Rev. David Holwick N
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
May 5, 2002
Colossians 2:8-15
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I. The dangers of captivity.
A. Jail fire kills 8 in Bakersville, N.C., this week.
1) Many are in a dangerous jail and don't know it.
2) They are prisoners of false philosophy and false religion.
B. Today's passage lays out three areas that can capture us:
1) Mysticism.
2) Ritualism.
3) Legalism.
II. The prison of mysticism. 2:8
A. Mysticism - the effort to see what is "beyond."
1) Always been popular.
2) Since spirit world cannot be seen with normal sight, how
do we find out about it?
3) The Bible emphasizes how God reveals information to us.
4) Many others want to rely on their own abilities.
a) The Colossians were suckers for this approach.
B. What are "basic principles"?
1) Difficult phrase.
2) Can mean the basics - light and dark, good and evil - or
can refer to spiritual entities that control the world.
a) The supernatural angle is probably correct.
b) "Power and authority" in verse 10 often has a spiritual
and earthly connotation.
c) (Satan is behind many government actions.)
C. The Colossians were relying on human thoughts and an occult
approach to religion.
1) They were not relying on Jesus.
2) Jesus is the fullness of God - he is all there is, and all
we need.
3) No power is greater than him.
4) Any philosophy or religion that limits him is false.
III. The prison of ritualism. 2:11
A. Rituals fill our lives.
1) Some we are not even aware of .
a) Think of rituals as habits with a spiritual twist.
2) Baptists are leery of rituals but we have plenty of them.
a) Communion is a prime example.
1> We follow a set procedure each month.
b) Baptism is another example.
c) Jewish rabbis do circumcisions but nobody trusts me
with a knife...
B. Rituals are not bad but can capture us.
1) Rituals can become an end in themselves.
a) Rather than pointing us to God, they can replace God.
2) Jews had a magical view of circumcision.
a) I am circumcised, so I am a Jew. I am safe.
b) It was originally a symbol of devotion to God.
1> The ritual sealed God's covenant with blood.
2> Excess flesh was cut off and cast away.
A> (Implied warning - don't add to God's faith)
3) Prophets warned circumcision can be external or internal.
a) Internal circumcision is known as circumcision of heart.
b) It is the only one that counts. Romans 2:8
C. Circumcision and baptism go hand-in-hand.
1) Both are initiation rituals.
2) Both are performed by humans.
3) Both can be corrupted.
4) And yet both are meant to have a spiritual heart.
a) What they symbolize is what is important.
D. Not ritual, but relationship. 2:11
1) Christ is one who cuts us.
a) He wants to remove our sinful tendencies.
b) We can't do it, but he can.
2) Only God can make us alive.
a) Only God can forgive our sins.
3) It is our faith in God's power that makes it effective.
IV. The prison of legalism.
A. Legalism is one of most popular religious dead-ends.
1) It is demanding.
2) It makes us feel righteous.
B. Law of Moses is in view.
1) Complicated New Testament assessment.
a) Law is handed down by God.
b) It provides boundaries for our lives.
c) It can be a hindrance, too - it is "against us." 2:14
2) Law reveals God's standards but it cannot save us.
a) It tells us what is right but cannot help us do right.
C. The law condemns us, sacrifice saves us.
1) Old Testament- sacrifices bring temporary salvation.
a) Only good till next sin.
b) In other words, about five minutes.
2) Jesus brings permanent salvation.
a) When he died on the cross he paid for our sins forever.
b) Paul's image - the indictment of the Law of Moses is
nailed to the cross.
V. The liberation of Christ.
A. Jesus can crush our enemies.
1) The cross is a triumph.
B. Jesus has the power.
1) He is God in full.
2) He is in charge of the universe.
3) He defeats everything opposed to us.
C. Jesus can change us.
1) He can circumcise our hearts.
2) We obey out of love, not fear or manipulation.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
Three main points in sermon were borrowed from Rev. Jerry Scott,
"The Sufficiency of Christ - Part 2", #12824 in Kerux database
These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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