foods/drink)
Now - there are certain Churches that believe
if you don’t follow certain rules on certain days of the week
that your actual salvation might even be in question
But don’t get caught up in that – Paul says
don’t let anyone condemn you for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths
Instead – Let’s do what Rom 14 says;
Rom 14:1-3 - NLT
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
cont in Rom 14:4-5 - NLT
4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. - - (also see 1Cor Ch 8)
It’s just NOT ABOUT a Certain Day of the week – or a Certain Diet
It’s about Jesus Christ !
It’s not about Food or Drink – Or a Day of the Week
It’s about Jesus Christ !
You Need a Personal Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
He IS Enough !
& You are Complete IN HIM !
WHY ? Why DON’T we need to add
a few of those old rules to our relationship with Christ ?
Col 2:17 - NLT
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
NKJ - 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
These rules are only shadows - of the reality
& THAT reality – is Jesus Christ Himself
The LAW (w/ all it’s rules) was a shadow of Christ
But Jesus Christ IS Real Thing - & you are complete in Him !
Let’s look over at - Heb 10:1 - NLT
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Heb 10:8-10 - NLT
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he [Christ] said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels [fulfills] the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Does that mean the O.T. Law is of no use ??
Of course not! - - in fact - Quite the Opposite
The Law reveals the holiness of God,
The Law reveals sin
The Law reveals the consequences of sin
The Law shows us our desperate need for Jesus Christ -
A need we could NOT SEE without the Law
But the Law has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner
Only Jesus Christ can do that
Heb 10:11-12 & 14 – continues - NLT
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
. . . 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Our question today - - - IS JESUS CHRIST ENOUGH ??
The Answer is Absolutely, Positively YES !!
WHY is it such a huge thing ?
Because in the church in Colossee – Just like TODAY
There are those who would tell you (at least imply)
that Jesus Christ is NOT Enough !
They may acknowledge
your relationship w/ Christ is Good & all that . . .
BUT -- If you really what to be HOLY
well then . . . you’ll have to be like ME !
The person who says you must have Jesus AND their Laws
is really belittling Jesus Christ
They’re saying Christ did not finish the work of salvation,
because there’s something they need to ADD to it
& Guys . . . THAT’S WRONG - - Jesus Christ IS EVERYTHING
SO – Let’s look at what Paul says – back in Col 2:18
Col 2:18 - NLT
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
NKJ - 18 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,
Don’t let anyone condemn (judge) you
by insisting on pious self-denial
“Pious Self Denial” – NKJ says
is “False Humility” or “hipocritical self denial”
“I’m so Godly, because I follow this law, that law, & the other law
& who are you ? – a mere follower of Jesus Christ ?
you probably don’t even know about the worship of angels,
or the visions that lead to higher spiritual knowledge”
& - as V.18 says – “their sinful minds have made them proud”
In Colossee – The false teachers
taught the worship of angels - - in a ‘false-humility’
saying (in essence)
we must reach God thru intermediary beings
It was very similar to the reasoning we see today
behind the worship of Saints, & other Mediators besides Christ
The Gnostics said - God is so great and so high
that we can never have direct access to him
& so we must be content to pray to the angels & other mediators
But the great truth of the Bible is exactly the opposite
By our Position “In Christ” - the way into the Throne Room of God
is open to US – In Christ ALONE
WARREN WEIRSBE says;
Trying to reach God the Father through anyone or anything other than His Son, Jesus Christ, is idolatry. Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1Tim. 2:5, Heb 4:14-16).
& in the end – coming to the Father In ANY way
other than Thru Jesus Christ
Actually substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God
Mk 7:6-7 - NLT
6 Jesus replied (to Pharisees), “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
The False Teachers claimed to have “higher spiritual knowledge,”
But they were actually ignoring God’s Higher Truth
Their “Higher Knowledge” Puffed them up with Pride
But it did NOTHING for their hearts
& it did nothing for their submission to Christ
As 1Cor 8:1 says - NIV
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”
& now Paul gets really serious
& He says – these teachers are not even connected to Christ
Col 2:19 - NLT
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
NKJ - 19 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.
“not connected” implies ‘deserting’ Christ as the Head of the Church
All of us, as believers
are members of the Body of Christ, the church
& we support one another in the Body of Christ
just as the various parts of the human body do
But if a part of the body is not connected to the head
Well - that’s a pretty “Unhealthy” part of the body
The false teachers were not holding to the Head (Christ)
& therefore they were spiritually “Dismembered”
They thought they were the Highest Value Members
but they were actuality - DIS-MEMBERED
& that’s going to start smelling after a while
As a healthy part of the Body of Christ
we must Stay Connected to Christ as the Head of the Body
We must be Nourished by Christ
We must be Led by Christ
We must constantly Abide in Christ
We must ALWAYS relate to Christ as the Head of the Body
Paul’s making it clear;
Choosing Man-Made Rules & Regulations
OVER a Vital Relationship w/ Jesus Christ . . .
is Actually Dismembering us from Him !
& Paul doesn’t understand why we would do such a thing
We see his dismay – in the next 2 Vs’s
Col 2:20-21 - NLT
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following [subjecting yourselves] the rules of the world, such as,
21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
NKJ - 20 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—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
“You have died with Christ” (aorist tense = finished event)
it ref’s to our IDENTIFICATION with Christ (last msg)
Death means seperation
& Thru your ‘identification’ w/ Christ, you have
died to Sin - died to Self - died to the World
SO WHY – do you keep on “Subjecting Yourself”
to the rules fashioned after this world !
as if you’re going to GAIN something with God
You Died with Christ – & You’ve been Set Free
from the Spiritual Bondage of this World
So live the way Gal 5:1 tells us to live
Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
See - the False teachers made Godliness hinge
on outward rules instead of inward condition of the heart
But the REAL ISSUE – is Always a HEART ISSUE
& If we’re trying to earn something from God
by following Man-Made Rules & Regulations
then we are climbing a Deteriorating Ladder
Col 2:22 - NLT
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
NKJ - 22 which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Such rules are “human teachings”
that “deteriorate” AS we use them
Vincent’s Word Study says “their very using destroys them”
& that’s a great picture to me
It’s like trying to CLIMB to God
on a ladder that Deteriorates every time we step on it
Which is a perfect picture of Man-Made Religion
& finally – V.23 really brings it home
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These rules [GK = ‘type’ of rules] may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
NKJ - 23 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.
These “type” of rules – May Seem Wise
LIT = “have a SHOW of wisdom”
Because they require “strong devotion”
This word means LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& that’s exactly what our ‘self’ nature wants – Isn’t it ?
we want to make our own religion
we want to set our own standards
we want to decide what makes us holy or not
& we ESPECIALLY want to decide what makes us MORE holy
than someone else
& Paul calls it LIT “Self-Made Religion”
& then he adds - “Pious self-denial”
& then even – “Severe bodily discipline”
Well - It seems like that would all add up to a holy life, wouldn’t it ?
But Paul ends this Very Important Verse by saying
these things
“provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires”
But isn’t that what they’re designed to do ??
Then WHY DON’T THEY ?
Because they don’t deal with a person’s HEART
& they have NO WAY of producing a NEW LIFE
People who religiously follow religious rules
have an outward display of spirituality
But their Rules can’t change their Hearts
We like “Rule Following” - because we can “measure”
our Religious Life - - even brag about it !
But that’s a far cry from having a New Life IN CHRIST
The power of Jesus Christ living in you
does more than merely restrain the flesh
It makes you a NEW CREATION – it makes all things new !
The true Christian has the very nature of God living in him
He doesn’t need law on the outside to control him
Because he has life of God living on the inside!
So - - - IF the harsh rules of Man-Made Religion
provide no help in conquering sin
Then WHAT DOES ?
The answer is - - the person of Jesus Christ !
Jesus Christ living in us
with Full Reign to overcome our sin nature . . .
WILL PRODUCE – A True Godly Life !!!
No list of man-made rules will ever be equal to
the supernatural transforming power of Jesus Christ living in you
. . . in full control of your life
not only as Savior - but as Lord
filling you up every day with the power of the Holy Spirit
to lead – guide - strengthen - & - empower you
Man can force on himself Extreme Religious Behavior
but inside, that very religious man needs a Savior
he needs a personal, living, supernatural relationship
with the Son of God
& then (& only then)
will he rise above his own sin nature
& then (& only then)
will he rise above the destruction of this world
& then (& only then)
will he rise above death & the grave
& be transformed in an instant
from mortal to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
So the question today - - IS CHRIST ENOUGH ?
The Answer is – MORE THAN ENOUGH
The Real Question is;
Are you connected to Him as your Spiritual Life Source ?
Or are you holding on to some form of Man-Made Religion ?
Choose Jesus Christ !
Make Him your SAVIOR - & your LORD
Cling to Him as your NEW LIFE
& leave that trap of Man-Made Religion FAR BEHIND
Message Number:
COL 08
Scripture:
Col 2:16-23 Brief Description:
<p>Is there anything at all that we need to 'add' to Christ?</p>