Introduction:
Background:
• Charles Quarles: “This false teaching threatened to undermine the supremacy of Christ, rob the church of its peace and joy, and
destroy the unity of the church that had characterized it from the beginning.” Lifeway Study, p. 37
• Chapter 1 focuses on Christ being all we need to believe in. Now as we flow into chapter 2, Paul is going to challenge the church
to remember that Christ is all we need to stand for/fight for.
• We are reminded in chapter 2 of a sobering wakeup call to the church. The true church of Jesus Christ will always be at war until
the return of Christ. Our enemy the devil will never stop trying to knock the church off her Foundation (Jesus Christ). His attack is
aimed at destroying Christ’s preeminence, the Gospel, and a Christian’s personal walk with Christ.
• Ill: Marcus Luttrell, “Lone Survivor” – 1 navy seal survived a brutal attack in the mountains of Afghanistan; loosing 16 seals and
rangers in the mission. After letting three shepherd go, the mission was compromised, and anywhere from 20-30 Taliban
surrounded the men with a full assault. Satan is no less vicious!
How does the enemy tries to destroy your freedom?
I. Christ is All You Need To Believe In.
II. Christ is All You Need to Stand For. (key verse – 1:7)
A. The enemy seeks to deceive us. (2:4-5)
a. Paul’s shows concern: Whether it is one person or more than one, it would seem that Paul is addressing those who are
bad mouthing Paul’s care and concern for the church at Colosse. He wants them to know that no matter what is being
said about him, his prayers (1:3), and spirit (2:5) is with them.
i. Satan is a master at deceptive communications, it is his signature! Gen. 3
b. Paul’s shows confidence: By what Paul has heard about these Christians, they have not just laid down to these false
teachers. By the military language used by Paul, it would seem that this church was standing firm together.
i. “good order/taxis” refers to a line of soldiers waiting to fight.
ii. “stability/stereoma” refers to strength of a formation of soldiers.
c. Application: Ill: The deception was an attempt to disconnect this church from Christ, the gospel, and even her Godly
leaders. When Christians think that they do not need a pastor, or minister, or teacher…they are being deceived by
Satan.
B. The enemy seeks to kidnap us. (2:8)
• “cheat” is a word that is better translated “Kidnapped” “carried off as a captive of war. Ill: Washington Post article that a
recent poll suggest 2.5% or 6 million people admit that they have been kidnapped by aliens. Over 800,000 children go
missing in US each year; and millions around the world.
• Taken captive by philosophy (love wisdom) and “false promises” that are based on the traditions and principles of the
world. In other words, “man made religion”.
• These “new teachings” promise to free a person, but in reality Paul states that they will carry a person off as a slave, in
bondage.
• The Gospel message is one that frees men from bondage. John 8:36 – “If the Son has set you free, then you are truly
free.” Gal. 5:1
C. The enemy seeks to judge us. (2:16-17;20-23)
a. Legalism: to measure one’s spiritual standing by following the laws of men. Paul may have had one person in mind you
had come into the church and was comparing the church’s behavior with that of Jewish laws and rituals. ILL: Ex. The
law of the rabbis forbade someone from checking their clothes for fleas on the Sabbath.
i. Adhering to laws makes a person content in his self-righteousness. Out standard is not a set of laws, but rather
Jesus Christ.
b. Asceticism: self-denial of pleasures or activities for the purpose of getting more spiritual. It was not done for draw closer
to Christ as much as to bring attention to themselves. ILL: Middle Ages monks who buried themselves as a vegetable,
stood on pillars for years, mutilated their bodies, or deprived themselves of food or sleep; usually this did not give them
any more knowledge about God, but thousands flocked to hear them speak.
c. Application: Jesus directly spoke against the Pharisees for this very thing. Using the law to pull people down, but to
exalt themselves. To the false teachers, experience and rituals are two key components of true fullness with God; when
in reality, the fullness rest in Christ alone (1:19). Verse 17, the law is a shadow, Christ is the substance!
D. The enemy seeks to disqualify us. (2:18-19)
• To “disqualify” means to rule one illegal because of certain rules broken. Well, we can see that the broken rules were
rules made by men. “You can’t speak in tongues”; “You don’t see angels or visions”; “There are others ways for
knowledge that you have not found”….
• The bases for men to impose their religious values on others is pride masked in humility (23).
• Paul wants his people to realize that the disqualification is two-fold, those who say you have not arrived yet, and those
who when follow the false teachers, disqualify themselves from true freedom in Christ.
• When we seek to experience God in other ways apart from His Word (self focus/rules; angels and spirits; worldly
knowledge), then we cannot stand firm.
Conclusion: Ill: Advice, cut off the snakes head to make sure he is dead.
• Verse 19: The enemy seeks to cut the church from the head, who is Christ. The church is a marked target by the enemy, it is no
time to relax. In reality, it is the serpent whose head has been cut off (Gen. 3:15).
• The enemy, seeks to substitute religion with relationship. Satan wants you to come to church every week if that is what it will take
to give you a false confidence that your attendance is proof of your growth as a Christ.
• Every Christian has the responsibility to hold fast to Christ.
• Each Christian when linked with Christ and Church, will receive essential nourishment to grow.
• The church is a marked target, stand firm on Christ & His Word alone.
