sunday, april 5, 2009 speaker: doug virgint

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“Don’t let anything replace Christ in your life”

Colossians 2:6-23

Message 4 on our series called Colossians: The Supremacy of Christ

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Speaker: Doug Virgint

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Christ in Christ in ColossiansColossians

Don’t allow anythingDon’t allow anything

to replace Christ to replace Christ

in your life!in your life!

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Christ the supreme one Christ the supreme one (Chapter 1)(Chapter 1)

Christ the sufficient one Christ the sufficient one (Chapter 2)(Chapter 2)

Christ the satisfying one Christ the satisfying one (Chapters (Chapters 3 & 4)3 & 4)

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Christ the supreme one Christ the supreme one (Chapter 1)(Chapter 1)

Christ the sufficient one Christ the sufficient one (Chapter 2)(Chapter 2)

Christ the satisfying one Christ the satisfying one (Chapters (Chapters 3 & 4)3 & 4)

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Christ the sufficient oneChrist the sufficient one (Chap 2)(Chap 2)

1.1. Don’t be kidnapped by philosophers Don’t be kidnapped by philosophers (6 - 10)(6 - 10)

2.2. Don’t be distracted by legalism Don’t be distracted by legalism (11-15)(11-15)

3.3. Don’t be robbed by mysticism Don’t be robbed by mysticism (16-23)(16-23)

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Christ the sufficient oneChrist the sufficient one (Chap 2)(Chap 2)




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Kidnapped by philosophersKidnapped by philosophers (6-(6-10)10)

““Hast any philosophy in thee, Hast any philosophy in thee, shepherd?”shepherd?”

William Shakespeare (As you William Shakespeare (As you like it)like it)

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Philosophy :Philosophy : ““philo philo ” + “” + “sophia sophia ” = ” =

““love” + “wisdom”love” + “wisdom”

The love of wisdom or The love of wisdom or knowledgeknowledge

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Philosophy - searching for truth apart Philosophy - searching for truth apart from God from God

Man cannot begin at himself …Man cannot begin at himself …

… … and arrive at ultimate realityand arrive at ultimate reality

Francis SchaefferFrancis Schaeffer

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Philosophy - searching for truth apart Philosophy - searching for truth apart from Godfrom God

““I am first affrighted and confounded I am first affrighted and confounded with that forlorn solitude, in which I with that forlorn solitude, in which I am plac’d in my philosophy.”am plac’d in my philosophy.”

David HumeDavid Hume

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Philosophy - searching for truth apart Philosophy - searching for truth apart from Godfrom God

Freidrich Nietzsche:Freidrich Nietzsche:-- Scorned Christianity as the religion of Scorned Christianity as the religion of

weaklingsweaklings““Poised over the abyss, I shiver with the Poised over the abyss, I shiver with the

horror of being ‘responsible for horror of being ‘responsible for everything alive’”everything alive’”

-- Madness became his only possible Madness became his only possible freedomfreedom

““Alas, grant me madness”Alas, grant me madness”

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Jean-Paul Sartre:Jean-Paul Sartre:

““We were a heap of existences, We were a heap of existences, uncomfortable, embarrassed by uncomfortable, embarrassed by ourselves, we hadn’t the slightest ourselves, we hadn’t the slightest reason to be there, none of us, each one reason to be there, none of us, each one confused, vaguely alarmed, felt confused, vaguely alarmed, felt superfluous in relation to the others”superfluous in relation to the others”

““And I myself … I too was superfluous And I myself … I too was superfluous … I dreamed vaguely of killing myself to … I dreamed vaguely of killing myself to wipe out at least one of these wipe out at least one of these superfluous existences. But even my superfluous existences. But even my death would have been superfluous.”death would have been superfluous.”

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George Santayana:George Santayana:

““A modern philosopher is someone A modern philosopher is someone who redoubles his efforts upon losing who redoubles his efforts upon losing sight of his goal”sight of his goal”

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The object of philosophy is to discover The object of philosophy is to discover truth.truth.

That is indeed a noble endeavour!That is indeed a noble endeavour!

But we must submit our philosophy to But we must submit our philosophy to the the authority of divine revelationauthority of divine revelation

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There were philosophers in Colossae There were philosophers in Colossae as well:as well:

Paul does not name their system of Paul does not name their system of beliefs, beliefs, nor does he describe it in nor does he describe it in detail.detail.

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But there are clear indications in this But there are clear indications in this letter that there was an emphasis on:letter that there was an emphasis on:

ceremonial laws:ceremonial laws:

circumcisioncircumcision (11)(11)

dietary laws dietary laws (16)(16)

observance of holy days observance of holy days (16)(16)

mediation of spiritual powersmediation of spiritual powers in in salvation and creation. These salvation and creation. These mysterious powers must be placated mysterious powers must be placated and worshipped. and worshipped. (15, 18, 19)(15, 18, 19)

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asceticism:asceticism:

touch not touch not (21)(21)

do not handle do not handle (21)(21)

do not taste do not taste (21)(21)

severe treatment of the body severe treatment of the body (23)(23)

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proto Gnosticism:proto Gnosticism:

- - matter is evilmatter is evil

- between God and us are aeons, - between God and us are aeons, which are emanations from Him, which are emanations from Him, some more distant and less holy some more distant and less holy than others (than others (pleromapleroma))

- God did not create matter- God did not create matter

- salvation comes through - salvation comes through increased knowledge (mystery increased knowledge (mystery religions)religions)

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- - Christ could not be God and Christ could not be God and manman

- God could not have a body- God could not have a body

- God could not die- God could not die

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- - a mixture of Jewish legalism and a mixture of Jewish legalism and pagan Gnosticismpagan Gnosticism

- F. F. Bruce calls it a Phrygian - F. F. Bruce calls it a Phrygian variety of pharisaic Judaismvariety of pharisaic Judaism

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God did not immediately create this God did not immediately create this world; a series of aeons emanated world; a series of aeons emanated from Him, each more removed than the from Him, each more removed than the last one. Finally one of them, so far last one. Finally one of them, so far removed form God so as to no longer removed form God so as to no longer be holy, created the world of matter as be holy, created the world of matter as a bad joke.a bad joke.

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Modern Gnosticism:Modern Gnosticism:

Masons, Shriners Masons, Shriners

- with their degrees of knowledge- with their degrees of knowledge

ScientologyScientologyJohn TravoltaJohn Travolta

Tom CruiseTom Cruise

Priscilla PresleyPriscilla Presley

““Ordre du temple solaire” (suicides Ordre du temple solaire” (suicides 1994, 1997)1994, 1997)

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received Christ … walk in Him received Christ … walk in Him (6, 7) (6, 7)

““walk” is our present habitual way walk” is our present habitual way of livingof living

when we received salvation, all was when we received salvation, all was centred centred in the person of Christin the person of Christ

we need to continue our Christian we need to continue our Christian life, centred on Christlife, centred on Christ

we must not allow other ideas to we must not allow other ideas to distract us from His persondistract us from His person

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““takes you captive” (8)takes you captive” (8)

- from a Greek word that means - from a Greek word that means booty or lootbooty or loot

““empty deception”empty deception”

- - deceit, fraud, trickdeceit, fraud, trick

- based on traditions of men- based on traditions of men

- be on your guard!- be on your guard!

““elementary principleselementary principles

- a, b, c,- a, b, c,

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“ “all the fullness of Deity” (9)all the fullness of Deity” (9)

- - here is that word “here is that word “pleromapleroma””

- Christ is not one in a series of - Christ is not one in a series of aeons, emanations from Godaeons, emanations from God

- all that God is and all that God - all that God is and all that God reveals is in Christreveals is in Christ

“ “dwells bodily ”dwells bodily ”

- - Greek word for “settle down and Greek word for “settle down and be at home”be at home”

- Christ’s body- Christ’s body was real !” was real !”

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“ “in Him you have been given in Him you have been given fullnessfullness” ” (10)(10)

- Here is that word “- Here is that word “pleromapleroma” again (verb)” again (verb)

“ “you have been made complete” you have been made complete” (NASB)(NASB)

- Because of the fall, man is incomplete, and - Because of the fall, man is incomplete, and we have an emptiness withinwe have an emptiness within

- Only in Christ are we made complete- Only in Christ are we made complete

“ “head over all power and authority”head over all power and authority”- He is not one of these aeons, spiritual - He is not one of these aeons, spiritual

powerspowers

- He is over them, rules them, created them!- He is over them, rules them, created them!

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Christ the sufficient one Christ the sufficient one (Chap 2)(Chap 2)




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Distracted by legalismDistracted by legalism (11-15)(11-15)

Do we need works of the law to Do we need works of the law to complement or complete what Christ complement or complete what Christ has done for us?has done for us?

NO!!! Because Jesus has given us:NO!!! Because Jesus has given us:

a) complete salvationa) complete salvation (11-12)(11-12)

b)b) complete forgivenesscomplete forgiveness (13-14)(13-14)

c) complete victoryc) complete victory (15)(15)

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a) Complete salvation:a) Complete salvation:- When Jesus healed, he healed - When Jesus healed, he healed

completelycompletely

- Abraham was completely saved years - Abraham was completely saved years before he was circumcised.before he was circumcised.

- Circumcision was a rite which confirmed - Circumcision was a rite which confirmed the covenant, and it represented the the covenant, and it represented the cleansing of the heart.cleansing of the heart.

- True circumcision is … of the heart - True circumcision is … of the heart (Rom 2: 29)(Rom 2: 29)

- Our salvation is assured because we - Our salvation is assured because we died with Christ and were raised with died with Christ and were raised with him. No need of circumcision!him. No need of circumcision!

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b) Complete forgiveness:b) Complete forgiveness:

- - We were dead in our sinsWe were dead in our sins

- We were outside the covenant- We were outside the covenant

- B U T … !- B U T … !

- God has made us alive in Christ- God has made us alive in Christ

- God has forgiven us- God has forgiven us

- God has cancelled the act of debt - God has cancelled the act of debt that was against usthat was against us

- God nailed this act to the cross – - God nailed this act to the cross – final death!final death!

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c) Complete victory:c) Complete victory:

- image of a Roman “triumph” - - image of a Roman “triumph” - victory paradevictory parade

- these spiritual beings that you want - these spiritual beings that you want to placate and worship have been to placate and worship have been defeated!defeated!

- they have been publically - they have been publically humiliated!humiliated!

- they have no power or authority or - they have no power or authority or claim over us!claim over us!

- Don’t allow them to distract us.- Don’t allow them to distract us.

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Christ the sufficient one Christ the sufficient one (Chap 2)(Chap 2)




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Robbed by mysticismRobbed by mysticism (16-23)(16-23)

Should we allow people to judge us Should we allow people to judge us (control make us feel guilty) about :(control make us feel guilty) about :

- Holy days, dietary rules ? - Holy days, dietary rules ? (16,17)(16,17)

No! they are just a shadow.No! they are just a shadow.

- false humility, angel worship - false humility, angel worship (16,18)(16,18)

No ! They are a form of fraud, of No ! They are a form of fraud, of cheating, that can disqualify us. And cheating, that can disqualify us. And often a source of pride.often a source of pride.

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Should we allow people to judge us Should we allow people to judge us (control – make us feel guilty) about :(control – make us feel guilty) about :

- asceticism ? - asceticism ? (20,21)(20,21)

No! They are temporary – little No! They are temporary – little importanceimportance

No! They too, are often a source of prideNo! They too, are often a source of pride

No! They are not effective - do not work!No! They are not effective - do not work!

Asceticism is godless … Asceticism is godless … … … essentially, we are worshipping ourselves!essentially, we are worshipping ourselves!

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Furthermore …Furthermore …

They cause us to lose connection with They cause us to lose connection with Christ !Christ !

He is the Head - the source of all He is the Head - the source of all growthgrowth

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ApplicationsApplications

1.1. Let’s not allow ourselves to be Let’s not allow ourselves to be impressed by philosophers.impressed by philosophers.

2.2. Let’s not allow any form of legalism Let’s not allow any form of legalism to control us and make us live in to control us and make us live in guilt.guilt.

3.3. Let’s not allow any person, or any Let’s not allow any person, or any system of thought, replace Christ. He system of thought, replace Christ. He is the greatest being in the universe. is the greatest being in the universe. There is no one like Him. And he There is no one like Him. And he lives in us – He is our Saviour.lives in us – He is our Saviour.

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ApplicationsApplications

4.4. Do you really know Jesus?Do you really know Jesus?

5.5. Do you know Him today better than Do you know Him today better than you knew Him last year? – 5 years you knew Him last year? – 5 years ago? – 10 years ago?ago? – 10 years ago?

6.6. Do you love Jesus more today than Do you love Jesus more today than last year? – 5 years ago? - 10 years last year? – 5 years ago? - 10 years ago?ago?

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Don’t allow anythingDon’t allow anything

to replace Christ to replace Christ

in your life!in your life!

sunday, april 5, 2009 speaker: doug virgint

Documents

object of philosophy

superfluous existences

matter salvation

pleroma god

god man

circumcision11dietary

ceremonial laws

mysterious powers