WEBVTT

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 If you weren't here last week, just really quickly, I want to get you caught up.

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 I know there's a lot of people who weren't here.

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 These verses that we covered last week and the verses that we covered this week will really be taken as a whole.

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 And so we kind of have to do some piecing together, some combining of this week and last week.

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 And I gave you an outline last week so that we can kind of see the overall picture of this text.

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 And this is basically it, that we have a warning not to be taken by empty deceit, not to be taken by worldly, empty philosophy.

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 And then we have a call to the sufficiency or the supremacy of Christ over worldly philosophy.

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 And then the outflow of that is kind of something that's going on in the background all throughout the book of Colossians that Paul is doing.

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 And that is this thing called apologetics.

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 It kind of naturally outflows from this idea that we shouldn't be taken by empty philosophy,

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 that the supremacy of Christ reigns in our hearts, and the outflow of that is apologetics.

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 And we see this in Paul's letters as well as his preaching and his teaching.

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 And so last week we defined apologetics in this basic form as knowing what we believe,

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 why we believe it, and then being able to communicate that effectively to others.

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 The last part is pretty important, right?

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 So knowing what we believe, why we believe it, and then being able to communicate that effectively to others.

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 And this is really what we see Paul doing throughout the book of Colossians.

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 And the core of his message is in Colossians 2, verses 8 to the end of the chapter, including our text this morning.

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 And so we're going to see the core of his message here is really combating heresy.

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 It's really combating these unbiblical ideas that are making their way,

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 these empty philosophies that are making their way into the church at Colossae.

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 And there really isn't a better time to be talking about this than right now.

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 Nathan's already mentioned it before, but the travesty that took place this week with the Supreme Court ruling,

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 I use the word travesty, not tragedy.

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 It's not a tragedy for us as believers.

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 It's important that we understand this is very much a part of apologetics,

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 how we react to cultural issues such as what happened this week.

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 And should we care about the same-sex marriage ruling?

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 Yes, we should.

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 We should care about it.

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 We should be concerned about it.

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 Should we be concerned about the direction our culture is heading in terms of how it glorifies sin over Christ?

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 Yes, absolutely.

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 We should be concerned about these things.

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 But should we respond in panic and outlash?

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 Absolutely not.

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 There's nothing to panic about.

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 There's nothing that has changed in terms of the biblical definition of marriage.

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 But they're redefining marriage, right?

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 No, they're redefining the law.

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 They have redefined the law.

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 Let's be clear here.

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 Whose idea was marriage in the beginning?

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 It was God's idea.

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 In Genesis chapter 2, God said that it is not good for the man to be alone.

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 And so he created for Adam a suitable helper.

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 And right then, in the very beginning, God defines marriage.

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 Genesis 2, 24.

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 It's his idea.

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 It's his definition.

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 We can't change that as humans.

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 The Supreme Court can't change that.

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 Our President of the United States isn't powerful enough to change the definition of marriage.

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 So God defines it as simply as a covenant union.

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 A lifelong covenant union between one man and one woman.

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 That's what marriage is.

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 God gets to decide what marriage looks like.

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 It's his idea.

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 It's his definition.

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 The Supreme Court has the power to do a lot of things, but they can't redefine biblical marriage.

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 Genesis chapter 2 defines biblical marriage.

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 The Supreme Court might be able to change the law.

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 This is important.

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 Don't miss this.

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 They might be able to change the law, but they can't put Christ back in the grave.

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 It means, fellow believers, that we should respond as people who have hope, and we should be living out our faith as people who have hope.

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 It means we don't panic when the Supreme Court tells us something like they did this week.

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 We live as people who have hope.

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 It goes all back to what we talked about last week, that Jesus is the ultimate authority over all authorities, over all rulers.

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 We read that last week in our text.

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 He is supreme over all authority.

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 And yes, that means he is supreme over the Supreme Court of the United States.

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 They might be the highest court authority, but they are not the highest overall authority.

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 Jesus is.

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 Let's not forget that.

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 And let's not forget that every person outside of God's grace is looking for hope.

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 They're looking for something to hope in, to place their hope.

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 And there's a lot of celebration right now in the homosexual camp because they think that they have found hope.

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 They think that's what they've found.

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 So don't alienate yourself from these people by pushing them away from the gospel.

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 Remember what we said last week.

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 Apologetics is not the vindication of me.

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 It's the vindication of the Christian philosophy of life.

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 And so we're not out to win arguments.

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 We're not out there to defend ourselves.

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 We're out to defend biblical truth.

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 So don't push these people away from the gospel.

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 Because when they finally realize that there's no hope in their lifestyle, it's going to be us standing there with open arms, ready to welcome them in to the fold of Christ.

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 It's going to be us as they begin to place their hope in the only one true and holy God, the only one true hope that we have.

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 And we've got to be ready to give a defense for the reason, for the hope that we have, which is Christ Jesus.

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 I left you last week with something to think about.

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 And I don't know how many of you have actually thought about it.

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 Hopefully most of you.

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 But this is what I said.

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 There's essentially 66 books of the Bible.

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 We're not adding any more to that.

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 The canon is closed.

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 Which means that there's a limited number of things that we believe, right?

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 If there's only 66 books of the Bible, it can only contain a certain amount of truth in it.

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 And that is what we hold to believe.

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 There's a limited number of things that we believe.

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 And if that is true, if we have a limited number of things that we believe, that means there's a limited number of objections that people can raise up against our beliefs.

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 And also a limited number of objections that we must answer.

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 And thirdly, we have those answers.

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 God's given them to us in Scripture.

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 And so my point in telling you that is that you have the ability, as a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the ability to do this thing that we call apologetics.

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 You can contend for the faith.

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 It is possible for you to do this.

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 This isn't just something for elite Christians.

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 This isn't just something for the seminary professors and then the big mega church pastors or whatever it happens to be.

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 This is something that you and I can and should do according to Scripture.

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 Contend for the faith.

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 It may take some practice.

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 It may take some boldness.

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 It might take some courage.

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 But you can do it.

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 And so the first thing that we really need to know, practically speaking, when we're contending for the faith,

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 is that I'm not responsible for defending what I do not believe.

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 So we're narrowing it down here.

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 We're even making it more simple, right?

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 We don't have to defend what we don't believe.

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 I'm also not responsible for defending heresy.

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 If someone asks me about heresy, well, yeah, well, what about this?

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 Well, that's heresy.

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 I don't believe it.

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 I'm not going to defend something that I don't believe.

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 I don't need to defend heresy.

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 I just need to know what I believe.

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 Well, it would be kind of like somebody walking up to you and just maybe saying,

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 well, what about the way the Russians handle their foreign policy?

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 I don't know.

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 Well, I'm kind of not a Russian, you know?

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 I don't know why the Russians do what they do.

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 Just ask one of them, I guess.

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 I mean, I'm not a Russian.

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 I'm also not responsible for defending assumptions in straw men.

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 You know what a straw man is?

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 A straw man is an argument that somebody is making or an argument that somebody is refuting that you didn't even make to begin with.

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 It's a really effective fallacy.

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 It's an informal fallacy that people often will make in front of other people.

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 If you have a group and you're doing a debate in front of people, they'll begin to attack an argument you're not even making.

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 And so it looks effective, but really it's a fallacy.

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 You've got to call those out.

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 It's a straw man.

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 Well, you guys believe, and you can just fill in the blank with whatever, whatever we're being accused of, whatever horrible thing we're being accused of this week.

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 Well, you guys just believe this.

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 I don't believe that.

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 Do you believe that?

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 I don't know anybody who believes that.

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 In fact, I think you're making that up.

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 Paul doesn't entertain assumptions or straw men in his writing or in his preaching.

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 There's a great example of it.

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 You can go look it up later.

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 I don't have time to go there.

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 But Acts chapter 17, there's a lot of questions being raised to Paul.

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 Does he entertain these straw men?

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 No.

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 He doesn't entertain them.

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 He just calls it what it is, and he moves on.

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 We don't have to defend straw men or anything that we don't believe.

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 So what do we do?

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 We use the Word of God as your source of objections.

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 Why?

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 Because it is your source for what you believe.

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 It is your source for what you believe.

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 If you can't defend what you believe from the Word of God, then it means it probably isn't in the Word of God,

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 and therefore we probably shouldn't believe it.

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 So we use Scripture.

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 It's important.

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 The first thing that we need to know about these things is that it must be biblical.

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 Our apologetics must be biblical.

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 Now at this point, some people will say,

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 Well, Kyle, that's great if I'm talking to someone who believes the Bible,

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 but what if I'm talking to someone who doesn't believe in the Bible?

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 Then I've got to use something outside of the Bible to prove what I believe,

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 because they don't believe in the Bible.

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 Says who?

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 Says who?

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 They don't believe in the Bible, so I don't use my Bible?

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 That sounds like their rule.

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 Why would I do that?

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 You know what it sounds like to me?

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 It sounds like if I'm a knight in medieval times,

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 and I walk up to my opponent, and I say,

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 Unsheath my sword.

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 And my opponent looks at me and says,

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 I don't believe in your sword.

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 Well, then allow me to speak about the science of the metallurgy,

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 so that you may as well believe in my sword.

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 No.

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 He's either going to believe in my sword,

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 or he's just going to lose.

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 Right?

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 In fact, when we are arguing biblical truth with someone who does not believe the Bible,

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 if we give up the Bible, then they've just won.

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 Because we've agreed with them that there's a greater source than the Bible,

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 and that we don't need the Bible for truth.

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 The last thing you want to do is give up your Bible.

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 Why on earth would I allow someone else to dictate how the Word of God is communicated?

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 It makes no sense at all.

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 It's alive and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword.

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 So when I choose to use something outside of the Bible,

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 it means that I choose to use something that's not as authoritative,

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 and not as powerful as Scripture.

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 Therefore, I do not relinquish it.

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 Do not relinquish your sword.

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 The Bible compares it, actually, to a sword many times throughout Scripture.

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 So this is how this works.

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 We're going to try to simplify this so that we can understand this a little better,

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 and I promise we're going to get into the text.

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 This is all kind of work leading up to us seeing how Paul is working this out inside this text.

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 So this is how this works.

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 So first of all, it's got to be biblical,

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 and second of all, it has to be simple,

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 or else we're not going to do it, right?

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 If we don't make this simple for ourselves,

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 then we're not going to practice this in our own lives.

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 And so if you know seven or eight key characteristics of theology,

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 and you know a couple of key passages,

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 two or three key passages,

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 where these things are discussed,

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 no one will ever ask you a question that you can't answer.

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 Because most of the objections that are raised against Christianity,

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 they fall into one of these seven or eight categories.

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 And if they do ask a question that you can't answer,

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 more often than not, they're asking you about something you don't believe,

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 and you don't have to defend it.

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 So every question typically falls into these seven or eight categories.

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 So we learn these categories,

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 and we can begin to defend what we believe.

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 So the tools I promised you last week,

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 I told you that we're going to have some tools that we can use.

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 The number one tool that we have,

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 most of you have it in your hands right now,

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 the Bible.

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 Number one tool,

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 know your scripture,

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 know the word of God.

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 It's the best and most reasonable thing,

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 but it is large,

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 it's hard to know everything that's in it.

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 So we understand that our apologetics must be biblical,

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 but there are other tools that are really the training grounds for apologetics.

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 What are these tools?

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 Catechisms,

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 creeds,

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 and confessions.

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 Catechisms,

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 creeds,

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 and confessions.

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 There are three C's,

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 you can write that down in your notes,

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 help you remember them,

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 whatever you have to do.

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 Catechisms,

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 creeds,

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 and confessions.

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 Creeds are summaries of the gospel.

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 They're summaries of the gospel.

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 They are poetic in nature,

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 so they can be easy to memorize.

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 And there's several creeds out there.

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 There's the Apostle Creed.

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 And by the way,

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 these creeds,

00:14:20.020 --> 00:14:25.120
 they came out of heretical movements throughout history.

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:30.040
 Oftentimes they would call together groups of believers,

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.920
 and they would have what they called councils.

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.680
 They had the Council of Nicaea.

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.420
 On the other side of the Council of Nicaea,

00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:39.740
 they met together to defend heresy that was going on during this time.

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.060
 And so on the other side of that,

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.520
 we get the Nicaean Creed.

00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:45.060
 They come up with the Nicaean Creed.

00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.680
 It's used to combat heresy during this time.

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:52.600
 So these are very effective things for us to look at and to understand.

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.220
 There's the Apostles' Creed.

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:58.440
 There's the Nicaean Creed written to combat Arian heresy of that day.

00:14:59.200 --> 00:14:59.600
 Interestingly,

00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:01.040
 Jehovah's Witness,

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:01.800
 same heresy.

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.340
 That's the Arian heresy.

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:07.140
 Meaning the Nicaean Creed is a great tool for us.

00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.120
 Only a few months ago,

00:15:08.180 --> 00:15:10.220
 I had a JW knock on my door.

00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:10.780
 Unfortunately,

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:13.600
 we didn't really have a great conversation.

00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:16.199
 They weren't really ready to have a conversation with me,

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.279
 and we were trying to head out the door.

00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:19.100
 But they showed up at my door,

00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:21.240
 and we had a short conversation.

00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.519
 It was a little bit awkward.

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.379
 But this is relevant to us today.

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:30.379
 The Athanasian Creed answers the Jehovah's Witness heresy as well.

00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:34.340
 How do we respond to Pentecostals?

00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:34.980
 Same thing.

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.000
 Athanasian Creed.

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.019
 These creeds were written at times,

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.659
 not unlike in our passage today,

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:44.939
 where they were combating heresy and false doctrines.

00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.700
 So particularly effective.

00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:48.220
 Here's an interesting thing, too.

00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:49.900
 Our catechisms and our confessions

00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:53.040
 were designed to fit into these categories

00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:53.960
 that we're talking about.

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:57.620
 And so you already have the categories laid out

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:59.100
 within your confessions.

00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:02.000
 We already talked about catechisms some last week.

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:06.000
 They're questions that we ask our learners

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.160
 with a predefined response

00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:11.580
 that the learner is supposed to say

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.740
 in answer to the question.

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.919
 So catechisms were designed

00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:18.340
 to help us learn our confessions.

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.440
 That's how catechisms work.

00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:24.960
 And so we see that we have these tools that we have.

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.820
 And by the way, what's a good confession of faith?

00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:30.120
 We have one at Christ's Family Church.

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.060
 Right?

00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.940
 Every person who is a member

00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:35.460
 should have read through this

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.980
 before they decided to be a member.

00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:39.860
 And so we already have one here at our church

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:42.080
 that outlines everything that we believe

00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.460
 that falls into these categories.

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:46.540
 What's more is that we have Scripture

00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:48.700
 that goes along with those categories.

00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:51.600
 So it's a great tool for us to begin to learn.

00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:55.160
 It's really the training grounds for apologetics

00:16:55.160 --> 00:16:58.220
 so that we can begin to understand God's Word.

00:16:58.660 --> 00:17:00.580
 We can begin to understand these categories

00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:03.460
 where people might ask a question,

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:05.620
 and then we have the biblical truth

00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:07.640
 that shows where we get that truth from.

00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.960
 So particularly effective.

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:12.799
 And by the way, if you need a copy of that,

00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:14.519
 I'm sure Nathan can somehow figure out a way

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:17.380
 to get you a copy of our Confession of Faith.

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.600
 If not, in the meantime,

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.000
 it is based off the New Hampshire Confession of Faith primarily.

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.079
 So you can go online,

00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.779
 look up New Hampshire Confession of Faith,

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.620
 and you'll find essentially

00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:31.660
 what is contained within Christ's Family's Confession of Faith.

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.860
 Am I denying that this isn't helpful to know science?

00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:36.139
 No.

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.059
 It's not.

00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:39.859
 There are helpful things,

00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:42.279
 but what we have to get right first

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.439
 to make it simple

00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:44.719
 and so that we can do it

00:17:44.719 --> 00:17:47.959
 is to understand the biblical truth behind our answers.

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.819
 And as we do so,

00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:52.319
 then we can add some other stuff to it.

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:54.919
 Simply learning about fallacies and rhetoric

00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.959
 can go a long way

00:17:55.959 --> 00:17:58.779
 in understanding what people are doing

00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.139
 when they make their arguments.

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:02.159
 And we can call them out on certain fallacies,

00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.779
 and they try to use tactics to trip you up.

00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:08.120
 And God bless you if you take that route.

00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:08.820
 That's great.

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:10.300
 If you want to continue on,

00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:13.440
 you want to get deeper in your study of apologetics,

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.519
 you want to get deeper in the way

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:16.460
 that you can combat these heresies

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.640
 and these other things,

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.180
 these objections people are raising,

00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.500
 then more power to you.

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.240
 That's really great.

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.940
 That's extremely beneficial.

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.740
 But if you want to make this simple,

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:27.900
 you're defending what you believe, right?

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.100
 You're defending what you believe.

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.519
 As far as doing apologetics,

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.740
 this is about you always being ready

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:35.859
 to give a reason for the hope that is within you.

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.879
 And you don't believe what you believe

00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:41.960
 because some philosopher told you to believe it.

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.859
 You don't believe what you believe

00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:45.539
 because some scientist told you.

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.960
 You believe what you believe

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.139
 because of what's in the text.

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:51.740
 Is there a little work that needs to be done?

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.660
 Yes, there is.

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:55.279
 There's some work that needs to be done up front.

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.259
 And unfortunately,

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.599
 I can't give you all the answers

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.559
 in a 30 to 45 minute sermon.

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:01.480
 So it's not going to work that way.

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:02.940
 You've got to do some work yourself.

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:05.000
 Come up with these ideas

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.399
 and understanding of Scripture.

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.279
 And then you can be confident

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:10.460
 and comfortable when answering these questions.

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:13.460
 Now, don't make this mistake

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:16.179
 because we make this mistake a lot as believers.

00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.460
 Here's the reality.

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.599
 It's that God saves sinners.

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:22.579
 Apologetics doesn't save sinners.

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.079
 God saves sinners.

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:27.240
 So don't merely use apologetics

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.240
 without sharing the gospel.

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:32.659
 You've got to have gospel truth.

00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:36.500
 The changing life message of the gospel.

00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:39.199
 I was talking to a guy that works at UNG

00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:39.980
 the other day.

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.699
 That's where I work.

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.799
 For those who don't know,

00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:43.179
 I work in the IT department.

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.720
 And there was a student worker

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:47.319
 that works there.

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.919
 And he's a real people person.

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.759
 He's a really good person to talk to.

00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:52.159
 He asks a lot of questions.

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.600
 He really wants to get to know people.

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.800
 And I really love that about him.

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:57.560
 And over the course of our conversation,

00:19:58.340 --> 00:20:01.420
 he found out that I have a seminary background

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:04.440
 and that I used to work on staff with a church

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.880
 and all these things.

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:08.840
 And I almost cringe whenever I tell people this.

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:11.300
 Not because I don't want to share my faith.

00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.740
 I love sharing my faith with people.

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.259
 It's because usually the walls go up

00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.759
 and the conversation shuts down.

00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.900
 And for those of you who have been in ministry

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.660
 in the past

00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:22.779
 or you just happen to know these type of people,

00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:25.080
 oftentimes these conversations just,

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.320
 they're squelched

00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:28.279
 because they don't want to have a conversation

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:30.820
 with somebody who's a professional Christian,

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.400
 so to speak.

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:36.040
 And he really surprised me

00:20:36.040 --> 00:20:38.500
 because that didn't happen with him.

00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:39.860
 It so pleasantly surprised me.

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:42.060
 This guy didn't act this way toward me.

00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.880
 He really wanted to continue engaging

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.660
 in this conversation.

00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:46.100
 And he said,

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.300
 you know,

00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.440
 I used to be an atheist

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:49.440
 and I hated the way Christians

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.880
 would force their faith on people.

00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.180
 I just hated that.

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.380
 But now,

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.220
 I just say,

00:20:54.300 --> 00:20:55.540
 if that's what makes people happy,

00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.140
 then I'm,

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:56.660
 you know,

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.420
 more power to them.

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:57.980
 That's great.

00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:59.300
 That's what makes you happy.

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.860
 And I said,

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.040
 well,

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:03.460
 I'm not really one to force my faith on anyone

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.400
 and I'm really not.

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.100
 I believe to really force your faith,

00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:07.480
 you've got to try to make them believe

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.620
 what you believe

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.600
 and there's no way to do that.

00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:09.980
 It's impossible.

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:12.560
 You can't make somebody believe anything.

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:13.919
 They're going to believe

00:21:13.919 --> 00:21:15.179
 what they accept as truth.

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:15.759
 Right?

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:17.079
 So I'm not forcing my faith on anyone.

00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:17.480
 So I said,

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:19.379
 I'm not really one to force my faith on anyone

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.179
 but I'll tell you this,

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.539
 Jesus Christ has changed my life

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.679
 and I'll never be the same again.

00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:24.259
 And he said,

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.500
 that's really great.

00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:25.759
 You know,

00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:27.019
 that's what makes you happy.

00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.059
 I'm happy for you.

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:28.759
 That's good.

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.099
 And I said,

00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:29.279
 well,

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.039
 you know,

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.460
 it's way more

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.919
 than just making me happy.

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:36.419
 This faith that I have in Christ

00:21:36.419 --> 00:21:37.220
 is way more.

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.220
 Scripture tells us

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:40.299
 the wages of sin is death.

00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.519
 And I was once

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.220
 on a trajectory

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.019
 that would have sent me

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.700
 straight to hell.

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.139
 But the gift of God

00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.859
 is new life

00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:50.680
 and that comes only

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:51.440
 through the sacrifice

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.460
 that Jesus paid on the cross.

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:55.379
 And that just triggered something

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.319
 in this guy's mind

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.579
 and he said,

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:58.659
 yeah,

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.000
 well,

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.839
 this guy I used to work with,

00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:02.460
 he told me that

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.460
 if I don't believe in Jesus

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.000
 and the people that don't believe in Jesus,

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.180
 well,

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.839
 they're going to hell.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.079
 And if that's the kind of God

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.799
 that your God is

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:11.299
 and I don't want to have anything

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.399
 to do with believing in Him.

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.740
 I said,

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.500
 did your friend

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:18.359
 explain God's reason behind that?

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.019
 He said,

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.220
 well,

00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:20.799
 no.

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:23.960
 Since we're already talking about it,

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.919
 can I explain it to you?

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.119
 Let's say

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.759
 that there is

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.919
 a person,

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.859
 a serial killer

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.720
 who was caught

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.559
 and the evidence

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.879
 presented before

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:35.139
 the jury

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.779
 was overwhelmingly

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.799
 guilty.

00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.700
 He is guilty.

00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.420
 He's killed

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:42.180
 more than 20 people

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.319
 and he

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:45.100
 is found guilty

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:46.039
 overwhelmingly

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.779
 by his jury

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:48.180
 and he stands

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.120
 before a judge

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:50.420
 and the judge

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.840
 stands up

00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:52.740
 and he says,

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.140
 your sentence

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.279
 is nothing.

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.600
 You're free to go.

00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:00.120
 Would that be just?

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:01.840
 Well,

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.059
 absolutely not.

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.500
 It wouldn't be just at all.

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:05.960
 He said,

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.420
 he deserves the full punishment

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.079
 of the law.

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.860
 Right.

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.940
 And in the same way,

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.340
 if you commit one sin,

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:15.160
 one sin before an eternal God,

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:17.100
 you're infinitely guilty

00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.019
 before Him.

00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:19.360
 And he says

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:19.840
 that that

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:22.640
 requires

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:24.400
 an eternal death,

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.700
 a sentence of eternal death.

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.660
 But God

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.799
 in His love

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.960
 devised a plan

00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:31.640
 from the very beginning.

00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:33.180
 And that plan

00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.660
 was to send His Son

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.400
 as a substitute

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.539
 for those who die,

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.680
 for those who believe.

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.279
 Sorry.

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:41.620
 I mean,

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.500
 that Jesus died

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:42.920
 the death

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.720
 that I should have died

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.180
 and I said,

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.160
 that's why

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.799
 it can only be

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.420
 through Jesus.

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.940
 That's why.

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:50.360
 Because it's God's plan

00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.220
 from the very beginning.

00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:52.460
 Because it was God's plan

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.220
 to redeem us

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.880
 from the punishment

00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:55.040
 that we fully deserve.

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:55.880
 And He said,

00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.040
 man,

00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:56.840
 I haven't ever heard anybody

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.560
 explain it to me

00:23:57.560 --> 00:23:58.180
 that way before.

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.340
 Never heard it that way.

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.020
 You'll notice,

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.520
 by the way,

00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.780
 that I didn't shut Him down.

00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:05.360
 I wasn't trying to

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.300
 win an argument.

00:24:07.020 --> 00:24:08.540
 I just spoke the truth

00:24:08.540 --> 00:24:09.160
 to Him in love.

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.820
 And that is what

00:24:09.820 --> 00:24:10.620
 we're called to do,

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:10.980
 believers.

00:24:11.260 --> 00:24:12.060
 It's to speak

00:24:12.060 --> 00:24:13.480
 the truth in love.

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.620
 This is what Paul does

00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.620
 over and over and over again,

00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.000
 by the way,

00:24:20.020 --> 00:24:20.500
 in his letters.

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.560
 He's firm in the truth,

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.780
 but he speaks the truth

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.279
 in love.

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.240
 And last week,

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.200
 we saw that we are

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.279
 complete in Christ.

00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:27.940
 And this is something

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.440
 that's going to be

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.299
 really important

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.379
 as we jump into

00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:31.539
 this passage this morning.

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.720
 Because being complete

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.980
 in Christ means

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.639
 that we need

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.660
 nothing else.

00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:38.399
 And what we're going

00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:39.019
 to see is Paul

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.779
 combining a series

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.480
 of heresies

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.259
 which said that

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.000
 we need Jesus

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.299
 and something else.

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.680
 So as we jump into this,

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.259
 I want you to keep

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.059
 that in mind.

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.480
 This week,

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.000
 we're going to see

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.420
 Paul employing

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.680
 apologetics to combat

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.740
 particular heresies

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.339
 that the church

00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.500
 was facing at this time.

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.460
 So we're going to jump

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.259
 right into this passage.

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.279
 Colossians 2,

00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.839
 verse 16.

00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.740
 Colossians 2,

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.279
 16.

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.759
 Therefore,

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.740
 let no one

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.480
 pass judgment

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.139
 on you

00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:06.200
 in questions

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.779
 of food

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.480
 and drink

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.740
 or with regard

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.539
 to a festival

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.980
 or a new moon

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.639
 or a Sabbath.

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.099
 This is standing

00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:13.940
 directly opposed

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.740
 to the Judaizers

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.440
 of this day

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.759
 who were saying

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.319
 that we need

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.579
 to keep going,

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.980
 we need to keep up

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.899
 the Jewish ceremonial law.

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.080
 There was a lot

00:25:23.080 --> 00:25:23.560
 of stuff they had

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:23.740
 to do.

00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:24.220
 There were certain

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.880
 things that they

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.320
 could eat.

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:25.780
 There were certain

00:25:25.780 --> 00:25:26.480
 things they couldn't

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:26.740
 eat.

00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.360
 There was a lot

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.440
 of law that was

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.120
 involved in this.

00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:30.720
 And what Paul is

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.580
 saying to the Colossians

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.259
 says,

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.780
 look,

00:25:33.060 --> 00:25:33.640
 these people are

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.620
 trying to intimidate

00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:36.080
 you with legalism.

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.600
 With legalism.

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.720
 So this is right

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:38.980
 here,

00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:39.519
 this verse,

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.640
 he is combating

00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.460
 the heresy

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.140
 of legalism.

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.560
 They're trying

00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.300
 to judge you

00:25:44.300 --> 00:25:45.140
 on what you eat

00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.740
 or what you drink

00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.200
 or whether you

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.019
 attend a Passover

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.560
 or whether you

00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:48.680
 attend all

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.380
 these Jewish

00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:49.880
 festivals,

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.340
 whether you

00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.200
 make your sacrifice

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.720
 on New Moon

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.160
 or whether you

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.220
 prescribe to the

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.060
 rituals of the

00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:55.700
 Sabbath day.

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.100
 They're trying

00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.160
 to intimidate you

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.100
 by saying you

00:25:59.100 --> 00:25:59.820
 need Christ

00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:01.279
 plus these

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.240
 man-made rules.

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.700
 They're saying

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.960
 it isn't enough

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.799
 to know Christ.

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:06.960
 You have to know

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.580
 Christ and keep

00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.539
 the Jewish

00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.420
 ceremonial law.

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.440
 Legalism,

00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:13.140
 by the way,

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.940
 is subscribing

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.680
 your spirituality

00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:16.860
 to man-made rules.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.180
 Subscribing your

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.660
 spirituality

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.360
 to man-made rules.

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.460
 Defining your

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.320
 spirituality

00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:25.640
 by your ability

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.759
 to keep

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.039
 man-made rules.

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.820
 Obeying God's

00:26:29.820 --> 00:26:30.000
 rules,

00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:30.440
 by the way,

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.880
 what is that?

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.500
 That's obedience.

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.840
 We get this

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:34.060
 confused too often.

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.440
 And we accuse

00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.460
 people of

00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.360
 legalism

00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.900
 when they're

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.440
 really just being

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.259
 obedient to His

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.620
 Word.

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.279
 There's a difference

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.100
 between obedience

00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:44.440
 and legalism.

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.000
 Obedience,

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.039
 obeying God's

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.240
 Word,

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:47.920
 God's commands

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.460
 to us.

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.539
 Legalism,

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.200
 saying that we're

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.060
 required to follow

00:26:52.060 --> 00:26:52.940
 man-made rules.

00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.140
 There's a difference

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.340
 there.

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.560
 So don't give

00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.279
 believers a hard

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.000
 time for being

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.420
 obedient.

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.900
 It's really

00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.440
 important that we

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.039
 understand that

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.799
 distinction.

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.560
 Paul's not

00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.820
 arguing against

00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:04.580
 obedience here.

00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.259
 He's arguing

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.240
 against legalism.

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.220
 Remember that

00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.960
 Paul uses the

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.779
 word therefore

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.259
 at the beginning

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.759
 of this passage,

00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:11.580
 which means that

00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.420
 we must reconnect

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.279
 this back to the

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.060
 previous thought

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.720
 that Paul had,

00:27:14.919 --> 00:27:15.399
 which we talked

00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:16.220
 about last week.

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.899
 So in light of

00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.779
 the completeness

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.839
 that we have

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.839
 in Christ,

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.480
 don't let people

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.399
 place legalistic

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.240
 judgment on you.

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:25.679
 Don't let people

00:27:25.679 --> 00:27:26.980
 judge you for the

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.879
 things that God's

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.599
 Word hasn't said

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.500
 that we have to do.

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.779
 In other words,

00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.619
 don't sacrifice

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.879
 your freedom in

00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:34.559
 Christ to

00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.819
 circumscribe your

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.759
 life to a bunch

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.339
 of rules,

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.799
 a bunch of

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.679
 man-made rules.

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:40.700
 Christ has

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.859
 canceled the

00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.539
 bondage of

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:42.879
 law.

00:27:43.459 --> 00:27:43.959
 We see this

00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.579
 in verse 14.

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.319
 He canceled

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.240
 the record

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.919
 or the debt

00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.579
 that stood

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.579
 against us

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.539
 with the

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.479
 legal demands.

00:27:50.919 --> 00:27:51.419
 He nailed

00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:51.959
 it to the

00:27:51.959 --> 00:27:52.419
 cross.

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.979
 Galatians 5.1

00:27:53.979 --> 00:27:54.279
 is really

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.919
 helpful for us

00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:55.599
 here as well.

00:27:55.959 --> 00:27:56.199
 It says,

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.959
 For freedom,

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.059
 Christ has

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.699
 set you free.

00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.059
 Therefore,

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.199
 stand firm

00:28:00.199 --> 00:28:01.500
 and do not

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.359
 submit again

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.939
 to the yoke

00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:03.479
 of slavery.

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.899
 Don't go back

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.659
 to legalism.

00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:08.039
 It would be

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.779
 ridiculous to

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.439
 imagine that

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.759
 Jesus suffered

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.700
 what He suffered

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.980
 on the cross

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:15.519
 and to free

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.079
 us from the

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.559
 prison and

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.079
 the bondage

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.460
 that we were

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.779
 in prior to

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.619
 His suffering,

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.160
 only for Him

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.700
 to send us

00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.200
 into another

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.779
 jail cell.

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.140
 It would be

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.879
 ridiculous to

00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.440
 think that.

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.579
 He has set

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.839
 us free to

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.539
 stay free.

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.200
 Now look at

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.839
 verse 17.

00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.539
 These are a

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.259
 shadow of the

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.059
 things to come,

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.319
 but the

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:35.980
 substance,

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.180
 the substance

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:37.900
 belongs to

00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:38.319
 Christ.

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.619
 These are the

00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:40.180
 shadow of the

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.799
 things to come,

00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:41.299
 but the

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.539
 substance

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.360
 belongs to

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:42.519
 Christ.

00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.100
 I love

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.980
 this verse.

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.420
 This is an

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.180
 incredible verse

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:46.600
 and I think

00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:48.820
 that on the

00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:49.500
 surface level

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.019
 we don't really

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.740
 understand what

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.039
 it means,

00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:51.799
 so I hope I

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.440
 can help you

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.240
 understand that

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.000
 here.

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.779
 This is really

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.440
 referring to the

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:55.799
 eating and

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.220
 drinking and

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.779
 the festivals

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.720
 mentioned in

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.200
 the previous

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.700
 passage.

00:28:59.320 --> 00:28:59.960
 All these

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.340
 rules,

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:00.779
 all this

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.240
 Jewish

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:02.140
 ceremonial law,

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:02.759
 these were

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.200
 things that

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.779
 they had to

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:03.980
 do.

00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.400
 These were

00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:04.880
 things that

00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.860
 were the

00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:07.200
 shadow of

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.600
 the One

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.080
 who was to

00:29:08.080 --> 00:29:08.340
 come.

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.180
 That's what

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:09.640
 this passage

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.000
 is talking

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.220
 about.

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.340
 These laws,

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.140
 these regulations,

00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:12.860
 all these

00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.200
 things that

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.580
 they had to

00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:13.799
 follow,

00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.480
 the sacrificial

00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:14.900
 system,

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.940
 this is but

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.759
 a shadow of

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.380
 the One

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.799
 who is to

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.180
 come,

00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.140
 and the One

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.539
 who is to

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.140
 come is

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.519
 here.

00:29:22.320 --> 00:29:23.200
 He's arrived,

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.019
 and His name

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.539
 is Jesus.

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:26.700
 All those

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.060
 other things

00:29:27.060 --> 00:29:27.340
 were the

00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:29.200
 shadow that

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:31.060
 went before

00:29:31.060 --> 00:29:31.380
 Him.

00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:32.279
 And so we

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.120
 see that this

00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:34.620
 Jewish ceremonial

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:36.120
 law, it was

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.900
 there, and if

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.539
 you read the

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:37.879
 book of

00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.339
 Leviticus,

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:38.779
 if you can

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.259
 make it all

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.399
 the way

00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:39.659
 through the

00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:40.099
 book, then

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.700
 that's really

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.339
 awesome, because

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.720
 it is really,

00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.440
 really tough to

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:43.799
 read straight

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.059
 through the

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.299
 book of

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:44.799
 Leviticus.

00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:49.039
 We have a

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.279
 lot of

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.839
 narrative in

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.440
 Genesis and

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.299
 Exodus, and

00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:51.680
 we get to

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.559
 Leviticus, and

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:52.940
 man, it's like

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.299
 the narrative

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.980
 shuts it down,

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.839
 it's really

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.480
 difficult to

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.859
 make it all

00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:55.980
 the way

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.240
 through, and

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.559
 that's really

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:56.839
 great.

00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:57.879
 You think you

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.839
 should understand

00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.440
 the book of

00:29:59.440 --> 00:29:59.859
 Leviticus,

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.680
 because it

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.659
 teaches us

00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.659
 what was in

00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:03.000
 the Jewish

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.799
 ceremonial law

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.279
 primarily.

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:06.940
 And it also

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.200
 teaches us that

00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:09.099
 there is no

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:09.700
 way.

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.680
 If you look at

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.500
 the rules, the

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.359
 regulations, all

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:12.859
 the things that

00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:13.579
 they had to do

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.879
 just to atone for

00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:17.359
 sin alone, it's

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.079
 unbelievable.

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:19.660
 We can't

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.879
 accomplish this as

00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.359
 humans.

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:22.519
 Okay?

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.180
 Christ had to

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.940
 accomplish the

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.759
 work on the

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.980
 cross for us.

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.860
 And so, the

00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.940
 Old Testament, in

00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.960
 a lot of ways,

00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:32.019
 shows us our

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.099
 need for the

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.059
 gospel, our

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.360
 need for Christ.

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.319
 Those things

00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.019
 were the shadow.

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.240
 Paul says, the

00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.140
 one cast in the

00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.900
 shadow has

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.519
 arrived, and

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.120
 this is Jesus.

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.400
 He is the

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.059
 true substance.

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.380
 We no longer

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.099
 need ritualistic

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.940
 food and drink.

00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.360
 Jesus is the

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:48.140
 bread of life.

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.579
 He has come to

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:51.039
 fulfill the

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.240
 law.

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:52.720
 Moving right

00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.220
 along, Paul

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.079
 reaches the

00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:54.660
 second issue.

00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.620
 He addresses

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.519
 legalism, then he

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:56.900
 moves right

00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:58.080
 into discussing

00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:59.220
 mysticism.

00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.180
 So, before we

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.680
 get to verse

00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.360
 18, what is

00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:02.920
 mysticism?

00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:04.200
 Simple definition

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.280
 is a deeper or

00:31:05.280 --> 00:31:06.220
 higher religious

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.220
 experience based

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.740
 on personal

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.200
 intuition.

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.300
 So, this is

00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:11.800
 some higher

00:31:11.800 --> 00:31:12.519
 level of

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:15.080
 spiritualism that

00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.180
 we're not going

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.680
 to find in

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:16.960
 scripture.

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.100
 Right?

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:18.680
 So, it's very

00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.320
 subjective.

00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.680
 A very

00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.200
 subjective,

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:23.060
 experiential type

00:31:23.060 --> 00:31:24.160
 spirituality.

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.759
 There's nothing

00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.460
 connecting it to

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:26.860
 the word of

00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.120
 God.

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:27.940
 There's nothing

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.319
 that we can

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:28.779
 connect it to

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.600
 anything objective.

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.660
 And so, this

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.400
 experience could

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.480
 be anything for

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.079
 anybody.

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.120
 And so, this is

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.720
 what Paul says

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.319
 about this.

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:36.900
 Let no one

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.960
 disqualify you

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:39.920
 insisting on

00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.840
 asceticism and

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.500
 the worship of

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:41.980
 angels.

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.860
 Going on in

00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.380
 detail about

00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:44.799
 visions,

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.600
 puffed up without

00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.660
 reason by his

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.440
 sensuous mind.

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:47.900
 These people,

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:48.840
 he's saying,

00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:50.480
 are puffed up by

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.779
 this experience

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.620
 that they had

00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:53.680
 where there's

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.340
 nothing objective

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.099
 about it.

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.399
 Don't let

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.039
 anyone make

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.679
 you think that

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.179
 you're missing

00:31:58.179 --> 00:31:58.959
 something based

00:31:58.959 --> 00:31:59.919
 off of unbiblical

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:01.019
 principles or

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.659
 based off of

00:32:01.659 --> 00:32:02.299
 principles that

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.319
 aren't found in

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:03.679
 scripture.

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.480
 In this case,

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.459
 it's mysticism and

00:32:06.459 --> 00:32:07.079
 asceticism.

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.480
 You haven't

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:11.319
 understood until

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.659
 you have understood

00:32:12.659 --> 00:32:13.439
 the worship of

00:32:13.439 --> 00:32:13.779
 angels.

00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.179
 This is what

00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:14.659
 these people say,

00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:16.099
 you haven't had

00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:16.819
 the right visions,

00:32:16.899 --> 00:32:17.199
 you haven't

00:32:17.199 --> 00:32:18.299
 properly caused

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.000
 yourself enough

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.759
 suffering in

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:21.240
 this world like

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.980
 I have.

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.079
 They inflated

00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:25.140
 themselves in

00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:25.900
 their own minds

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.920
 because of

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.440
 their experiences.

00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.579
 All the while,

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.119
 the one thing

00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:31.759
 that they're not

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:33.440
 doing is holding

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.420
 fast to the

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:34.779
 head.

00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:35.440
 Who is who?

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.660
 It's Christ.

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:37.539
 There in verse

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:39.519
 19, and not

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.839
 holding fast to

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.319
 the head.

00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:43.599
 So this version

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.420
 of heresy is

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.819
 Christ plus my

00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:47.000
 visions, plus my

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.559
 experiences, plus my

00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.500
 deeper experience,

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.159
 sorry, my

00:32:50.159 --> 00:32:51.019
 experiences with

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.700
 angels, plus my

00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.579
 deeper experience.

00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.639
 The first heresy

00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.980
 is Christ plus

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.519
 rules.

00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:57.579
 This all goes

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.079
 back again to

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.579
 last week.

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.299
 When Christ is

00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.359
 sufficient for

00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.359
 our grace, we

00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:02.039
 don't need

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:03.019
 anything else but

00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.500
 Christ.

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.359
 But these people,

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.119
 the heresy they're

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.819
 making is saying,

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.220
 you need Christ

00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.279
 plus these other

00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:08.819
 things.

00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:11.339
 And that is the

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:11.639
 heresy.

00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.919
 As a believer, do

00:33:12.919 --> 00:33:13.339
 you know what you

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:13.579
 need?

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:16.019
 You need Christ.

00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:17.119
 Do you know what

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.720
 else you need?

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.859
 Absolutely nothing.

00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:22.700
 He is all that you

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:22.960
 need.

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.539
 You don't need

00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:23.919
 rules.

00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.440
 You don't need

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.319
 mystical experiences.

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.279
 You don't need

00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.519
 anything else under

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.279
 the sun.

00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.000
 You just need to

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.179
 hold fast to the

00:33:31.179 --> 00:33:32.740
 head from whom

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.700
 the whole body

00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.960
 nourished and knit

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.940
 together through its

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.779
 joints and ligaments

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.980
 grows with the

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.220
 growth that is from

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.579
 God.

00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:41.220
 You just hold on to

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.940
 the one who's

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:43.079
 holding the entire

00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.279
 church together.

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.740
 Capital C Church,

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.940
 which means broad

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:48.039
 spectrum, whole

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.120
 world, capital C

00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:49.620
 church, the

00:33:49.620 --> 00:33:50.600
 church of Jesus

00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:50.960
 Christ.

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.820
 Not just this

00:33:51.820 --> 00:33:52.580
 church, but all the

00:33:52.580 --> 00:33:53.080
 churches who are

00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:54.420
 gathering right now

00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.580
 and with one voice

00:33:55.580 --> 00:33:56.820
 worshiping God all

00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:57.779
 together this morning.

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.680
 That's what we're

00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.120
 talking about.

00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:01.180
 He holds the

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.940
 church together.

00:34:02.820 --> 00:34:03.539
 Don't be intimidated

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.480
 by the world and all

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.440
 its empty philosophy.

00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.940
 Don't be distracted

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.840
 by other people's

00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:09.059
 mystical experiences

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:10.119
 or their man-made

00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:10.639
 rules.

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:12.739
 Peter tells us,

00:34:12.839 --> 00:34:13.379
 you have received

00:34:13.379 --> 00:34:14.559
 all things pertaining

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.599
 to life and

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.139
 godliness.

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.639
 You have already

00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.420
 received it.

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.859
 You don't need

00:34:19.859 --> 00:34:20.460
 anything else.

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.339
 You have Christ.

00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.099
 Verse 20.

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:27.279
 If with Christ you

00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:28.679
 die to the elemental

00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:29.739
 spirits of the world,

00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:31.179
 why, as if you were

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:32.299
 still alive in the

00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:33.539
 world, do you

00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.779
 submit to regulations?

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.480
 Do not handle,

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.359
 do not taste,

00:34:37.359 --> 00:34:38.460
 do not touch.

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:40.559
 He says,

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.320
 your union with

00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:42.500
 Christ and his

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.220
 death has caused

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:44.539
 you to die to the

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.860
 elemental spirits of

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.320
 the world, which

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.780
 means you have

00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.340
 essentially died to

00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.340
 the philosophy and

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.440
 everything else that

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.539
 exists in this world.

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.880
 He's primarily

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:55.400
 speaking to

00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:56.360
 asceticism here,

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.400
 which is following

00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:00.000
 a set of man-made

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.179
 rules to gain

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.380
 higher favor with

00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:02.699
 God.

00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:04.179
 It's asceticism.

00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:04.780
 Let me explain

00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.659
 this further for you.

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:07.199
 Typically, what

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:08.059
 this looked like

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:10.179
 during Paul's time

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:10.599
 and what he's

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:12.539
 addressing is the

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.519
 removing of earthly

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.980
 comforts for a

00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.880
 higher level of

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.259
 spirituality.

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.340
 And so, the way

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.539
 this played out was

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.480
 typically a

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.480
 monasticism or

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.460
 what we would call

00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:24.079
 the monks who

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.940
 are trying to

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.980
 gain a higher

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.480
 level of

00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.920
 spirituality by

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.980
 adding more rules

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.079
 to their life and

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.039
 taking away earthly

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.480
 comforts.

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.199
 So, this is what

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.679
 the monks would

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.219
 typically do.

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:36.159
 They would remove

00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:37.279
 comforts anywhere from

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.280
 shelter all the way

00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:40.480
 to comfortable

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.060
 clothes.

00:35:41.160 --> 00:35:41.740
 They would wear

00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:43.340
 fabrics, oftentimes

00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:45.620
 such as burlap,

00:35:46.120 --> 00:35:47.240
 in order to make

00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:48.440
 themselves more

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.440
 uncomfortable in

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.040
 this life.

00:35:50.580 --> 00:35:50.980
 And that was

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.400
 somehow supposed to

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.519
 ascribe more

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.780
 spirituality or this

00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:56.200
 higher experience

00:35:56.200 --> 00:35:56.720
 with God.

00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.620
 Some of them would

00:35:58.620 --> 00:35:59.780
 even go as far as

00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:00.920
 to wear cotton

00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:02.700
 robes over

00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:06.460
 their uncomfortable

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.639
 garments underneath,

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.819
 their burlap or

00:36:08.819 --> 00:36:09.339
 whatever they wore

00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:10.539
 underneath, so that

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.599
 they didn't get

00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.599
 favor from men,

00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:14.099
 thereby not receiving

00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:14.879
 more spirituality

00:36:14.879 --> 00:36:16.199
 from God.

00:36:16.879 --> 00:36:19.159
 This very strange

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.079
 religious thing.

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.359
 Early monks would

00:36:21.359 --> 00:36:22.359
 remove themselves from

00:36:22.359 --> 00:36:23.379
 the general populations,

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.419
 you know, thinking

00:36:24.419 --> 00:36:25.059
 that, hey, we should

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.199
 just completely remove

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:26.939
 ourselves from the

00:36:26.939 --> 00:36:28.659
 world and that we

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.779
 should go and live

00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:31.119
 secluded lifestyles,

00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.799
 some of them living

00:36:31.799 --> 00:36:33.519
 in caves, abandoning

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.199
 the traditional

00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:36.059
 homes and things

00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.839
 like that, things

00:36:36.839 --> 00:36:37.359
 of that nature.

00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.159
 Some of them would

00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:40.099
 even go to this,

00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:41.039
 there's one particular

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:42.119
 place that a lot of

00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:43.299
 them went to where

00:36:43.299 --> 00:36:44.339
 there's these natural

00:36:44.339 --> 00:36:45.480
 stone pillars and

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.179
 they would make their

00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:47.199
 way up to the top

00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:48.400
 of the stone pillars

00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:50.099
 and that's where they

00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:51.239
 would hang out, days

00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:51.779
 on end.

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.319
 And they would live

00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:54.639
 in solitude, that way

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.579
 nobody can bother

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:55.940
 them.

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.119
 And then,

00:36:58.279 --> 00:36:59.779
 naturally, people see

00:36:59.779 --> 00:37:00.739
 this as a spectacle

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:02.739
 and people by the

00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:03.679
 hundreds, often times

00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:04.859
 would come out to

00:37:04.859 --> 00:37:05.679
 this place and they

00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.359
 would just gaze upon

00:37:07.359 --> 00:37:09.439
 these men with a

00:37:09.439 --> 00:37:11.419
 higher calling in life

00:37:11.419 --> 00:37:13.199
 and just gaze up

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:13.759
 at them, like, man,

00:37:13.819 --> 00:37:15.359
 what a spiritual person

00:37:15.359 --> 00:37:16.939
 for sitting up there

00:37:16.939 --> 00:37:17.779
 on that column.

00:37:20.779 --> 00:37:22.559
 I just, I don't get

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:22.759
 it.

00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:24.719
 And I'm sure that the

00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:26.619
 laughter is because you

00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.439
 don't get it either.

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:29.259
 That makes sense.

00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:31.240
 Some of these monks

00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:32.520
 even consider it sinful

00:37:32.520 --> 00:37:34.040
 to take a bath.

00:37:35.540 --> 00:37:36.560
 That's just wrong.

00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:39.940
 Gotta be clean.

00:37:42.040 --> 00:37:42.700
 And of course, those

00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:43.800
 things don't bring about

00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.240
 godliness.

00:37:45.240 --> 00:37:46.240
 They don't bring about

00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:46.640
 godliness.

00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.320
 These things are

00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:50.580
 works-based and they

00:37:50.580 --> 00:37:51.360
 are in accordance with

00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:52.420
 human precepts and

00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:53.640
 human teachings,

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:55.380
 according to verse 22.

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:58.500
 Then verse 23.

00:37:58.500 --> 00:38:01.140
 We have indeed an

00:38:01.140 --> 00:38:02.280
 appearance of wisdom

00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:04.300
 in promoting self-made

00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:05.400
 religion and

00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:06.760
 asceticism and

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.920
 severity to the body,

00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:10.019
 but they are of no

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:11.519
 value in stopping the

00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:12.800
 indulgence of the flesh.

00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:14.840
 He says they are of no

00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:15.280
 value.

00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:16.720
 All of these things,

00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.420
 this legalism,

00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.019
 mysticism,

00:38:19.200 --> 00:38:19.800
 asceticism,

00:38:20.160 --> 00:38:21.140
 they all have the

00:38:21.140 --> 00:38:22.880
 reputation of wisdom.

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.000
 wisdom.

00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:24.500
 They all, in other

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.920
 words, they look like

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:27.559
 wisdom to the world.

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.680
 You look at them,

00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.960
 they keep all the rules,

00:38:31.140 --> 00:38:31.860
 they have these higher

00:38:31.860 --> 00:38:32.840
 visions, they apparently

00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:34.420
 go up on pillars and

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:35.579
 sit alone all day,

00:38:35.700 --> 00:38:36.539
 praying to God.

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.860
 They take away all the

00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:39.539
 comforts that are

00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:40.420
 available to them.

00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:42.240
 And this looks good

00:38:42.240 --> 00:38:44.380
 to the world or to the

00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:45.780
 untrained, unthinking

00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:46.059
 mind.

00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.220
 It looks good because

00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:48.200
 they are attributing

00:38:48.200 --> 00:38:49.000
 these things to

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:49.599
 spirituality.

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:49.719
 spirituality.

00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:53.259
 It's a godless

00:38:53.259 --> 00:38:54.460
 religion because

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.460
 they're really doing

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.019
 this for who?

00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:56.920
 They're really doing

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.559
 it for themselves.

00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:59.219
 They're really doing

00:38:59.219 --> 00:39:00.059
 it so they can obtain

00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:01.179
 some higher level of

00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:01.599
 spirituality.

00:39:03.279 --> 00:39:04.460
 And in the appearance

00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:06.079
 of humility, they are

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.500
 nothing but a mask of

00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:08.420
 spiritual pride.

00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:10.860
 They did this for their

00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.900
 own spiritual pride.

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:14.199
 Now, does this mean

00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:16.039
 that we should just all

00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:17.659
 go and indulge in every

00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:19.899
 worldly comfort that is

00:39:19.899 --> 00:39:21.420
 out there as believers?

00:39:21.839 --> 00:39:22.539
 Should we indulge

00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:23.500
 ourselves in everything

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.500
 that is out there?

00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:24.839
 No.

00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:26.440
 Because a lot of these

00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:27.759
 earthly comforts are

00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.139
 sin.

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.079
 One of the prerequisites

00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:31.299
 to following Christ is

00:39:31.299 --> 00:39:32.359
 denying yourself.

00:39:33.420 --> 00:39:34.399
 Denying yourself.

00:39:35.339 --> 00:39:36.500
 These people, these

00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:37.420
 ascetics, these people

00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:38.480
 who are doing these

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:40.079
 different things that

00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.019
 are attributing higher

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:41.559
 righteousness to

00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:42.739
 themselves, they're not

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:44.299
 doing this for

00:39:44.299 --> 00:39:44.879
 righteousness.

00:39:45.099 --> 00:39:45.759
 They're not doing it

00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.359
 to follow Christ.

00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:47.680
 They're doing it for a

00:39:47.680 --> 00:39:48.620
 higher level of

00:39:48.620 --> 00:39:48.960
 spirituality.

00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:49.680
 They're doing it for

00:39:49.680 --> 00:39:50.079
 themselves.

00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:52.059
 So Jesus said in

00:39:52.059 --> 00:39:53.099
 Matthew 16 and 24,

00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:53.860
 If anyone would come

00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:55.500
 after me, let him deny

00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:57.059
 himself, take up his

00:39:57.059 --> 00:39:58.500
 cross, and follow me.

00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:00.840
 Self-denial is key.

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:02.780
 But asceticism is not

00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:03.280
 self-denial.

00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:04.200
 It's the practice of

00:40:04.200 --> 00:40:05.260
 self-righteousness.

00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:06.500
 And when we try to

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.460
 attribute righteousness

00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:08.940
 to ourselves apart from

00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:10.559
 God, we end up in sin.

00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:13.900
 It's an attempt to make

00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.220
 the self look better, and

00:40:15.219 --> 00:40:16.359
 therefore, it is the

00:40:16.359 --> 00:40:17.779
 opposite of self-denial.

00:40:18.599 --> 00:40:20.619
 If Christ is supreme, if

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:22.000
 Christ is sufficient, we

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:23.379
 don't need the world.

00:40:23.779 --> 00:40:25.119
 We don't have to have all

00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:25.959
 the comforts in the

00:40:25.959 --> 00:40:26.219
 world.

00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.299
 Is it okay to wear

00:40:27.299 --> 00:40:28.039
 cotton clothes?

00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:28.439
 Yes.

00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:29.679
 That's fine to wear

00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:30.279
 cotton clothes.

00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:32.899
 But we need Christ.

00:40:33.379 --> 00:40:34.179
 And that is all.

00:40:34.919 --> 00:40:35.519
 That is all.

00:40:35.919 --> 00:40:37.159
 And we see Paul here,

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:39.199
 heresy after heresy,

00:40:39.339 --> 00:40:40.019
 stepping through,

00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:41.839
 combating it with

00:40:41.839 --> 00:40:42.759
 biblical truth, with

00:40:42.759 --> 00:40:43.719
 biblical understanding.

00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:45.659
 And so Paul argues,

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.199
 you don't need extra

00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:48.019
 man-made rules.

00:40:48.399 --> 00:40:49.199
 You don't need

00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:49.959
 asceticism.

00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:50.939
 You don't need

00:40:50.939 --> 00:40:51.619
 mysticism.

00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.459
 You don't need

00:40:53.459 --> 00:40:54.319
 worldly philosophy.

00:40:54.419 --> 00:40:55.219
 What you need is

00:40:55.219 --> 00:40:56.759
 Christ, and Christ

00:40:56.759 --> 00:40:57.279
 alone.

00:40:59.079 --> 00:40:59.879
 And in light of our

00:40:59.879 --> 00:41:00.819
 culture that seems to be

00:41:00.819 --> 00:41:01.980
 increasingly celebrating

00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:03.779
 sin over Christ,

00:41:04.779 --> 00:41:06.759
 that's exactly what we

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.599
 need to give the world.

00:41:08.299 --> 00:41:09.359
 There's a picture of

00:41:09.359 --> 00:41:09.579
 Him.

00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:12.319
 we need to give them

00:41:12.319 --> 00:41:12.920
 the gospel.

00:41:13.799 --> 00:41:14.539
 And in our words,

00:41:14.619 --> 00:41:15.219
 and in our actions,

00:41:15.319 --> 00:41:15.960
 and our example,

00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:16.619
 and the way that we

00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:18.380
 engage people that are

00:41:18.380 --> 00:41:19.340
 around us, God has

00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:20.860
 given you an influence.

00:41:21.860 --> 00:41:23.259
 No matter who you are,

00:41:23.639 --> 00:41:25.099
 you know people, and God

00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:26.659
 has placed you in this

00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:28.239
 influence that you have

00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:29.279
 to be able to talk to

00:41:29.279 --> 00:41:29.599
 people.

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:32.380
 You have the ability to

00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:33.360
 communicate with these

00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:34.179
 people, and you have the

00:41:34.179 --> 00:41:35.259
 ability to communicate

00:41:35.259 --> 00:41:36.559
 God's truth.

00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:38.239
 So let's be confident

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:38.940
 and work toward

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:40.139
 understanding what we

00:41:40.139 --> 00:41:42.259
 believe, why we believe

00:41:42.259 --> 00:41:45.420
 it, and the ability to

00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:46.519
 communicate to others

00:41:46.519 --> 00:41:47.159
 effectively.

00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:48.239
 God's Word.

00:41:48.699 --> 00:41:49.360
 Let's pray together.