Sermon Extras

Colossians 2:6-23 “Jesus + Nothing = Everything”

Review> When we started this letter a number of weeks back we said that there are 3 primary thrusts to the letter: 1) The Supremacy of Jesus and 2) The Sufficiency of Jesus. Paul is well into the body of this letter now.

ILL> When Courtnee and I lived in Saint Louis and I was a student pastor we would bring the kids down to Doniphan once a year for what we called, “The Boys and Girls Weekend” we would float down current river. My Dad pastored a church in doniphan at the time and he would provide us with some volunteers. I would always have one guy who grew up there give a speech before we floated. He would always say “Watch out, there are a lot of trees and things that can take you under. The moment you don’t respect the river, it won’t respect you.”

CONTEXT> Paul is saying that, like current river, there are things that can take us under and take us out as Christians. He says that we need to watch out three specific times:

• v8 “ See that no one takes you captive…”
• v16 “let no one pass judgment on you…”
• v18 “let no one disqualify you…”

APP> The surprising thing is, they aren’t outside the church, they are inside the church. You see, these false teachers weren’t saying, “Reject Jesus or die!” Not at all, they are doing something far more subtle and dangerous and it’s something that we are in danger of today…. APP> Jesus + __________ = Everything

APP> Jesus + Something = Nothing

Big Idea > Jesus + Nothing = Everything

APP> Paul shows us 4 things in todays text that people try to add to Jesus. I believe that this is a relevant message to us today, ask yourself, “Do I struggle with this?”

• Jesus + Wisdom = Philosophy v8
  • v8 “ takes you captive by philosophy…” The word that Paul uses here for philosophy is φιλοσοφία (filosofia) ‘philosophy’ is the only time that it’s used in the entire NT. It is a junk drawer term meaning “the love of knowledge”.

APP> It’s important to note, is philosophy bad? no?! But adding it on the level with Jesus is.

APP> When a good thing becomes a God thing that’s when it’s a bad thing.

• “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:7

*ILL> Many of you may have heard of the name Jordan Peterson. He wrote a book entitled, “12 Rules for Life” that has sold 5 million copies and he did a book tour reaching 250,000 people in 100 different cities. Its a good book and you should read it but you can read 12 Rules for Life, get your life in order and still die and go to Hell.

• “empty deceit according to human tradition…” that’s the key! That it focuses on self!

APP> The answer to life’s greatest problems are found in Jesus Christ.

2) Jesus + Rules = Legalism. v16

• v16 “…let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath…” Paul is addressing the Jewish people that have come into the church and said, “Yes, Jesus is good BUT you also must keep all of these rules in order to be in!”

APP> Legalism says, “My obedience earns my acceptance with God.”  Again it’s important to note, obedience is a good thing but always notice the order.. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 APP> The lie many Christians believe is, “Grace saved me but my performance keeps me secure.”

APP> Paul’s logic here is that people who fall into this trap begin to “judge” people. Render a verdict based on extra biblical principles. (Etc Don’t have internet at your house, judge people that do)

3) Jesus + Experiences = Mysticism. v18

• v18 “ let no one disqualify you.. inviting on worship of angels, going on in detail about visions…” The phrase disqualify you means to “decide against you..” These false teachers are coming in and saying that certain people haven’t reached maturity because they haven’t experienced certain things.

APP> Mysticism says, “I get closer to God by supernatural experiences” It always chases experience. Paul says that mysticism is made up of two things:

• Spirituality and Sensuality. – We see this in modern day when people rush to read books about some one saying they spent 22 minutes in heaven more than they rush to read their Bibles. False teaching almost ALWAYS is an excuse for sexual sin, always.
• “puffed up” these people are prideful. “Not holding fast to the head” *ILL> Blow up a balloon and let it fly.

4) Jesus + Discipline = Asceticism v23

• v23 “These have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self made religion and asceticism and severity to the body.”

APP> Asceticism says that you can purify the soul by punishing the body. (So the more that i deny my body of any pleasures or anything like that and the more that i try to suffer the holier I am!) but there is a problem, “of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” Denying yourself by focusing on yourself only leaves you with yourself.

Close> So what’s the answer in all of this? Paul tells us right there in verse 6 “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…” How did you receive Jesus? Broken, Dependent , needy, humble… get back to that!

1. Jesus + Wisdom = Philosophy
2. Jesus + Rules = Legalism
3. Jesus + Experiences = Mysticism
4. Jesus + Discipline = Asceticism.

Big Idea > Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Read verses 9-15 at the end of sermon.