Spiritual Diversions. Col. 2:13-14 …He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, [14] having canceled out the certificate

Spiritual DiversionsSpiritual Diversions

Col. 2:13-14Col. 2:13-14

……He made you He made you alivealive together with Him, together with Him, having having forgivenforgiven us all our transgressions, us all our transgressions, [14] having canceled out the certificate of [14] having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having it out of the way, having nailed it to the nailed it to the crosscross… …

Col. 2:8Col. 2:8

““See to it that no one takes you captive See to it that no one takes you captive through through philosophyphilosophy and empty and empty deceptiondeception, , according to the according to the tradition of mentradition of men, , according to the according to the elementary principleselementary principles of of the world, rather than according to Christ.”the world, rather than according to Christ.”

Col. 2:16-23 Spiritual DiversionsCol. 2:16-23 Spiritual Diversions

1.1. RitualismRitualism ““Therefore let no one act as your judge in Therefore let no one act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day...” festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day...” Col.2:16Col.2:16

RitualismRitualism is “You aren’t spiritual unless is “You aren’t spiritual unless ritual ritual observanceobservance is is centralcentral to your worship of to your worship of God.”God.”

RitualsRituals are: are: mere picturesmere pictures of spiritual truths, not of spiritual truths, not the central focus of spirituality.the central focus of spirituality.

Ritualism:Ritualism:“You aren’t spiritual unless…”“You aren’t spiritual unless…”

Priests Altars

IncenseLiturgical Worship

ReligiousCalendars

Gary M. Burge, "Why So Many Are Rediscovering Worship In Other Traditions," Christianity Today, October 6, 1997,

Vol. 41, No. 11, p. 20.

“Many worshippers . . . seek an ‘experience of the holy.’ They come looking for awe & reverence, mystery & transcendence. Furthermore, many of their sensory faculties need to be engaged: Their senses of sight, sound, touch, & smell are powerful avenues of communication. One glance at the Old Testament directions for orchestrating temple worship will remove all doubt that this is our task . . .”

“. . . Fire, incense, tapestry, and gold joined with ritual activities that reminded the worshiper of the reverent awe demanded of them. Bells and breastplates provided a visual feast evoking images of God's presence . . . Evangelicals need to reclaim their Old Testament heritage . . .”


1.1. RitualismRitualism ““Therefore let no one act as your judge in Therefore let no one act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--”festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--”

““things which are a mere things which are a mere shadowshadow of what is of what is to come; but the to come; but the substance belongs to substance belongs to ChristChrist.”.”Col. 2:16,17Col. 2:16,17

Rituals

The Real Thing!

OTShadows

NTSubstance

Pictures of Christ’s death for our sins…

A personal relationship with God…

Old Testament RitualsOld Testament Rituals

OTShadows

NTSubstance

Pictures of Christ’s death for our sins…

A personal relationship with God…

The The OldOld vs. vs. NewNewApproach:Approach:

““For, on the one hand, there is a For, on the one hand, there is a setting setting aside of a former commandmentaside of a former commandment because because of its of its weakness and uselessnessweakness and uselessness (for the (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand other hand there is a bringing in of a better there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nearhope, through which we draw near to to God.”God.”

Hebrews 7:18,19Hebrews 7:18,19

Today: 2 RitualsToday: 2 Rituals

BaptismBaptism

CommunionCommunion

Only Once!


1.1. RitualismRitualism2.2. MysticismMysticism

““Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angelsworship of the angels, taking his stand on , taking his stand on visionsvisions he has seen, inflated without cause by he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind”his fleshly mind” Colossians 2:18Colossians 2:18

““You aren’t spiritual unless you have You aren’t spiritual unless you have visions or other visions or other dramatic spiritual dramatic spiritual experiencesexperiences.”.”

GnosticismGnosticism

Dreams & visionsDreams & visions

Guidance from spiritsGuidance from spirits

Techniques to induce Techniques to induce trance-statestrance-states

Ecstatic utterancesEcstatic utterances

““Intuitive” insightIntuitive” insight


1.1. RitualismRitualism

2.2. MysticismMysticism ““Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize

by delighting in self-abasement and the by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind”his fleshly mind” Colossians 2:18Colossians 2:18

Mysticism makes you vulnerable to Mysticism makes you vulnerable to deceptiondeception..



2.2. MysticismMysticism

3.3. AesceticismAesceticism““If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles

of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ‘Do not you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!’ (which all refer to handle, do not taste, do not touch!’ (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)-- in things destined to perish with the using)-- in accordance with accordance with the commandments and teachings of the commandments and teachings of menmen?” ?” Colossians 2:20-22Colossians 2:20-22




3.3. AesceticismAesceticism““These are matters which have, to be sure, the These are matters which have, to be sure, the

appearance of wisdom in appearance of wisdom in self-made religionself-made religion and and self-abasementself-abasement and severe treatment of and severe treatment of the body…” the body…” Col. 2:23Col. 2:23

““You aren’t spiritual unless you follow our You aren’t spiritual unless you follow our group’s list of rules and prohibitions.”group’s list of rules and prohibitions.”

Food & drink

Entertainment

Fashion





appearance of wisdom in appearance of wisdom in self-made religionself-made religion and and self-abasementself-abasement and severe treatment of and severe treatment of the bodythe body but are of but are of no valueno value against fleshly against fleshly indulgenceindulgence.” .” Col. 2:23Col. 2:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.” (Matthew 23:25,26)





appearance of wisdom in appearance of wisdom in self-made religionself-made religion and and self-abasementself-abasement and severe treatment of and severe treatment of the bodythe body but are of but are of no valueno value against fleshly against fleshly indulgenceindulgence.” .” Col. 2:23Col. 2:23

This This misrepresentsmisrepresents God! God!

“…. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

True SpiritualityTrue Spirituality

Knowing Jesus ChristKnowing Jesus Christ Col. 2:18-19 Let no one keep defrauding you Col. 2:18-19 Let no one keep defrauding you

of your prize…not holding fast to the head, of your prize…not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.grows with a growth which is from God.

Col. 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church…


Knowing Jesus ChristKnowing Jesus Christ Through learning Through learning the Wordthe Word::

““If you abide in me, and If you abide in me, and my words abide in youmy words abide in you, ask , ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you …whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you …These things I have These things I have spokenspoken to you, that my joy to you, that my joy may be in you, and that may be in you, and that your joy may be made your joy may be made fullfull.” (John 15:7-11).” (John 15:7-11)


Knowing Jesus ChristKnowing Jesus Christ Through learning Through learning the Wordthe Word Through Through relationshipsrelationships with other Christians: with other Christians:

““from whom the from whom the entire bodyentire body, being supplied and held , being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” – Col. 2:19growth which is from God.” – Col. 2:19

“We are no longer to be children . . . carried about by every wind of doctrine . . . but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies . . . causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Ephes. 4:14-16)

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Spiritual Diversions. Col. 2:13-14 …He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, [14] having canceled out the certificate