Colossians: Christ Over All A Lie of Legalism – The growth and unity of the church is dependent The Lies of Legalism and the Sufficiency of on our own efforts and experiences (2:18) Colossians 2:16-23 Sunday, January 13, 2019 • In addition to the confusion surrounding the use of the Law there were other false teachings being spread in the church at Colossae. These Introduction teachings included the promotion of asceticism and the need for

A great obstacle to proclamation of the is the lies of legalism. spiritual experiences in order to see growth or unity in the church. Legalism is when we try to hold other people to rules and standards that God does not require and judge them based on those standards. It’s a • John MacArthur – There is a tendency in human nature to move from perennial problem; we are constantly tempted to make conformity to man- objectivity to subjectivity—to shift the focus from Christ to experience. made rules the measure of spirituality - this is legalism. This has always intimidated weak believers and threatened the church.

Legalism was a primary characteristic of the Pharisees during the time of The Truth of the Gospel – The growth and unity of the Church is Jesus and it has never ceased to threaten the church. As Paul writes to through dependence on Christ alone (2:19) Colossians his goal is to remind them of the preeminence and centrality of Jesus, but he knows that the church is being threatened by the lies of • What Paul makes clear is that the growth and unity of the church isn’t legalism; false teachers are present who are holding out standards that go dependent on spiritual acts or experiences; the growth and the unity of beyond the Gospel of Jesus. They are imposing rules and standards on the the church comes through Christ alone. He is the head by which the Colossians that undermine the sufficiency of the work of Jesus for whole body is nourished and knit together. . A Lie of Legalism – The fight against sin and temptation is dependent As Paul writes to the Colossians he wants them to see clearly. He wants on our own ability and self-discipline (2:20-22) them to see the lies of legalism in light of the sufficiency of Jesus. • The trap we often fall into as Christians is that we try and achieve A Lie of Legalism – Your salvation is dependent on your adherence to holiness by building systems of legalism and religious conformity. This rules or religion (2:16) is what Paul’s describing: The Colossians are trying to live in holiness by creating systems characterized by restrictions and separation from • Many of the Colossian believers were Jewish converts and it was very temptation. common for them to struggle with the distinction between the Law and the Gospel. As a result many allowed false teachers to burden them The Truth of the Gospel – The only way you can win your fight against with the yolk of the Law – a standard that they could never keep. sin is through dependence on the power of Christ alone (2:23)

The Truth of the Gospel – Your salvation is through faith in Christ • This is the reality: We have to recognize that any outward obedience alone (2:17) that we can muster up through systems of legalism isn’t what God is calling us to; He wants our hearts. Paul says that these efforts have no • While the Law was given by God the Scriptures are clear that salvation value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh because they only deal cannot be earned by adherence to the Law; salvation is through faith in with the outer man. Christ alone. • The only way we will ever truly experience victory in our fight against • The teaches that the Old Covenant system (including the flesh and sin is through reliance on the power of God and what He the Law) was meant to point to a greater reality and the true source of has accomplished in ending our slavery to sin through the death and salvation, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:5-7, 10:1; Galatians 3:23-29; Titus resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:5-11; 8:1-11).

3:3-7). Messages available for download on iTunes or at southernhillslife.org