Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
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Disregard Man Made Fundamentals
Col 2:15-23

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. 
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. 
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? 
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. NKJV 		 15 When He had dis-armed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.   16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a fes-tival or a new moon or a Sabbath day --    17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.   18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self- abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,    19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held to-gether by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.   20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary prin-ciples of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 
21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) -- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?    23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self- abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. NASU 		 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.   16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 
19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 
20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 
21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?    22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  
23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. NIV 

Introduction
Some Baptist Groups in Missouri have a large set of rules by which you must abide.

Men must cut their hair a certain length. No long hair.

Woman can not wear paints or pant suits but must always wear a skirt and blouse or a dress.

You must use the King James Bible Only.

You must believe in the Pre-Millennial Return of Christ.

Are those man made fundamentals or fundamentals spelled out in the Bible? They are man made!

They had man made rules in Colossae and some people were trying to force non-biblical rules on the new Christian Church.      There is a contrast between man made views and the authority of scripture.
 
 
 

1.    Disregard Man Made Fundamentals . . Because of the . . Public Display. v 15-17


        15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

A.    The Display of . . Jubilation. v 15
        "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

        1.    Jubilation from the . . Disarmament. v 15 a
                "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities,. . . "

        2.    Jubilation from the . . Display. v 15 b
                "He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them . . . "
                a.    I believe this is talking about the affect of Christ's death and resurrection.

        3.    Jubilation from the . . Direction. v 15 c
                ". . .through Him."

Illustration Topic: Victory Index: 372-374 Date: 1/1988.3
In the third century, Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage, wrote to his friend Donatus: "It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life.

They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians... and I am one of them."

B.    The Display of . . Judgment. v 16
        Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day

        1.    Judgment Concerning . . Foods. v 16 a
        2.    Judgment Concerning . . Festivals. v 16 b
 

C.    The Display of . . Justification. v 17
        "things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

        1.    Justification Related to . . Shadows. v 17 a
        2.    Justification Related to . . Substance. v 17 b

Illustration Quoted from memory not an exact Statement
Most all of you know I am a baseball fan. More precisely a St. Louis Cardinal Baseball Fan. Recently Mark McGwire said "of course we ought to delay the baseball season." This has no significance at all related to what is going on in our country. This is just baseball people in this nation have lost their life and many of us are grieving.

Application

The man made rules of some fanatical people have nothing to do with what is really significant. Jesus and Jesus alone is what we need.
 
 
 

2.    Disregard Man Made Fundamentals Because of the . . Prize. v 18 - 20 d & 22-23


18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self- abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
20 ". . . such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) -- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. NASU

A.    Man Made Fundamentals . . Defraud Our . . Prize. v 18 a
        "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize . . . "

        1.    Perpetual . . Defrauding. v 18 a
        2.    Prize . . Defrauding. v 18

Illustration DECEPTION
In late September 1864, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was leading his troops north from Decatur, Alabama, toward Nashville. But to make it to Nashville, Forrest would have to defeat the Union Army at Athens, Alabama. When the Union commander, Colonel Wallace Campbell, refused to surrender, Forrest asked for a personal meeting, and took Campbell on an inspection of his troops.

But each time they left a detachment, the Confederate soldiers simply packed up and moved to another position, artillery and all. Forrest and Campbell would then arrive at the new encampment and continue to tally up the impressive number of Confederate soldiers and weaponry. By the time they returned to the fort, Campbell was convinced he couldn't win and surrendered unconditionally. --Today in the Word, June 27, 1993
 

B. Man Made Fundamentals . . Delight In the Wrong Prize. v 18 b, c , d
        ". . . by delighting in self- abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he
        has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 20 ". . . such as,     21 "Do not handle, do not
        taste,

Introduction:
KJV v 18 b ". . . in a voluntary humility.
NASU v 18 b ". . . delighting in self- abasement . . . "
NIV ". . . in false humility. . . "
TLB ". . . declare you lost. . . "

        1.    Delighting With A Fleshly. . Worship. v 18 b
        2.    Delighting With Fleshly. . Visions. v 18 c
        3.    Delighting With A Fleshly. . Mind. v 18 d

C. Man Made Fundamentals and the Wrong . . Destiny for the Prize . v 22
        " (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) -- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?    23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

        1.    Destined to Fail as the . . Commandments of Man. v 22
        2.    Destined to Fail as the . . Confusion of Man. v 23

Illustration
The terrorist pilots who flew into the buildings Sept. 11th. Were deceived into believing they had a great destiny. They were part of a religion not of a fundamental belief but of a false fundamental imposition on their mind. They were destined to eternal failure.

Application

Self Abasement Belongs to the Flesh not the Spirit.
 
 
 

3.    Disregard Man Made Fundamentals Because Of Our . . Position. v 19 - 20


19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.   20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees,

A.    Position In Christ . . Lordship. v 19 a
        ". . . and not holding fast to the head, . . . "

        1.    Jesus Is the . . Head. v 19 a

Illustration
A man called an Educational society and abruptly asked to speak to the head Honcho. The sophisticated Lady said "I beg your pardon and the caller repeated his crude and abrupt manner and said "the head honcho lady"

She said "we don't have a head honcho" and the caller said well that's too bad I wanted to give ya all a $100,000. There was a long pause and then the little lady said hold on; I believe I see that head honcho walking down the hall.

My friend I do not say this flippantly but Jesus is the Head Honcho. He Is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

B.    Position In Christ . . Life. v 19 b
        ". . . from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and
        ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

        1.    A Life of . . Significant Growth. v 19 b
                ". . . from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and
                ligaments, grows with a growth. . . "

        2.    A Life of . . Spiritual Growth. v 19 b
                ". . . which is from God."

C.    Position In Christ . . Likeness. v 20
        If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were
        living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees,

        1.    Likeness In . . Death. v 20 a
        2.    Likeness In . . Life. v 20 b
        3.    Likeness In . . Decrees. v 20 c

Illustration
John Henry Jowett told about a small village where an elderly woman died. She died penniless, uneducated, unsophisticated, but during her lifetime her selfless service had made a tremendous impact for Christ.

On her tombstone they chiseled the words, "She did what she couldn't." That can be the epitaph for every Christian who will allow Christ to live through us: HE can do through us what we can never do ourselves.

You Can Disregard Man Made Fundamentals

Because they are not doing what you couldn't but what the flesh can do all by itself.