Living As If We Died!

Living As If We Died! Ultimately, everyone lives out of their belief system. In other words, everyone lives on the basis of what they assume to be true. Moslems assume that death in holy war sends one directly to Heaven. This despite an ungodly life style. Those who really believe this will visit a prostitute then blow themselves up in shopping center the next day. They live out what they believe. Christian missionaries believe that there is no way to eternal life accept through conscious faith in Jesus Christ, so they sail to unreached people groups, and give their lives to evangelizing them. They live out what they believe. That is Paul s concern with the Colossians. They profess to believe one thing, but are living as if they believe something else. They believe they have died with Christ, but they live as if they haven t. Colossians 2:20 23 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations 21 Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used) according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Today s text is in the form of a question. In Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world. Why are you living as though you are still alive to them? Two weeks ago we said that the elemental spirits of the world are the basic building blocks of all non-christian religions. These building blocks are a low view of God and a high view of man. They always produce PBA, performance based acceptance.

The point of today s text is that the Colossians died to the "elemental principles of the world." Paul wants them to Live out of that reality. Live as if you died! I want to extract two points from today s verses. 1 st You died with Christ to the elemental spirits. 2 nd Pride fuels the elemental spirits. A. YOU DIED TO THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS OF THE WORLD. Here is the main idea. Those who believe the gospel have died with Christ. Paul repeatedly refers to this idea. Look with me again at verse 20. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations Earlier in this chapter he made a similar statement. (Colossians 2:11 12) "11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Our union with Christ is also an important theme in Romans. (Romans 6:4) "4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." What is the connection between dying to the elemental spirits and no regulations? To understand this we must reflect back on the sermon from two weeks ago. Lets quickly review that teaching. Everyone is united with either Adam or Christ. In God s sight we are all that our head is. 2 of 11

How do we get united with one of these two men? God unites us with Adam at conception. When we believe the gospel God unites us with Christ. Our union with Christ means that, in God s sight, we have become all that Christ was (past tense) and all that he is (present tense). Looking back on the past, this means union with Christ in his humiliation. It means union with Christ in his sinless life. It means union with Christ in his death. It means union with Christ in his resurrection. Moving to the present, it means union with Christ in his exaltation. He sits at the right hand of God, and we sit there with him. (Ephesians 2:6) "And [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." So again, why would Paul ask the Colossians 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations 21 Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch? Why is he puzzled? What is the connection between Christ s death and daily freedom from tasting and touching? The answer has two dimensions death to Adam. Alive to Christ! Adam. 1. Death to Adam When Christ died our old self died. That means we died to Anecdote: Dying to one family and being born in another. Death to Adam has three implications for the Colossians. 1 st Adam was subject to God s law. Because it is united to Adam, the old self is also accountable to God s law. Adam had to 3 of 11

earn God s favor by obeying God s law, and because our old self is united to Adam, it does also. Adam was accountable to the OT dietary laws mentioned in verse 21 do not taste, and so are those united to Adam. Adam was responsible to the OT laws of ritual uncleanness, also mentioned in verse 21; Do not handle, do not touch, and so are those united to him. 2 nd Adam is condemned by under God. He failed to obey these commandments, and therefore, so is the old self. 3 rd And last, the person united to Adam shares Adam s nature. Adam was spiritually dead. That means he had no capacity for saving faith. He had no ability to believe the gospel. He had no ability to love or admire God. Although Adam was capable of doing good on an earthly plane, none of his good deeds could merit God s favor. Why? Deeds are only virtuous when they are done for the right reason, i.e. when done from a circumcised heart. Love for God or a passion to glorify him, were inaccessible to Adam. In other words, all of Adam s desires were oriented away from God and eternal things. His thought life was thoroughly earth-bound. This is also the condition of everyone united with Adam. They are still in their old self. They are still in Adam. Why is Paul concerned with the Colossians Christians? They have been united with Christ. Everything should be different, but it is not. They are still worried about eating and touching. What they believe and how they live are inconsistent. 2. Alive to Christ Paul wants us to live as if we died to the elemental spirits of this world. To do this we need to focus not only on our union with Christ in his resurrection. Faith in the gospel not only unites us with Christ in his death, it also unites us with Christ in his resurrection. It gives us 4 of 11

New Birth into a new family. Jesus is now our head. We are all that he was and is. This means the end of the three disadvantages that were ours in our union with Adam. 1 st it means freedom from law. Adam had to earn God s favor, but Jesus obeyed God s law perfectly. In fact, he fulfilled every jot and title of God s law. (Matthew 5:17 18) "17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Because Christ fulfilled the law so have we. This means that, if you are united with Christ, you are not accountable to God s law. Why? Jesus ob eyed it perfectly. He fulfilled it. In the words of Matt. 5 the law has passed away. Since you and I are united with Christ, God considers us to have fulfilled it also. Anecdote: When I pay off a mortgage the debt is fulfilled. 2nd, it means no condemnation. Adam failed to obey the law. He is under condemnation. But Jesus was justified by his resurrection from the dead. Union with him frees you from Adam s condemnation. In God s sight you are always not guilty. (Rom 8:1) There is now, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Why? You have been freed from your union with Adam through your union with Christ in his death. 3rd, it means New Birth. On the basis of your union with Christ you are a New Creation. The Holy Spirit indwells you. You share the nature of your new head a divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). This happens at New Birth. New Birth is a radical departure from the old self. God writes his law on our heart. He removes the heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. In other words, he circumcises our heart. 5 of 11

Because we share the divine nature we have a capacity to believe. The gospel becomes real. We experience a growing desire to glorify God even at great personal expense. We increasingly love God s law. We love all that was foolish to the old self. We feel a growing distaste for sin. It has become increasingly repugnant. The first proof of this change is a growing battle in your soul, a battle that didn t exist before. (Galatians 5:17) "17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. " In conclusion, based on their union with Christ in his death and resurrection, Paul asks the Colossians this important question. Why are you still obsessed with dietary laws and rules about touching unclean things? People enslaved by the elemental spirits of the world pursue these things. But you died to the elemental spirits (Adam). You are free from the moralisms and legalisms that are the building blocks of this world. So here is the question: Are you and I living as if we died to Adam? Are we living free from PBA? Do we reject legalisms? Are we holding fast to the truth of what we are in Christ, or are we clinging to our spiritual experiences? Are we tempted by asceticism? B. PRIDE FUELS THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS Bondage to the elemental spirits of this world shows up two ways. Persistent feelings of guilt and failure bind some Christians. An old friend from my business days once said to me, Bill, I have so much guilt I have stretch marks. Bondage to the elemental spirits of the world has the opposite affect on others. They live under the same rules, regulations, and expectations as the guilty, but they are relatively free from guilt. It is a 6 of 11

matter of temperament. They are just as deluded as the first person. But, they are already confident that they meet God s expectations, and they feel no need for outside help. Here is the important point. Pride is the root and foundation of both symptoms. 23 These [rules and regulations] have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Both personality types are bound by man-made rules, regulations, and legalisms. They just react differently. C. APPLICATION OF 2:20-23 People that are dead to the elemental spirits of this world enjoy the grace of God despite their failings, their sins, and their imperfections. However, this does not mean license or cheap grace. Rather, they earnestly obey the clear commands of scripture. That is the subject of chapter three. In other words, people that are dead to the elemental spirits of this world are free from moralism. Christians that are free from the elemental spirits of this world enjoy spiritual experiences, but they hold fast to Christ not their experiences (mysticisms). People that are free from the elemental principles of this world constantly grow in self control. Sometimes they fast. They memorize scripture. They practice the spiritual disciplines, but they reject asceticism. Ascetics look inward. Christians look at Christ, and the byproduct is self control even as they grow progressively more humble. 7 of 11

People that are dead to the elemental spirits of the world increasingly love God and man. Gal 5:1 is their text. For freedom therefore Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore, and do submit to a yoke of slavery. They have died with Christ to the old self. They believe it, and they are free from PBA. They have risen with Christ, and are free to be his slaves. D. FIVE APPLICATIONS OF CHAPTER TWO: Before we move to chapter three I want to make five applications of chapter two. 1 st Get Baptized! Baptism is an outward sign that you have identified with Christ in his death and resurrection. It is a public statement that you have died to Adam through the death of Christ. It is also a public statement that you have risen with Christ in his resurrection. Is says, I am a new self because of my union with Christ. Baptism does not save us, but it is very important to God. If you are not baptized come and talk to myself or one of the Elders. 2 nd Be willing to divide to preserve your union with Christ. Our union with Christ, and living out of it, is exceedingly important to Paul. Chapter two is an aggressive argument to maintain that freedom. To Paul this was not secondary doctrine. He was willing to split the church over this subject. Why? The glory of God was and is at stake. Justification by faith alone, the ground of our freedom, glorifies God. By contrast, justification through self-effort glorifies man. The more we cast ourselves upon God s mercy, the more we trust in his goodness, the better God looks. The more trust in our best efforts the better we look. The transfer of all of our faith and trust from self to God glorifies God s goodness. 8 of 11

Paul was willing to split the church over our the freedom that follows our union with Christ for a another reason. Our salvation depends upon it. Salvation requires a willingness to transfer our confidence in our good works from self to Christ. Gresham Machen was a good example. He founded Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia in the 1920s. Dying of Pnuemonia, during the depression, in a North Dakota hospital, he cable a friend. Thank God for the active obedience of Christ. Would be lost without it. Listen to how strongly Paul describes those who deliberately refuse to do this, who trust their works for God s acceptance rather than Christ. He says that failure to do this makes us enemies of Christ (Phil 3:8-9); Paul calls it preaching a different gospel, (Gal 1:6-9); He labels trusting our good works deserting Christ, (Gal 1:6); He says it nullifies the grace of God (Gal 2:20-21); and most importantly he says it will sever us from Christ (Gal 5:4). This is strong language. He uses even stronger language to encourage the men who teach these things. (2 Corinthians 11:13 15) "13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (Philippians 3:2) "2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. " (Philippians 3:18) "18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. " In light of all of this Paul calls down an anathema upon those who deliberately live as if they had not died with Christ, those who encourage the isms moralism, asceticism, legalism, mysticism. 9 of 11

(Galatians 1:8 9) "8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. " Paul was willing to divide over this issue because confidence in one s good works have consigned more people to Hell than all of their sins combined. Our defense of this gospel needs to be very aggressive, very bold, and very assertive. It is something to divide over. 3 rd Practice your freedom that is your inheritance. (Gal. 5:1) For freedom therefore Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Many of us believe these truths. We believe we have died with Christ, but we are not practicing the freedom today s text describes. 4 th Defend your freedom. It is a fragile flower. Gospel freedom stands upon the knowledge of our personal bankruptcy. You will be free to the degree that you give up on your best efforts. You won t give up on yourself until you accept God s holiness. God s standards are perfection. He is angry with both sin and sinners. But, because he is holy he also loves extravagantly. At infinite cost to Himself, He sent his Son to save us. You won t give up on yourself until you accept your sinfulness. On your best day, those united to Adam are infinitely offensive to God. The flesh hates these doctrines. The flesh resists these doctrines. That is why they are fragile flowers. This is why the gospel is so difficult to maintain. If, 25 years from now, my grandchildren still practice this freedom I will be pleased and amazed. 10 of 11

5 th Use your freedom to become slaves of Christ! That takes us to next week s sermon. Chapter three describes how God wants us to live in light of our union with Christ. E. HOMEGROUP STUDY QUESTIONS Read Colossians 2:1-23. How would you sum up the entire chapter? Read Colossians 2:20-23. How would you sum up this paragraph? Where are you tempted by one of the isms moralism, asceticism, legalism, or mysticism? How does God want you to respond? What does he want you to change? 11 of 11