Joy Stealers (Part 2) Series

Above All: A Study in Colossians

Col 2:18-23

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

Cubbie Dog

When I first moved to Illinois, a friend offered to take me to a Cubs game. I explained that I’m not really a baseball fan. He said, “It’s not just baseball, it's Wrigley Field.” After experiencing a game at Wrigley, I understood what he was talking about.

Before the game, we went across the street and got “cubbie dogs.” I made the mistake of asking where the ketchup was. I thought my friend was going to have a stroke.

Here is the official way to top a cubbie dog: Place each hot dog in a bun and top with the following: 2 tomato wedges, 1 Tbsp. onion, 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard, 1 Tbsp. relish, a couple peppers, one dill pickle spear and a dash of celery salt.

I just wanted ketchup. That’s what goes on a hot dog. I didn’t want a pickle spear. I didn’t want lobster. Just ketchup.

Sometimes we make things that should be very simple way too complicated.

At camp, I was in the boy’s cabin for nightly devos. One of the boys started talking about the fact that he was scared he was good enough to get into heaven. One of the other boys responded, “You’re not! That’s why Jesus died for you!”

The Gospel is simple - Jesus plus nothing equals everything! But many people try to add to this formula and end up with a different Gospel altogether.

Turn with me to Colossians 2:16.

Prayer.

Review

Last month, we began the study of these verses by looking at v. 16-17.

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (v. 16-17) 

Paul first addresses the danger of legalism. He states emphatically that we are not to let anyone judge us, particularly in the areas of our diet and days of worship.

Why ? Because these dietary rules and religious days were just a shadow of things to come. They were not the real thing. The real thing, the substance, is found only in Christ.

The writer of Hebrews says it this way:

“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.” (Hebrews 10:1)

Legalism looks inward to the self. Did I do enough? Did I do more than you? But it’s not about what we do, but what Jesus has done. We are complete in Christ.

Legalism focus on the faults of others. These people are finger pointers, sin sniffers (Skip Heitzig), fault finders.

Legalism is contagious. It spreads like a virus.

Legalism makes us narrow and divisive. Everyone has to look like me. God never calls us to uniformity. He calls us to unity in the midst of diversity. Concert

Legalism is joyless and leads to anger and arrogance.

Buck Parson has shared these wise words:

“The ironic thing about legalism is that it doesn't make us want to work harder, it makes us want to give up.”

Legalism produces a shallow faith that is obsessed with secondary matters.

Chuck Swindoll has written:

“Nothing will keep a Christian more immature than keeping a list.”

Paul then turns to the second danger - mysticism.

Mysticism  

“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. (v. 18-19)

The Colossian Christians were not to let these false teachers steal their joy by imposing external rules on their faith.  

They were also to be on their guard for those who would want to disqualify them from the prize.  

The word disqualify is the word picture of an umpire throwing a player out of the game.  [Think red card in soccer]  

They are not be be taken captive, or allow others to judge them, or allow others to set themselves up as judge and jury over their spiritual journeys. 

The false teachers are taking advantage of something that was already happening in the Lycus Valley.  People there would often times call on angels for protection, for success in business, for or the destruction of their enemies. 

These false teachers were imposing or insisting on the worship of angels.  They had a false humility that said, “We are too humble to approach God so we worship His intermediaries - angels.”  

But in Hebrews 1-2, the writer clearly portrays Jesus as over the angelic beings and Paul tells Timothy:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (I Tim 2:5-6)