TRUTH IS ONLY IN CHRIST TRUTH IS ONLY

TRUTH IS ONLY IN CHRIST

TRUTH IS ONLY IN CHRIST TEXT: COL 2: 1 -23 OBJECTIVE: To learn about the false doctrine that the Colossian church struggled with, and to see that Christ is the only truth OUTLINE: (1) Christ is the answer to human philosophy (2: 1 -10) (2) Christ is the fulfillment of Judaism (2: 11 -17) Christ is the truth, not Gnosticism (2: 18 -23) (3)

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE WHEN A PROBLEM ARISES IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH THEN AND THERE

IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THEIR WERE 2 THREATS TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THE WORLD OF JEWISH THOUGHT AND BELIEF THE WORLD OF GREEK THOUGHT ANDBELIEF

CHRIST IS THE ANSWER TO HUMAN PHILOSOPHY (2: 1 -10) Paul’s reasons why the Colossians should not worry about these false doctrines {1} In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2: 3) {2} In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily (2: 9) {3} We are complete in Him who is the head of all principalities and power (2: 10) v Thus the teachings and philosophies of man had nothing to offer. CHRIST IS THE ANSWER! Ø

CHRIST IS THE FULFILLMENT OF JUDAISM (2: 11 -17) The Jewish threat was two fold {1} The Jews always considered themselves the chosen people {2} Judaism was based on works The Rabbis had a saying “a man should think of himself and his fate as being in the balance. Let him do one good work more, and he would win the approval of God; let him do one work less and he would be condemned. ” Ø

CHRIST IS THE FULFILLMENT OF JUDAISM (2: 11 -17) Ø � � � Paul in this epistle taught that physical circumcision doesn’t matter any more. It was a spiritual circumcision Old Law (Gen 17: 10) New Law (Col 2: 11, Rom 2: 28 -29, Gal 5: 6, 6: 15) The new circumcision (2: 11 -13)

CHRIST IS THE FULFILLMENT OF JUDAISM (2: 11 -17) Paul in the epistle taught that the OT had been fulfilled by Christ. He used 3 statements to tell us that in (2: 14) {1} “Having wiped out” {2} “taken out of the way” {3} “nailed it to the cross” Ø v NO ONE WAS TO BIND ON THE COLOSSIAN BRETHREN THE OLD TESTAMENT. JESUS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF JUDAISM

CRIST IS THE TRUTH, NOT GNOSTICISM (2: 18 -23) Ø The Greek threat- The body was completely evil and the cause of all sin Plato Epictetus

CHRIST IS THE TRUTH, NOT GNOSTICISM (2: 18 -23) Ø � � The false teaching in Colossi It was a beguiling seduction (2: 4) It was something that could be called philosophy rather than religion (2: 8) It was based on human tradition (2: 8) It turned religion into a thing of rules and regulations (2: 16, 20)

CHRIST IS THE TRUTH, NOT GNOSTICISM (2: 18 -23) Ø � � The false teaching in Colossi It issued the observance of special days, times, festivals, feast days, new moons, Sabbaths (2: 16) It issued a self abasement and severity of the body (2: 23) Insistence on circumcision (2: 11) The false worship there involved the worship of angels (2: 18)

CHRIST IS THE TRUTH, NOT GNOSTICISM (2: 18 -23) Gnosticism- The belief that the spirit is holy and that flesh and matter is evil This belief had far reaching effects on Christianity {1} It made it impossible to believe in the incarnation {2} Limited incarnation- The Spirit of Jesus descended into the man Jesus and left Him again before He was crucified Ø

{3} Denial of the full deity of Jesus {4} Asceticism and contempt of the body became a badge of honor in the church {5} Gnosticism effected the fellowship of the church

Ø � � Paul’s answer to this He stated the Gospel in all its glory and splendor The preeminence of Jesus

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME? Ø Ø � � We should have a love and concern for our brethren, regardless of their location (2: 1) We should always be on guard against false doctrine (2: 4, 8, 18) Paul warned them lest they be deceived, cheated, or defrauded by false teachers Jesus warns us of this (Mat 24: 4, 16: 6, 7: 15)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME? Ø We need to be careful of how we worship (2: 23) � Paul spoke of “will worship” The different kinds of worship Vain worship (Mat 15: 9) Ignorant worship (Acts 17: 23) Will worship (Col 2: 23) True worship (Jhn 4: 24) � a. b. c. d.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME? Ø Ø � � � � Baptism is a burial (2: 12) Baptism is essential (2: 11 -13) It: Saves us (Mrk 16: 15 -16, 1 Pet 3: 21) Remits us (Acts 2: 38) It is a command of God (Acts 10: 47 -48) It washes away sin (Acts 22: 16) It put us into Christ (Gal 3: 26 -27) Puts us in contact with the blood of Christ (Rom 6: 3) It put us into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12: 13)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME? Several current religious errors are refuted in this chapter {1} The Jehovah Witnesses concept of Jesus being less than Deity (2: 9 -10) {2} The belief that baptism is not essential Ø (2: 11 -13) {3} The Adventist position that the Sabbath day is still observed (2: 14 -17) {4} Catholicism’s view of worshiping God through the saints (2: 20 -23)

WHAT IS TRUTH? The truth will set you free (Jhn 8: 32) What is truth? (Jhn 17: 17, 14: 6) False doctrine never needs to be avoided or swept under the rug, instead it should be identified, confronted, and refuted as did Paul in Colossians 2