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INTRODUCTION
From the first week of the Truth Project - What is truth? “Corresponds to reality as perceived by God.” The world, the
flesh and the devil oppose God’s truth and offer lies for us to believe. Sin is a result of believing lies. Salvation and
sanctification are a result of believing truth. Do you believe the truth? Does your life reflect the truth you believe? Bonoeffer:
“Those who believe obey, those who obey believe.”
Tonight’s video is on Philosphy and Ethics. This morning I want to introduce you to Philosophy with Colossians 2:6-10.
What is “philosophy?” = love of wisdom. Anything that has to do with theories about God, the world, and the
meaning of life is called philosophy. Judaism and Christianity are philosophical because make claims about the existence of God,
the nature of reality and give values for life. Great subject.
ILLUS: Dr. Tackett took Philosophy in college at Kansas State University - he sat in the front along the side. I went to NWC and
sat in the back in the middle so I wouldn’t be noticed. His was secular/mine Christian. My class was kind of boring - but got
a B. How many of you took a class on Philosophy?
TEXT: Colossians 2:6-10
1. The Seduction of Christ-less Philosophy v. 8
- Paul warns about the philosophies of the world that oppose Christ. This text is written to Christians. It is easy for
us to point to false philosophies that enslave the unsaved, but Christians too can become captive to Christ-less
philosophies.
- The Colossians were being tempted by Christ-less philosophies, including Gnostism, our text gives 4 marks of false
philosophy:
a. Deceptive - “empty deception”
- False philosophies deceive you with high sounding meaningless words, mumbo-jumbo, secret rites. All
false religions.
ILLUS: Mormons: “As God was, man is. As God is, man can become.”
ILLUS: Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse - a joke that he and friends would play - they would stand on a
corner looking at something that isn’t there and argue about what they “saw.”
“It is so. Is not” Then people could gather around looking up also. Eventually they
would walk away and watch the people looking at nothing.
- That is like the false philosophies out there. They are empty promises, empty hope, nothing there. What
a waste of a life - to search in all the wrong places for nothing.
b. Humanistic - “tradition of men”
- Every cult or false theology has its roots in historical error. There are foundational beliefs that are
wrong, thus men build false beliefs.
- Man is the center of their beliefs. Humanism - man centered, man is the measure of all things. Atheism
is religion without God.
- Three most important persons are not Father, Son, Holy Spirit; but me, myself, and I. Watch for
teachers/preachers whose stress the efforts of man, glory in themselves.
c. Demonic - “elementary principles of the world”
- “elemental spirits” cosmic spirits of the universe, really demons.
- Ancients had the sun god, the moon god, the fertility god, etc.
- Today we have astrology, witchcraft, paganism, Goth subculture, the worship of angels, images, worship
of saints. The absurd shows up in our culture, we call evil good and good evil.
- But we also have subtitle gods people worship - materialism, hedonism, sensuality = the worship of
money, sex and power. Any false god is based on doctrines of demons 1 Timothy 4:1
- Satan apparently isn’t very creative - he just recycles old lies. Postmodernism is nothing new
just old lies in new cloths that will rot.
- We in the 21st century middle class, middle Americans can easily fall in false philosophies:
- The world is for our use not our worship. We are in the world but not of the world. Don’t let the
world run and ruin you. Don’t get trapped in the lies of Satan - all sin is believing in lies.
d. Enslaving - “takes you captive”
- We believers, we can be taken captive, be seduced, become prisoners of enemy. Cults have a death like
grip on their followers and few come out. Give up family, finances, faith, freedom.
ILLUS: 1978 - Jonestown - 914 died; 1993 - Waco - David Koresh, - 80 died. Hitler was in the occult
- 6 million + died. Each started in Christianity, but taken captive by Christ-less lies.
- Lies always enslave. Now we may think we are OK, but be careful for we evangelicals have been trapped
too.
ILLUS: Racism, greed (Health/Wealth), politics, false doctrine (Emerging church on the left,
KJV-Only on the right), accepting immorality like ELCA just did.
2. The Superiority of Christ-filled Philosophy vs. 9-10, 6-7
- Christianity gives freedom. John 8:31-32 - Truth will set you free.
a. In Christ is the fullness of Deity in human form v. 9
- There is a fullness in Christ suited for empty, destitute human soul.
- All the fullness of the Godhead - power, presence - permanently resides in the very body of Jesus.
Through the incarnation, all of the Godhead took up bodily residence. In Christ we see the face of God.
- Bible Knowledge: The GK word for “Deity” is a strong word used
only here in the NT for Christ’s essence as God. The full Deity of God resides in the full
humanity of Christ. Both Christ’s deity and humanity were challenged by Gnostic heresy, like all
false beliefs take something away from Christ’s fullness. Paul affirmed here that Christ is both
fully God and truly man. So did John - 1 John 4:1-4.
b. In Christ we are given fullness. v. 10a “made complete” NASB NIV “you have been given
fullness in Christ.” The Colossians lacked nothing outside of Christ; in Him they had everything
they needed.
- Bible Knowledge: Only in Christ can one have fullness. Apart from Him is emptiness. In
Christ we have a full life, abundant and eternal.
- The Christian’s fullness of life comes from Christ’s fullness. We partake of the divine
nature through Christ for “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon
grace” John 1:16.
- This, of course, does not mean believers become God, but simply that we share in Him fully. Christ can
hold all the fullness of Deity, we cannot. But we can be full of His fullness.
ILLUS: Take a quart jar to South Skunk, you can never put the fullness of the river into that jar,
but you can fill the fullness of the jar with the river. Likewise, we cannot contain all of God,
but we can be fully filled with Him. Psalm 23:5, “my cup overflows.”
c. In Christ is all power and authority. v. 10b
- Christ is the head of all the angelic rulers, and it is absurd to worship anything less than Him.
Everything is subject to Christ: Creation, mankind, angels, even the devil and his demons. Christ has
the final say over everyone and everything.
ILLUS: Psalm 2 - “laughs” at the plans of man.
d. Receive Christ. v. 6
- Begin a relationship with Christ, recall your new birth. Invite Him not only as Savior but Lord -
really can’t divide the two spheres.
ILLUS: The Journey by Billy Graham p. 54-55. Some come suddenly like Apostle Paul,
some come slowly like Apostle Peter - but do come and be certain. 2 Cor. 6:2
- Look in the right place the Bible and find Christ.
e. Walk in Christ. v. 6, 7
- Live your life patterned after Him. Obey Him.
- v. 7 Thus you are firmly rooted (past). You will not be swayed by the winds of false doctrines
of demons, rather you be built up (present). Your spiritual life will be progressing forward to
maturity.
- Strengthening in your faith as you were taught, living a life of thanksgiving. We practice what we
preach, live what we believe.
APPLICATION Philosophy is the love of wisdom.
- The Bible is the book of wisdom. Even have books called wisdom literature: Job, parts of Psalm, Proverbs, Eccl., Song
of Solomon, James. 372 x’s Bible.
- Christ is the personification of wisdom, you can read Proverbs and in many places substitute “Christ” for
“wisdom.” Col. 1:28; 2:3;
- God gives us wisdom personally - James 1:5
- Christianity is a philosophy. The specific Christian philosophical system we are a part of is: the orthodox,
conservative, baptistic, evangelicals. We are not liberal or charismatic. But each individual personalizes philosophy
by your own beliefs that determine how you think, what you say, and what you do, and how you feel. What is your
philosophy in practical experience?
Last week I stressed know what you believe, this week I stressed live what you say you believe. If you believe Jesus saves. Bible
is true. Repent/Forgiveness. Obedience. Victory in Jesus over temptation. Avoid false. Jesus is coming.
September: new TV Season, we shift to school schedule at FBC - Now is a good time to make adjustments in your life, another step to
maturity.
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