WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.640 Good morning, church. 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:09.679 It's my privilege to preach this morning from the book of Colossians. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:12.099 ! We've been working our way through this book, 00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:16.420 ! We've arrived at chapter 2, verse 16, 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:18.500 and we'll finish the chapter this morning. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:24.800 I would remind us that this is a letter from Paul 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:28.219 that he has sent to a church, 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:32.780 a group of believers that he doesn't personally know. 00:00:32.879 --> 00:00:35.119 He knows some representatives from the church, 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:40.219 but he sends this letter to them for encouragement 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:44.920 and for instruction, for warning and for direction. 00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:50.200 And we would remember that in the first two verses, 00:00:50.519 --> 00:00:54.120 this truth that he sent this letter to the saints, 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.719 the saints, the believers that are gathered 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:03.459 in this small, young church in this place called Colossae. 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:08.039 And that will be important as we look at our text this morning. 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:10.219 So if you would, in honor of God's word, 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:14.859 I would ask you to open your Bible and look along with me, 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:17.159 read along silently as I read the text. 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:19.619 So if you would, in honor of the word, 00:01:19.679 --> 00:01:23.079 if you would stand as I read this morning. 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:31.280 Chapter 2, starting with verse 16 through the end of the chapter. 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:35.099 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you 00:01:35.099 --> 00:01:37.799 in questions of food and drink 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:42.979 or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:46.640 These are a shadow of the things to come, 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:49.340 but the substance belongs to Christ. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.500 Let no one disqualify you insisting on asceticism 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:56.659 or worship of angels, 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.740 going on in detail about visions, 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:03.980 puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:06.620 and not holding fast to the head 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:09.080 from whom the whole body nourished 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:12.860 and knit together through its joints and ligaments 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:15.320 grows with a growth that is from God. 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:20.860 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, 00:02:20.980 --> 00:02:21.420 why? 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:24.900 As if you were still alive in the world, 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:26.380 do you submit to regulations? 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:29.980 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:34.220 Referring to the things that all perish as they are used, 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:37.120 according to human precepts and teachings. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.960 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:43.439 in promoting self-made religion 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:46.039 and asceticism and severity to the body, 00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:48.560 but they are of no value in stopping 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:50.800 the indulgence of the flesh. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:51.200 Let's pray. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:53.400 Father, I ask as we open your word 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:57.980 that, Father, you would touch our hearts with these truths 00:02:57.980 --> 00:03:00.099 and that, Father, you would help us to embrace 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:04.400 a faithful life in service and surrender to you. 00:03:04.740 --> 00:03:06.040 Father, with thankful hearts, 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:08.139 would you open our hearts to receive 00:03:08.139 --> 00:03:09.340 what you have for us this morning, 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:10.159 I pray in your name. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:10.639 Amen. 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:12.319 Y'all can have a seat. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:21.319 So as we start in this place in verse 16, 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:24.340 you will notice the first word that we run into. 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:30.280 Therefore, which begs the question, 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.299 all right, Paul, what are you getting ready to tell us? 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:35.400 What is the conclusion that you're making? 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:38.540 And we understand that the conclusion he's making 00:03:38.540 --> 00:03:40.900 is based on the truths or the statement 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:42.900 that he's made before this word. 00:03:43.820 --> 00:03:51.900 He is establishing the details of why he is making this conclusion, 00:03:52.100 --> 00:03:56.740 why he is leading this church in the way that we're about to read. 00:03:56.740 --> 00:03:59.420 But so it begs the question, what did he say prior? 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:04.460 What is it that he said that leads him to the conclusion that we're about to read? 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:09.080 So we will need to turn back and I'll re-preach what Jonathan preached last week. 00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:09.439 Y'all ready? 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:11.520 Not really. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:13.040 See, he's already preached this passage, 00:04:13.040 --> 00:04:15.140 so I'm going to go back and re-preach his passage. 00:04:15.260 --> 00:04:16.079 We're blending together. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.660 The point is this, is that we can't read just that section isolated by itself. 00:04:20.660 --> 00:04:25.180 We need to know the context that we see in the scriptures here. 00:04:25.820 --> 00:04:30.300 And so I would take you back to, if you would look back at verse 13. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.500 Hopefully you'll keep your word open. 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:36.700 We will dance around a little bit this morning as we look at a couple of passages. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:42.240 Verse 13 says this, and he's speaking to the saints. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:46.860 He's speaking to Christians at this small little young church. 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:52.699 And he says this, you saints, you were dead in your trespasses. 00:04:53.020 --> 00:04:54.000 You were dead. 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:59.800 Interesting if you don't understand that he's talking about something spiritual. 00:05:00.780 --> 00:05:04.340 He's not talking about they were physically dead, they were spiritually dead. 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:09.560 So he says to them, you were spiritually dead in your trespasses 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:12.960 and the uncircumcision of your flesh, but God. 00:05:14.460 --> 00:05:16.520 Don't you love those two words, but God? 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:24.900 It's like God intervened in this situation where these people were spiritually dead. 00:05:25.280 --> 00:05:27.160 No hope for the future. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:32.280 No hope of salvation apart from the intervention of God. 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:33.600 And so what did God do? 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:35.660 Paul is sharing this with them. 00:05:35.980 --> 00:05:40.699 You were dead, saints, but God did something radical in your lives. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:41.060 What did he do? 00:05:41.080 --> 00:05:41.819 He sent Jesus. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:45.980 Why did he send Jesus? 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:53.819 Well, another question might be, what is it that he sent Jesus for? 00:05:54.020 --> 00:05:57.319 What is it that Jesus accomplished for you, saints? 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:00.640 He's bringing this to their memory. 00:06:00.780 --> 00:06:04.740 He's bringing it to the forefront because out of these truths, 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:08.640 he's going to make some conclusions that are pertinent to you and me as well. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:14.639 You know, Paul wrote this letter specifically to the Colossians and he's speaking specifically to them. 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:17.740 But you know, God is speaking to us this morning. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:24.420 The word is not just for the people of that day. 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:26.060 The word of God is for us. 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:31.879 God uses the truths that are shared here that are able to be applied to where we are living today. 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:39.279 So, saint, all of us, church, do you recognize, do you believe, do you understand there was a point in which you were totally dead? 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:42.319 It doesn't feel like it, does it? 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:44.219 We still hurt. 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:45.019 We still cry. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:45.839 We still struggle. 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:49.959 We still, you know, celebrate at times, but we were dead spiritually. 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:56.639 We were isolated, separated from God, enemies of God. 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:00.039 But it says, but God did this. 00:07:00.139 --> 00:07:03.919 He sent Jesus for you, saints. 00:07:04.219 --> 00:07:05.319 He sent Jesus for you. 00:07:05.339 --> 00:07:05.539 Why? 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:07.179 What did he accomplish? 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:16.539 Well, if we look backwards at what Paul has said, we could look back at the beautiful truth that he shared back in chapter 119 through 21. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:17.959 He said this, you were reconciled. 00:07:18.299 --> 00:07:19.939 What does that mean, reconciled? 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:22.319 That means you were not in relationship with God. 00:07:22.419 --> 00:07:23.979 You were separated from God. 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:27.239 But he reconciled you through Jesus. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:27.599 How? 00:07:28.799 --> 00:07:29.500 What did he do? 00:07:29.659 --> 00:07:33.079 He allowed you to be in relationship with God. 00:07:33.799 --> 00:07:34.839 How did he do that? 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:40.939 Well, he says this multiple times in multiple places, reminding us. 00:07:42.979 --> 00:07:48.819 It was through his body, reconciled in his body of flesh by his death. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:51.060 Something happened when he died. 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:54.719 He died for people that they might be forgiven. 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:57.120 So we see the gospel. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.879 If we go back to 13, we look at this, that he made us alive. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:02.519 We were dead and he made us alive. 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:03.199 How did he do it? 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:04.339 He purchased us. 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:05.319 He reconciled us. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:10.300 He put us back in relationship with God because of his sacrifice in our behalf. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.120 How did he do that? 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:12.060 He redeemed us. 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:14.000 How do you redeem us? 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:18.620 He redeemed us through the cross. 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:20.720 Why did he go to the cross? 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:24.259 He went to the cross to pay for our sins. 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:27.259 Our sins that separate us from God. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:37.059 He came that he might die in our place so that we might be forgiven and reconciled or put back in relationship to God. 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:42.879 And notice this beautiful picture in verse 15. 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:48.239 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame. 00:08:48.339 --> 00:08:49.359 He disarmed them. 00:08:49.419 --> 00:08:56.000 It's as if we were subject to these rulers and these authorities, but he disarmed them. 00:08:56.059 --> 00:08:57.719 They didn't have any more accusations. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.739 They could not point a finger to us and say, see, you're guilty. 00:09:01.859 --> 00:09:02.059 Why? 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:09.799 Because he paid for all that on the cross and he gave us freedom through what Christ did on our behalf. 00:09:10.079 --> 00:09:11.000 We were forgiven. 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.319 We were placed in relationship because of the work of God through faith. 00:09:20.979 --> 00:09:22.899 You know, it's another beautiful truth. 00:09:22.959 --> 00:09:26.759 The reason he came, we back up a little bit back to verse 22, chapter one. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:28.679 He says, why did he do this? 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:31.359 To present you holy and blameless. 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:38.839 You know, the beautiful picture of what Paul is sharing here, there's something radical that has happened in your life. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:41.779 And it's all because of what Jesus did for you. 00:09:44.959 --> 00:09:46.119 And you know what he's doing? 00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:51.019 He's doing this work, this work of holiness and blamelessness. 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:58.480 In one respect, he, his righteousness was imputed to us, meaning that we were not righteous at all. 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:02.500 But because Jesus died in our place, he took his righteousness and gave it to us. 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.960 He made us righteous. 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:09.840 And holy, set apart for the purpose of God. 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:13.480 Do you see the beautiful truths that he's sharing this morning? 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:18.480 I know he's, we've already preached on this and we're working our way up to this word, therefore. 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:26.220 But based on these truths, Paul is making a conclusion or making a statement that we're getting ready to look at here. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:29.820 And I want you to see four warnings that he gives this church. 00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:31.899 Four warnings and a question. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.259 Four warnings this morning and a question. 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:41.600 The first warning is this, is watch the expiration date. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:46.720 Make sure you are aware of the expiration date. 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:50.779 The second one is this, is don't chase after shadows. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:55.000 The two of them are linked very closely together this morning. 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:57.840 We're going to look at that as we look at verse 16. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:01.319 You hear the warnings of what he says? 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:07.280 He says, don't let, don't let someone pass judgment on you. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:11.100 Don't let someone, verse 18, disqualify you. 00:11:11.560 --> 00:11:12.760 Back up to verse 8. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:15.100 See that no one takes you captive. 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:16.020 Hear the warnings? 00:11:19.760 --> 00:11:22.540 Beware of these things. 00:11:26.540 --> 00:11:28.380 What might that look like? 00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:29.580 What are the warnings, Paul? 00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:31.960 How might that play itself out? 00:11:35.040 --> 00:11:41.720 He says, watch out for those who say, you've got to do all of these things to be in right. 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:42.220 Bless you, God. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:46.200 What am I talking about? 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:47.740 Look at verse 16 with me. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:49.740 Questions of food. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.120 Questions of drink. 00:11:53.280 --> 00:11:54.720 Questions of festivals. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.680 Questions of new moons. 00:11:57.680 --> 00:12:00.180 And how you handle the Sabbath day. 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:02.160 All of these things. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.540 What does that sound like to you? 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:04.500 Does it sound like the Greeks? 00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:05.200 No. 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.420 Does it sound like pagans? 00:12:07.560 --> 00:12:07.860 No. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:09.220 What does it sound like? 00:12:09.300 --> 00:12:10.960 Sounds like the Jewish nation, doesn't it? 00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:18.580 So what is the trap for the Jews who come into the kingdom, who accept Christ as Lord? 00:12:18.660 --> 00:12:20.019 What's the trap for them? 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:22.759 Do you know what they grew up in? 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:31.079 They grew up in this system, this religion, this Judaism that said, you've got to do all of these things. 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:34.759 You've got to continuously not do this and you've got to do this. 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:37.120 Like what? 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:43.500 Well, think about the law that was in the first five books of Pentateuch. 00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.179 What is the law? 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.799 There was three components of the law. 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.919 What are those three components? 00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:54.179 So you've got the moral law, you've got the civil law, and you've got the ceremonial law. 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:59.419 So the ceremonial law talks about all these things you have to do. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.860 You've got to waive this offering. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:10.340 You've got so many types of different things that you have to accomplish pertaining to obedience to the law. 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:18.159 You need to go to Jerusalem at least three times on three important festivals. 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:22.500 These other things you have to do in order to be right with God. 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.539 These rules. 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:33.559 How does that sit with you after what you just heard that Christ accomplished on our behalf, behalf of the saints? 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:46.139 Do you feel like today that you as a Christian today have a lot of rules you have to follow in order to be right with God? 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.379 In order for God to be happy with you? 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:51.179 In order for you to be in right standing with God? 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:55.759 Let me ask this way. 00:13:55.859 --> 00:13:58.279 Have you ever had anybody say, well, you shouldn't do that. 00:13:58.339 --> 00:13:59.159 You ought to do this. 00:13:59.199 --> 00:14:00.159 You need to go do that. 00:14:00.219 --> 00:14:01.639 You need to accomplish these things. 00:14:01.739 --> 00:14:05.359 There's all these things, these religious things that you have to do. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:05.979 You know what? 00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:06.939 They're called traditions. 00:14:08.439 --> 00:14:14.979 We've got all these traditions that if you don't do that, God's going to be very disappointed with you. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.439 He's going to be very frustrated with you. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.219 He's going to be antagonistic towards you almost. 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:23.360 You've got to make sure you accomplish these things, these traditions. 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:25.160 You know, where do we hear that from? 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.980 We hear it from people in the churches. 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:30.740 We've got to make sure we always do this and always do that. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:38.180 So in their day and time with the Colossians, there are a group of people, likely Jews. 00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:41.000 There was a pocket of Jews in this area. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.959 And they were saying, wait a minute. 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:44.199 Now, I know about Jesus. 00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.000 We know about Jesus. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:49.000 But you know you have to also do all these things because, look, it's in the Pentateuch. 00:14:49.839 --> 00:14:50.519 It's written. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.359 You've got to do them. 00:14:54.959 --> 00:15:00.759 The issue is they didn't understand what those were intended for all along. 00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:04.719 Did Jesus actually tell them that they needed to do these ceremonial things? 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.059 Yes. 00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:10.699 Why did Jesus tell the nation of Israel that they had to obey these things? 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.039 Why? 00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:15.379 Because they were all pointing to something extremely important. 00:15:15.479 --> 00:15:16.619 Do you know what they were pointing toward? 00:15:17.479 --> 00:15:18.039 Jesus. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.439 They were shadows. 00:15:21.739 --> 00:15:27.239 So we read here in verse 17, these are the shadows of things to come. 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.719 So here's the warning. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:33.680 The first one is the expiration date. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:37.160 Talking about don't, watch out for the expiration date. 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:39.940 We talk about that with medicine and stuff. 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.040 We look on the side of the bottle. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.060 What's the expiration date? 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.500 If we pass it, we need to set aside. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:45.340 Foods like that, drinks like that, et cetera. 00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:50.920 So my point in this is there's an expiration on these ceremonial laws. 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.700 They were all shadows. 00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:53.500 What is a shadow? 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:58.919 The second warning is watch out for the shadows. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.700 What is a shadow? 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:01.840 Well, I don't know if you all like me. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:03.159 I used to watch cartoons a lot. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:13.360 I don't know why this one stuck out in my mind, but there was one cartoon where they were in a place that was somewhat, they were nervous already. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:20.480 And there's this shadow that showed up on the wall of this creature that was just incredibly scary. 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:24.899 I mean, the way his face looked, all the hands and the tentacles and all. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:29.759 And they're seeing it on this wall, and it is literally 10 foot tall, and it's moving. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:32.580 And they are just ready to run and bolt out of there. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.600 And as they go to bolt out, guess what they see? 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:39.460 They see a flashlight on the ground, and they see this little bug that's yay big. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:48.340 And because the angle of the flashlight and how far the bug was, how close the bug was, it shone on the wall as this humongous, scary-looking creature. 00:16:49.780 --> 00:16:54.560 And they were afraid of the shadow, but when they saw the thing that caused the shadow, guess what? 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.480 Oh, good grief. 00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:56.560 What were we worried about? 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.580 Isn't that the way a shadow works? 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:06.160 We see the shadow, but the thing that caused the shadow is what is important here. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:11.540 And in relation to this, I would ask the question, what does the shadow of Jesus look like? 00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:17.160 What does the shadow of Jesus look like? 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:31.720 Well, so this whole concept of a shadow or typology that there's things in the Old Testament that point to Jesus. 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:32.600 You all with me? 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:45.219 The Old Testament, the way that the whole nation was structured, the things that God ceremonially asked them to do, 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.139 you know what they were pointing to? 00:17:46.199 --> 00:17:47.139 They were pointing to Jesus. 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.519 They were the shadow. 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:51.740 It's as if we were seeing the shadow move. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.419 It's the things that we've been told by God to do. 00:17:54.420 --> 00:18:01.400 But once you see the source of the shadow that is Christ himself, the shadow is insignificant, right? 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:05.420 All it is is something to say, hey, by the way, somebody's walking by. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.620 I wonder who that is. 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:11.000 We're looking at the shadow and we're trying to assess what that is or who it is. 00:18:11.120 --> 00:18:14.039 We're trying to guess who made that big ugly shadow in that cartoon. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.720 It was that little bug. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.240 Who made the shadow that looks like Jesus? 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:21.160 Well, the sacrificial system, for instance. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:26.160 What was the sacrificial system that was put in place by God for the nation of Israel? 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:36.859 Is that they had to come and bring an animal or a dove and they had to bring it as a substitute for their sins 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.960 so that they would be forgiven. 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:40.960 The whole concept of the Passover lamb, right? 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:45.059 Is that the sins of the people were placed on the Passover lamb. 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:47.000 You know, all of that was a shadow. 00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:53.460 Even though God says you have to do this on an ongoing basis, it was all pointing to Jesus. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.440 We think about the Ark of the Covenant. 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.639 Yeah, we've been fascinated by that for years. 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.359 At least I have. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:05.639 You know, we've got a movie that, you know, it depicts what they think it might be. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:08.559 We know because the scripture said what's in there, right? 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:13.339 And so how does that point to Jesus? 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:20.159 How is it the Ark of the Covenant, this thing, this physical item that was in the nation, 00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:23.339 that had a prized place in the nation, how did it point to Jesus? 00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:24.199 What was in it? 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.859 So the word was in it, right? 00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:30.259 The food was in it, the bread, the manna. 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.500 And what else was in it? 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.439 The rod that budded. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.639 So what are we looking at there? 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:36.199 The word is in Jesus, right? 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.899 Jesus is the word of God. 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:42.380 The life, that is the bread that gives life, was in the Ark of the Covenant. 00:19:42.800 --> 00:19:43.300 What is it? 00:19:43.320 --> 00:19:46.040 The bread gives life, but Jesus is the one that really gives life. 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:47.019 He's the bread of life. 00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:48.019 What else was in it? 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:53.980 The rod that came back alive, this resurrection that pictured, this piece of stick that budded. 00:19:54.800 --> 00:19:56.259 It pictures the resurrection. 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:58.140 And Jesus says, I am the resurrection. 00:19:58.280 --> 00:19:58.860 Remember what he said? 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:04.040 He said to Martha, he said, your brother will rise. 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:05.420 Well, I know he'll rise in the resurrection. 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.660 I am the resurrection. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:09.460 You know that the Ark of the Covenant is pointing to Jesus? 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:14.460 It was telling the nation that in Christ are all these three things. 00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:18.400 And they're just pictured as a shadow in the Ark of the Covenant. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.460 I could go on and on. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.120 A couple more. 00:20:22.320 --> 00:20:22.740 A veil. 00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:24.000 The veil of the temple. 00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:24.860 What did it perform? 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.539 What was the temple itself? 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:29.120 By the way, all the items in the temple pointed to who? 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:29.539 Jesus. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.779 They're all shadows. 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.600 And the veil is similar. 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.539 What did the veil do? 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:38.960 It protected the people from the glory and the holiness of God. 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:43.099 It separated the people from being consumed by the holiness of God. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.839 God was on the other side of the veil. 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.639 But when Christ died, what happened to the veil? 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.740 It was torn. 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.359 You know what it was? 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:51.200 It was a picture pointing to Jesus. 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:54.920 That there was coming a time when the veil of his flesh would be torn. 00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:58.839 And when it was torn, it would open the doorway for us to be in the presence of God. 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:09.519 Even the priesthood that was put in place by God. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.240 The priesthood was put in place. 00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:12.819 Why? 00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:16.319 To administer to these ceremonial things. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:19.899 And they would pray for the people. 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:22.279 They would sacrifice for the people. 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:26.240 They would intercede in a way before the people. 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.180 What was that pointing to? 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:30.480 It was pointing to there was going to be a high priest. 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:35.220 It was pointing to Jesus, the priest, the high priest of our profession. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.680 What did Jesus offer? 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:42.319 You know, the priest in the old day would offer these animals that came. 00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:46.160 And they would only temporarily bring forgiveness. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:54.320 But when Christ offered himself for us, it gave us permanent access and forgiveness. 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:57.980 His offer was the offer of his life and his body. 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:09.720 Do you see how you can take the ceremonial laws in the form of tradition nowadays? 00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:11.580 You say, you've also got to do this. 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:14.940 This is essential to relationship with God. 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.680 This is essential to being God's people. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.700 This is essential to being accepted by God. 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:20.279 You know, the answer is no, it's not. 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:29.200 Why do we choose to add anything to this concept of we're accepted by the Father? 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:31.000 What causes us to be accepted? 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:33.660 Jesus and Jesus alone. 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:40.640 There's nothing that needs to be added, not only for salvation, but once you're in the kingdom, 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:45.180 there's nothing that needs to be added for you to be accepted with Christ. 00:22:45.280 --> 00:22:49.380 I will say this for me, my personal story is that when I became a believer, it was radical. 00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.240 It was different. 00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:53.620 I knew for sure the next day I was in the kingdom. 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:56.680 Thankfully, there was someone there to validate that. 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.280 But I was a different guy. 00:22:58.360 --> 00:22:58.780 I changed. 00:22:59.060 --> 00:22:59.780 It was amazing. 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.759 But you know what? 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:04.200 For eight years, I worked so hard to make God happy. 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:10.120 I realized I need to do all these things in order to make God happy. 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:14.500 I mean, I was reading a lot and I was listening a lot and I was going out helping a lot and 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.920 I was doing all these really good things. 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.640 But you know my motive? 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:19.720 I was wanting to do something that I could offer to God. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.940 I said, look what I'm doing for you. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.019 And you know what happened? 00:23:24.080 --> 00:23:25.819 Eight years later, crash and burn. 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:29.539 You know how tired you get when you're working that hard? 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:33.879 And you know when it's out of self-effort, you get more and more and more tired? 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:37.240 Eight years in, I said, I'm done with this thing. 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.740 I'm done. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.980 I can't do this anymore. 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.139 I'm worn out. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:43.519 If I had known it was going to be this, I don't know. 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:47.639 Even though my life was different, I'm worn out, wiped out, tired and afraid. 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:53.619 And then by the grace of God, part of that whole equation for me to understand is that 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:59.399 God sent someone to said, to really reveal to me, it's not about what you do to make him 00:23:59.400 --> 00:23:59.700 happy. 00:23:59.800 --> 00:24:00.140 Guess what? 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.259 He's already happy. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.940 Because Jesus already did all that. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.300 He shed his blood for you. 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.620 You're accepted. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.380 You're a son. 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:11.019 You've got entrance to it anytime you want to come before the throne of grace. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.320 You don't have to earn a thing. 00:24:13.800 --> 00:24:15.160 Jesus earned it for you. 00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:17.840 Now you have to live for him because your heart desires it. 00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:22.200 In matter of fact, he'll give you the desire and he'll give you the power to be faithful 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.580 to him. 00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:24.660 You don't have to conjure it up in your own strength. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:33.380 So my point, the warning that Paul is sharing, I believe, is this. 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:43.640 Is that beware of this concept that you have to do more to be accepted, to be right with 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.980 God, to be close to God. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:50.220 It is man's system. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.740 But guess who's behind that? 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.319 You know what? 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:57.039 We've got a crafty, crafty enemy. 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:02.140 I often think about Revelation 12. 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:04.360 It's this allegory. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:08.740 And at the end of the allegory, 1217, it says this, 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:16.400 And the dragon went off to make war against the offspring, that is those who trust in Jesus 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.240 as Lord and Savior. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:21.000 He went off to make war to people that are already Christians. 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.380 He's at war. 00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:25.480 Is Satan trying to keep people out of the kingdom? 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.059 Absolutely. 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:29.839 Is Satan trying to destroy the lives of those who are in the kingdom? 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.900 Absolutely. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.059 Absolutely. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:38.640 He doesn't want you and I to enjoy the freedom that's been purchased for us. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:41.980 He wants to enslave us. 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.359 How does he do it? 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.039 He's crafty. 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.500 The third warning is this. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:51.859 So you've got, watch out for the expiration date. 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.779 I didn't even finish that. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.620 Can I unwind for a second? 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:55.960 Sorry. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:58.980 I think there's something important I need to share about the expiration date. 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:02.460 Let me just share it and I'll share the third warning here. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:08.039 The expiration date, the whole concept is this, that once the shadow that pointed to Jesus, 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:12.059 Jesus, the object that created the shadow is here, the shadows are obsolete. 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.720 They're done away with. 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:19.200 All of the ceremonial law is obsolete. 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:24.559 Jews, you don't have to obey the ceremonial laws anymore. 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:27.440 They're obsolete because the one that they pointed to is here. 00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.379 He's Jesus. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:32.640 Unfortunately for the Jewish nation, they didn't accept him. 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:34.240 They didn't see him as the Messiah he was. 00:26:34.580 --> 00:26:36.880 It's sad to me, but there are some who have come into the faith. 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:45.080 God has people, Jews, that actually come to understand who Christ is and that he was the Messiah and they trust and believe. 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:52.060 But the challenge is, are you still going to do all those ceremonial things that you had to do or all those traditions that you think are important? 00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:53.380 The answer is, please don't. 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:55.980 Paul is saying, don't listen to them. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:58.980 And he's saying, watch out for the shadows. 00:26:59.060 --> 00:26:59.960 The shadows are gone. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.940 It's obsolete. 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:02.040 And the third one is this. 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.000 Sorry, I had to back up. 00:27:04.020 --> 00:27:08.540 The third warning is this, that lies come in different flavors. 00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:11.960 The lies come in different flavors. 00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:12.580 What do I mean? 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:14.060 Where are the lies coming from? 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.700 They're coming from the father of lies. 00:27:15.780 --> 00:27:16.560 Who is that, Satan? 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:33.339 Satan's very crafty in what he tries to do to trip up his church and make them ineffective, to cause all manner of discord, and to get them running after something that has nothing to do with the honor and glory of God. 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.619 And so what does he do? 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.819 He brings out these things. 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:43.599 If you'll look with me in verse 18, there's those, these false teachers who assist on asceticism. 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.179 What is that? 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:49.279 We need to, in essence, destroy our body because there's nothing good in it. 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:53.620 Cut yourself, do whatever you've got to do to prove to God, look how holy I am. 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.220 Look how committed I am. 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:58.539 I'm going to do these things out of my own self-effort. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:02.380 It's Satan sending the line and us buying into it. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.860 And Paul said, don't listen to those teachers. 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:11.560 I don't care what their suit looks like and how nice the clothes they wear and how educated they are. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:13.160 Don't listen to the lie. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.779 But there's more here. 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:24.539 It's these, the worship of angels that's going in detail about visions as if, man, you won't believe the vision I had. 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:28.019 Man, I must, he must love me more. 00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.700 I must be close. 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:30.960 I must be honored more because look what, look what I had. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.340 You know, it's a puff up thing. 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:35.899 It's pride. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:39.079 This sensuous mind. 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:53.359 Satan uses all manner of religions to keep people from understanding and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:56.639 Isn't it odd that he would use religions for that? 00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:05.940 How many religions are you aware of that lead people astray down a road that doesn't lead to salvation? 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:10.660 He's going to use that in the world as widely as he can. 00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:17.040 And Paul is saying to the church, don't buy into these lies. 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.360 Yeah, it looks like this or it looks like this. 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.840 It looks like this or it looks like that. 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.779 All of them are lies. 00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:24.539 They're different flavors for different days. 00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:25.720 Don't believe any of them. 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.980 Listen to what we shared earlier. 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:33.539 The point that he made and now the conclusions he's made. 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.139 What was the point? 00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:36.659 Jesus did it all for you. 00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:39.859 You don't have to add anything to that. 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:45.139 And then in verse 19, the fourth one, don't stunt your growth. 00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:49.199 Four warnings. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.740 The fourth is don't stunt your growth. 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.240 What do I mean? 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.819 Well, look with me at verse 19. 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.880 He's encouraging them. 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:05.859 He's warning them, really, about not holding fast to the head. 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.960 What does that mean? 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.200 Who is the head? 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.200 It's Jesus. 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:13.700 And how is it that we don't hold fast? 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:17.759 That we don't keep our eyes fixed on the author and perfect of our faith, Jesus? 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:27.619 How is it that we think that there's some other thing that we can do to grow spiritually, to grow closer to God? 00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.740 Let me ask you a question. 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.420 What do you think it is? 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:37.720 What are the tricks that the enemy might use in your life to keep you from growing closer to the Lord? 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:40.100 Let me just say this. 00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:43.799 The growth, the true growth of the church comes from the Lord. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:47.079 It says it, doesn't it? 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:53.940 He says, warning to the Colossian church, I'm warning you not to hold on to anything. 00:30:53.940 --> 00:30:56.640 Don't let go of Jesus. 00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:58.120 Don't let go of that. 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:02.660 The whole body is nourished by Jesus. 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:07.059 The whole body is linked together and unified by Jesus. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:14.640 Don't be distracted to go chase after something else thinking that's going to help you to grow closer to God. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:15.960 It's not. 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:19.039 So let me do this. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:22.299 Let me bring this home to us. 00:31:24.639 --> 00:31:29.399 How is it that we're going to spiritually grow as an individual and as a church? 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:31.379 What is it that's going to yield growth? 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.940 Human effort and activity? 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:43.460 Going to do something good in the community? 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.619 Is that honorable? 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.019 Yes. 00:31:47.159 --> 00:31:48.500 Does God sometimes send us to do that? 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:48.759 Yes. 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:51.240 Does it elevate your status with God? 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.400 Not at all. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:57.879 How is it that we're going to grow spiritually? 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.539 Let me ask a question. 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:02.819 Do you feel like that there is growth going on in your life? 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.660 I would share this. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:09.740 The word of God is living and active, sharpening a two-edged sword, 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:12.379 pierces to the dividing center of soul and spirit and joints and marrow. 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:18.500 It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.900 It says, you know where we're going to grow? 00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:21.180 It's the very words of God. 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:30.000 If you want to grow, I'll tell you the thing that I would encourage you to do more than anything else is read and read and read and read and read. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:35.059 And even if you don't understand it, all of the depth of it, read it anyway. 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:43.440 And you know what happens over time is the Holy Spirit exposes the understanding of the word and the living word, it gives life. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:45.960 Christ says, I'm the bread of life. 00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.640 He's the word of God. 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.860 How are we going to grow spiritually? 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:52.820 By feasting on the word of God. 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:56.039 Why do we devote ourselves to preaching the word of God? 00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:57.580 Because it's food for us. 00:32:57.660 --> 00:33:00.059 It's a source of growth and maturity. 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.580 You know what? 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:06.000 You can't ever spend too much time in the word in this respect. 00:33:06.320 --> 00:33:08.059 It'll never return void. 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:17.480 If you chase hard after God through reading his word and listen to the Lord as you read the word, isn't that what the Holy Spirit does? 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.519 It makes it come alive. 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.919 It's as if God's speaking to us. 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:23.179 That's the growth individually. 00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.799 But you know it's the growth of the church too. 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:28.679 The growth of the church is through Christ and his word. 00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:32.839 Verse 20. 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.319 Here's the question. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:43.119 And so four warnings, don't let false teachers take you down this road that locks you up in slavery. 00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.740 And then the question is this. 00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:47.379 Why do you submit to regulations? 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:50.019 You see it in verse 20? 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:57.519 Paul said, if in Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, these worldly living, worldly ways, 00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.659 why? 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:02.019 As if you were still alive in the world, it's still a worldly one. 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:10.579 Why is it that you submit to regulations? 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:14.179 Such as you can't handle that. 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.360 You don't taste that. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.280 Don't touch that. 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:23.759 Again, in the context of what he's sharing, he's asking this question. 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:25.720 Why do you submit? 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:36.280 You're allowing yourself to be under the authority of these lies, these teachers that are telling you stuff that don't honor God and don't help you grow. 00:34:37.560 --> 00:34:39.520 Why do you submit to regulations? 00:34:40.660 --> 00:34:43.020 According to human precepts and teaching. 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:46.660 They appear on the outside as having some wisdom. 00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:48.379 You look at verse 23. 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.659 They have the appearance of wisdom. 00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:56.359 But they're driven by man. 00:34:58.379 --> 00:35:00.379 So I want to close with this. 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:03.759 I want to focus your attention on this. 00:35:03.899 --> 00:35:05.679 Let no one pass judgment on you. 00:35:06.759 --> 00:35:09.319 How is it that people can pass judgment on you anyway? 00:35:09.320 --> 00:35:16.039 The judge of all, God, the judge of all, has already accepted you. 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:19.200 He's accepted you in Christ based on what Christ has done. 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:22.480 Don't let anyone pass judgment on you. 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:26.440 It's like Paul saying, don't be caught up with what they're telling you you've got to do. 00:35:27.160 --> 00:35:29.400 Don't be tricked by their methods. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:31.400 Let no one disqualify you. 00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:32.360 Let me ask this question. 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:36.220 If you're in the kingdom, can you be disqualified from Christianity? 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:38.920 Can you be disqualified from salvation? 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:41.500 No one can disqualify you. 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:45.860 God has already, I mean, Christ has already died for you. 00:35:46.080 --> 00:35:47.000 You're a child. 00:35:47.120 --> 00:35:47.760 You're an heir. 00:35:48.140 --> 00:35:49.480 You're called by his name. 00:35:49.600 --> 00:35:50.740 You're destined for heaven. 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:51.660 You're one of his. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.400 Who's going to disqualify you from that? 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:55.700 Nobody. 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.340 So what is Paul saying? 00:35:58.740 --> 00:36:00.120 He's saying this. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:08.500 I would word it this way. 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:15.940 So since we are united with Christ, why would we submit to regulations established by men? 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:20.480 Will these things cause us or enable us to be closer to God? 00:36:21.140 --> 00:36:21.460 No. 00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:31.059 We need to know who we are and what was accomplished by Christ for us so that we don't fall prey to the lies of false teachers. 00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:31.820 Amen? 00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:34.300 Let's pray. 00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:46.420 Father, forgive us when we wander astray chasing after good-sounding, plausible arguments. 00:36:46.420 --> 00:37:02.579 Father, we chase after philosophies and human tradition, things that enslave us, things that we feel like we have to do. 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:06.619 Father, forgive us that we fall captive to those things. 00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:14.279 God, I pray that you would give us insight and wisdom to not chase after any of those things, but make you the focus of our heart and our lives. 00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:17.579 God, that you would be preeminent in our lives. 00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:20.799 Father, we would serve you and you alone as Lord. 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:24.019 God, help us to grow. 00:37:24.720 --> 00:37:28.640 Help this body of believers to grow by focusing on your word. 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:34.440 God, I pray that your word would transform us, that our minds would be transformed by your word. 00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:38.860 And that, Father, we present ourselves as living sacrifices to you. 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:40.100 God, we would say, here we are. 00:37:40.560 --> 00:37:41.039 I'm yours. 00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:42.440 Use me however you want to. 00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:45.200 God, I pray that you would teach us from your word. 00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:49.139 Lord, you would open our mind that we might understand the depth of your word. 00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:52.500 And that, Father, we would surrender ourselves to you and your kingdom. 00:37:56.919 --> 00:37:58.879 Father, I pray that you would protect us. 00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:10.599 God, I confess that often we can be enticed by good-sounding arguments. 00:38:10.599 --> 00:38:21.719 Father, I pray that through your spirit you would make us aware of things that are not a part of your word and things that are lies, subtle lies, bold lies. 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:25.639 God, open our eyes to see and we would not walk those roads. 00:38:25.759 --> 00:38:29.299 I pray that we would be focused on you and you alone. 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:33.019 And, God, we give you thanks for what you've done for us, that you've done it all. 00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:38.339 Father, you have, through your Son, caused us to be forgiven. 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:49.320 And, Father, you've reconciled us to yourself, that you've bought us with the blood of our Savior, Jesus, that you're doing a work in our lives to make us holy and blameless before you. 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:52.820 God, we give you thanks that you love us in such a way. 00:38:52.900 --> 00:38:54.180 And we praise you in Christ's name. 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:54.579 Amen.