“Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You”

1. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

2. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 • Beware of Philosophies & Empty Deceit – (8-10) • Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) • Beware of Worshipping Angels – (18-19) • Beware of Asceticism – (20-23) W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

3. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

4. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

5. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

6. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

7. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

8. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 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-- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,“ 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

9. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 (NKJV) 23 These 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. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

10. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Philosophies & Empty Deceit – (8-10) • According To The Traditions of Men - • Traditions of human origin – • Gnostics claimed traditions passed down by Mary, Thomas, Matthew Etc. • Jews claimed the traditions their leaders had added to the Law – • That which is not of scripture is of men - ! Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

11. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Philosophies & Empty Deceit – (8-10) • According To The Basic Principles Of The World - • Rudiments (stoicheia). . . . the materials of the universe (2 Peter 3:10, 12), elementary teaching (Hebrews 5:12), elements of Jewish ceremonial training (Acts 15:10; Galatians 4:3, 9), the specious arguments of the Gnostic philosophers as here with all their aeons and rules of life.—Word Pictures in the New Testament Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

12. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Sphere of Spiritual Fulfillment (9,10) • “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” - NASB • Jesus Is Fully God – (John 1:1-3; Phili 2:6; Heb 1:8.9; Col. 1:15-18) • All That Belongs To God Is In The Body, (Church) of Christ - (1:18-22; Eph 1:10; 2:16) • In Christ Is Found All The Treasures of Wisdom & Knowledge – (verse 3) Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

13. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Sphere of Spiritual Fulfillment (9,10) • Every Blessing God Provides Is Found ONLY In Christ – (John 1:16; Eph 1:3,20-23) • The Word Complete in Verse 10 Is From The Same Word Translated “Fullness” In Verse 9 – (cf. Eph 3:19) • There Is NOTHING That A Christian Needs That Is Not Found In Jesus Christ - (10; 2 Pet 1:3) Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

14. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) The False Teachers Were Wanting To Bind Circumcision • Already circumcised - Those in Christ were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands – (11) • A Better Circumcision – One that is spiritual – NOT physical – (Rom. 2:28,29) – • The Circumcision of Christ – Not Moses – Not Abraham Colossians 2:11-13 (NKJV) 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

15. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) The False Teachers Were Wanting To Bind Circumcision • A Burial – (cf. Rom 6:3-6) • With Jesus in baptism • In WHICH we are raised with Jesus • Through FAITH • When God works – Joshua 6; 2 Kings 5:14; 1 Pet 3:21 • God raises us from being spiritually dead – Colossians 2:11-13 (NKJV) 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

16. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) The False Teachers Were Wanting To Bind Circumcision • Before Baptism – They were separated from God in their sins – Spiritually uncircumcised • After Baptism – One has been made alive by God – and alive with Christ (John 3:3-5; Tit 3:5) – • Their Sins Were Forgiven When They Were Baptized – (Acts 2:38; 22:16; ) Colossians 2:11-13 (NKJV) 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

17. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) Jesus Took The Old Law Away • “Wiped Out”– Erased the Law of ordinances that was against them – (Gal 3:13; Eph 2:15) • The Law Was Taken Out of The Way – The Law was standing between men and God - (Eph 2:11-16) • Nailed To The Cross – (Gal 3:10-13 - Annulled , obsolete – Heb 7:18; 8:13; 10:9; Mat 5:17) Colossians 2:14-17 (NKJV) 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

18. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) The Hostile Forces Have Been Disarmed • At The Cross – God defeated every spiritual and human force set against Him – (John 16:11; 1 Cor 2:6-8; Eph 4:8; Heb 2:14) • The Christian has been armed with that which Christ provides – (Eph 6:10-18) Colossians 2:14-17 (NKJV) 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

19. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Judaistic Ceremonialism– (11-17) False Teachers Exalted The Shadow Above The Substance • The Binding of Food Regulations – (Acts 10:11-16; 1 Tim 4:3-5) • The Binding of Religious Festivals – (Gal 4:9-11; Rom 14:5) • The Binding of The “Sabbath Day” – (Mark 2:27) Colossians 2:14-17 (NKJV) 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

20. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Worshipping Angels – (18-19) Beware That You Do Not Lose Your Reward Colossians 2:18-19 (NKJV) 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, • Delighting In False Humility - It Was Thought That Extreme Self Abasement Facilitated Access Into The Spiritual Realm – (21-23) • Angel Worship - Merkabah Mysticism – i.e. Jewish Gnosticism – Angels Served In Mediatorial roles - (Rev 22:8,9) W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

21. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Worshipping Angels – (18-19) Beware That You Do Not Lose Your Reward • The Claims of The False Teachers Were NOT Real – The source of their visions was not God – (Ezek. 13:3; Jer. 23:25-27; 2 Cor 12:4) • Yet They Were “Puffed Up” - False Teachers Professed Spiritual Experiences That Were The Product of Their Fleshly Mind . . . Colossians 2:18-19 (NKJV) 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

22. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Worshipping Angels – (18-19) Beware That You Do Not Lose Your Reward Colossians 2:18-19 (NKJV) 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. • By Turning Aside To Other Systems In ADDITION To Jesus – They Made Jesus Less Than He Is – They Stood Opposed To His True Person And Work By Denying His All Sufficiency! • Jesus Provides Us With All We Need – (Eph 4:11-16; 2 Tim 3:16,16; 2 Pet 1:3) W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

23. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Asceticism – (20-23) Asceticism is wrong: Freedom is in Christ Colossians 2:20-23 (NKJV) 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-- • Their Death With Christ– They had been delivered from the rudiments of the world when they were baptized into Christ – (11,12; Rom 6:3-6) • Why Go Back? – Why become subject again to the world & its ordinances? – (Rom 14:3; Gal 5:1-4); W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

24. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Asceticism – (20-23) Asceticism is wrong: Freedom is in Christ • Paul Quotes The False Teachers – There was a rigid formula of abstinence from certain foods and things – (1 Tim 4:1-4) • External Things Do Not Defile A Man – But Rather That Which Comes From Ones Heart - (Mat 15:16-20) Colossians 2:20-23 (NKJV) 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

25. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Beware of Asceticism – (20-23) Asceticism is wrong: Freedom is in Christ • Such Has An Appearance of Piety – But the source is human – Not DIVINE – (Mat 21:25; Mat 23:27) • The Flesh Cannot Be Conquered Through Asceticism – Only through crucifying the flesh through renewing your mind through the Gospel – (Rom 12:1,2) Colossians 2:20-23 (NKJV) 23 These 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. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

26. “Believer Beware, Let No One Cheat You” Colossians 2:8-23 • An Elaborate Pseudo-philosophical System - To Difficult For Ordinary People (8) • Required Circumcision – (11-15) • Old Jewish Regulations – (Foods; Days; Festivals; Etc.) - (16-17) • The Worship Of Angels – (Jesus Was Only One Of Many Intermediaries Between God And Humans) – (18) • Required Asceticism – (18,20-23) The False Teachers Wanted To Install Additions To Christ: W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008

27. W. 65th St church of Christ / March 16, 2008