Aug. 08, 2021

“ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR LIFE?”

“LET NO ONE ENSLAVE YOU”

COLOSSIANS 2:20-23

What are you bound to?

Colossians 2:20-23 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Two Key Questions:

1.   What In The World Are You Doing?

Do you understand who you are in Jesus Christ?

Paul reminds us as believers “we are dead with Christ” vs.20

Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

If you know Christ as your Savior you are dead with Him.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

We live because of Christ!!

Colossians 2:20 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations”

“Basic principles”- rudiments or elements, the basics, the fundamentals.

“Of the world”- not of God, if you are dead in Christ why would you measure spirituality by mans standards?

Galatians 4:3 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.”

The elements of this world enslave men.

Galatians 4:4-5

Galatians 4:9-11

God saved us from the things of the world.

Colossians 2:20 “why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations”

“regulations”

Colossians 2:21-22 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 

1 Timothy 4:3 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Mark 7:5-9,13,15-16

If you take care of the heart, then it will take care of what’s going on, on the outside.

Matthew 23:25-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [l]self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Galatians 3:24-25 “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

The source and the end of these commands:

Colossians 2:22 “which all concern things which perish with the using.”

What do you think you are doing? 1st question

2.   Who Do You Think You Are Kidding?

Colossians 2:22-23 “Which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Looks good, sounds good but it’s not going to take care of the problem you have with your flesh.

John 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

False standards can never satisfy our problem.

Colossians 2:22 “they perish with the using.”

The real issue is “self-imposed religion” or “will worship” vs.23

You did it, not God.

Isaiah 14:12-14

There is only one way to measure your spiritual condition:

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

The way you measure- Is there any fruit in your life?

Is there a change in your personality?

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Romans 1:13 “Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.”

Romans 6:21-22 “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Romans 7:4 “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.”

“fruit”

Does the spirit of God flow through your life to touch the lives of others, are you bearing fruit?

What in the world are you doing?

Who do you think you are kidding?

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” 

Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Walk in freedom not slavery.