Convinced Otherwise?

Last week we looked at the arguably the most beautiful doctrine in all of Scripture - Forgiveness. 

This week’s message was about not being convinced otherwise. We are saved through faith in Christ alone. There is nothing else. Many would try to convince you otherwise. Don’t listen to them. 

Colossians 2:16-19 is the passage we looked at this week:

1. Judgement?

We need to understand judgment right. The word here is krino - to judge

It means - to make a judgment based on the correctness or value of something - to evaluate. To assess. 

All too often, we look at verses like

Matthew 7:1   James 4:12 –    Romans 14:4   1 Corinthians 4:5 

On the surface, these would seem to present a pretty compelling case against judging others, right?

But we have this as well: 1 Corinthians 5:12-13  (The mean-spirited judge black robe  - declaring GUILTY!)

To make an assessment of a brother in Christ isn’t necessarily wrong - if it’s done with the right attitude and the right motive.

• You can’t just be indifferent to sin in a brother’s life

TIf someone is standing in the street in the bus lane, is it judgmental to say to them -”That’s not a good place to stand...?”

You need to read the entire passage

Matthew 7:1-5 ...You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 

It’s pretty simple. You have to have the right motive.

• Their sanctification must be the motive. 

We also have the tendency to spot the things in others that we struggle with ourselves. 

The other idea here is that of cleaning a speck out of someone’s eye - If you have a speck in your eye, are you going to the rough, uncaring person or the one that’s gentle and careful?

Hebrews 10:24 – stir up one another to love and good works

The judging in this passage is an intimidation kind of thing. 

• The remedy to being dragged away by false doctrine and “ear tickling” teaching is to be growing. 

To be growing, you must be hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture. 

The idea here in this passage is that 

• We should not let anyone impose on us some sort of spiritual growth plan or formula that isn’t centered around Christ.

Category: Legalism

He gives us some specific ways that this happens with these people.

• Legalism is the religion of human achievement. 

• It’s primary argument is Jesus+

• The measure of spirituality becomes conformity to manmade rules

The problem with Legalism – it’s super deceptive - you can be inwardly rebellious and disobedient and as long as you appear to be conformed to the rules/code/standard...

You can be lost, but as long as you appear to be conformed to the code... you’re good.

Remember - it’s always been about the heart.

• Those things (the good works) are the result, not the cause. 

The false teachers had a checklist. 

• Diet (Food and Drink):

The dietary laws of the Old Testament aren’t in effect for a believer.

• Festival

Passover, Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Lights (they’re no longer necessary)

• New moon 

The first day of the month (the New Moon) sacrifices were offered (Numbers 28:11-14)

• Sabbath

Jews had to worship on the Sabbath. 

These things are a “shadow of the things to come.

2. Substance & Shadows

• A shadow - isn’t real. 

It would be crazy to try and take hold of a shadow.

• Fulfillment is the “world” that we live in. 

Advertising - you’ll be better, stronger, cooler, more hip if you buy our product. 

• You’ll be more fulfilled if __________ 

This is the way of American culture that we all live in.

• Instead of focusing on, submitting to, and being conformed by Christ - we sometimes look to checklists.

But it’s not about the list - even when it’s there. It’s about Christ!

The Christ-focused person says:

• I’d rather read my Bible because here is where I find substance. 

It’s not the shadow - it’s the real thing

Why would I look at the shadow when the real thing is right there?

The world can entertain me, but ultimately that’s empty.

In the pages of Scripture I meet Christ and learn more about Him. And that is better than TV, not so that I can “check it off,” but because the deepest desire, the more intense longing of my heart is to know Him better.

This checklist is a shadow. 

3. Disqualification Scenario

If you seek the checklist things, if you fall into their trap, you become, in a way disqualified.

• Mysticism

Definition - the pursuit of a deeper or higher subjective religious experience. 

It looks for 

• feelings, intuition, and other internal sensations 

OVER

objective, observable, external data.

With mysticism, the final authority comes from within. It’s “Jesus+” more “+” than Jesus really. 

• Asceticism - humility that is false. (they were delighting in it - it was really pride in disguise)

“I am the most humble person I know”  It wasn’t a character in Dickens’ David Copperfield that first said that.

• Worship of Angels - denying that there is one mediator (1 Tim 2:5)

Praying to anyone other than God falls into this category.

Here’s the irony - these guys want to disqualify you if you don’t adhere to their system.

Their Jesus+ system. If you don’t, then in their eyes, you’re not qualified. 

BUT - if you do submit to their system - that’s the disqualifer - that’s the thing that will pull you away from Christ faster than anything. I’m not saying you’ll lose your salvation. 

You won’t get what you’re seeking (which is what they’re offering)

• It’s a whole different map - it CANNOT get you there. 

BUT - if you ignore that - and focus on Christ - you’ll get actually more than what they’re offering.

You’ll get the substance - the real thing. 

Any “checklist” religion - is going to lead to pride not humility.

• If you can accomplish these “things,” then you have something to brag about

BUT:

• If you have accomplished nothing - (and HE has accomplished it all)

You have nothing to brag about, – only thanksgiving!

You didn’t choose Him - HE CHOSE YOU!!!! 

4. Hold On

Hold on to Christ for dear life.Because that’s the only thing you can do.

He’s the only help you’ll find. He’s the rope that drops to rescue you when the ledge you’re on is about to crumble away and the only thing you can do is hold on. 

• The false teacher does not hold fast to Christ

5. It’s still about Christ

• Remember: Christianity is about Christ

Spiritual growth is from God. It is focused on Christ.

Ephesians 4:15-16 - the body growing

Here in Colossians we see the individual growing

The Head is Christ, right?

It’s all about connection to Christ. 

• Our strength and growth come from Him. 

• Remember to constantly ask yourself - do I look more like Jesus Christ than I did a month ago? Six? A year ago?

Doing all of this correctly leads to 

6. Growth (Abide)

It means: To continue,  to remain, to stay. It’s a present - active verb, meaning It’s a continual ongoing thing.

If you really want to understand abide - read 1 John all the way through in one sitting. 

Make note of the word “abide” when it comes up (it comes up 23 times in 1 John)

• Focused on Him

in your words: Matthew 12:34 - the overflow the heart the mouth speaks. 

In your thinking 1 Corinthians 2:16 - we have the mind of Christ

Your actions Philippians 1:27 - your manner of life will be worthy of the gospel

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 

• What would it look like if, for one entire week, you put other people’s interests, needs, and desires above your own? Really thinking through that constantly?

   • At work 

   • At home

   • At church 

What would that look like? This is both a question and a challenge...

• How will you ensure that this week, you’ll look at what Jesus did for you?

Instead of looking at what you have done for Him, which is easy to do.

• How will you be saturated in Scripture?

Charles Spurgeon said “if you cut me, I want to bleed Bible...” 

Read all the way through Colossians every day this Month. Every day - sit down - 15-20 minutes. (Can’t find 20 minutes to read the Bible? Hmm...)

Next month, start reading 1 John - focus on abiding in Him.

• How will you abide in Christ this week?