What Is A Christian To Do? Series

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN TO DO?

Colossians 2:13-3:2

INTRODUCTION:

A. Life in this country can be pretty confusing, let me illustrate:

1. Try Shopping for health care? Read about ObamaCare? What does it all mean?

2. Listen to the news. One moment the President is godlike, the next he is Satan’s right hand man – in the liberal press!

3. Are we are in a recession – not in a recession, we are coming out of a recession, we are going to be in a recession for a number of years more. Which is it?

4. Gas prices were high because the price of oil was high in a bad enonomy: yet oil prices go down and the price goes up (that is because the economy is getting better, so we are told) and no matter which, the oil companies are making a fortune!

5. Talk about confusing.

B. It would also seem that it is confusing to be a Christian, as well.

1. So many different denominations – different beliefs, which is right?

2. Should we worship on Saturday, Sunday or any other day of the week?

3. Should a Christian drink, or not drink, or drink just a little?

4. Baptism: by submersion or sprinkling or necessary at all?

5. Do we build a pretty ornate building or a functional building?

6. Music: Organ or piano or both: guitars and drums, or complete orchestra?

7. Do we live with little or much – does it matter?

8. So much, so many; What is a Christian to do?

C. I must confess, I have my opinions on the first list of confusing issues in our country, but no real concrete answers or fixes.

1. The second list, however can be researched and answers given

2. The problem here is that often, rather than biblical answers, we find religious ones.

3. And as you know religious answers can often be diametrically apposed to the biblical ones as seen in the life of the Pharisees which Jesus encountered in His day.

4. As we look into the scriptures this morning we will see Paul helping the Christians at Colosse know what is the right thing to do.

5. Paul has already told them,

a. They are complete in Christ, in verse 10

b. And then follows this up with these words found in Col. 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

6. This leads to his exhortation for this morning and can be broken down into two parts:

a. Don’ts - of which there are three

b. Dos - of which there are two

7. May God remove the confusion and show us how to live for him.

PRAY

This morning, in trying to help us answer the question, “What is a Christian to do?” we will being by bring up, what some would call the negative side first. We begin with

I. DON’T, Col 2:16-23

A. Most people do not like Don’ts.

1. They believe it is an attempt to keep them from doing something that they want to do – thinking it is good for them or will provide them with some pleasure.

- Classic example: Eve’s partaking of the fruit God had said don’t do.

2. But as you will see, and I like this, the don’ts of which Paul speaks to are actually providing freedom – Paul is telling these young Christians not to let others coerce them into doing something that is not necessary.

3. He said as much to the Galatians, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

B. So What Are These Don’ts?

1. First, Don’t Live in Legalism - Col. 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

a. Two areas are mentioned: Diet & Days

1) Possibly the dietary laws of Judaism, yet remember Paul told Timothy …every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 1 Tim. 4:4

2) Days: Special days, speaking directly to the day of worship and festivals of worship

b. The errorists were trying to say that these things had to be done if you wanted to be spiritual.