1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “religion”?
2. Why do you think there are so many “religions”?
3. Have you been led astray by “religion” in your past?
4. What are the difference between Jesus and “religion”?
Religion- involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Being a Christian is not necessarily a religion, because religion is mans attempt at getting to God and Christianity is God coming to save sinners and bring them to himself. Unfortunately the church in Colossea was dealing with people trying to change faith in Jesus to a religion.
The religious are actually harder to reach and they are the people that Jesus rebuked the most.
Paul reminds them…in 11-14 what Jesus did.
Vrs 11 1. our standing in Christ - Gen 17 Circumcision was covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants. Spiritual circumcision is the removal of sin by Christ.
Vrs 12 Old self dies and a 2. new creation is risen (Baptism issue) Gospel always includes the resurrection
Vrs 13 3. Alive
Vrs14 Jesus died on the cross took our sins with Him (we don’t have to pay, because He did) religion teaches that we pay.
Certificate of debt and Jesus nailed it to the cross 4. Jesus Paid our debt
Vrs 15 this is what was spiritually going on, 5. Victory in Jesus
Religion is man made rules to get to God and it is actually demonic and against Jesus.
Because of this the next three verses Paul tells us what to look out for.
Religion
1. is Judgmental with false grounds for judging V 16a (adds rules) who are we to make up rules and judge others by them. (playing tag with my kids)
2. is About ritual that ignores the reason v 16b-17 observing feasts Lev 23 records 7 different feasts that the Jews observed and all of them the purpose was Jesus. Passover Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles (experience over Jesus. churches do this all the time, traditions)
3. Cheats people out of truth, liberty & reward v18a Heb 11:6
4. is Self righteous (false humility) pious self denial V18a
5. is Wrong worship v18 we do not pray to anyone except the one true God, to the Father, through the Spirit in the name of Jesus.
6. Has false teachers v18 (has not seen) (they divide, Jesus unites) (they oppresses, Jesus has healing compassion)
7. puffs up Proud v18 pride is the only disease that makes everyone sick expect those who have it. “I am better”.
(Jesus is humble)
8. Is Ignorant of Jesus.
Vrs 20-23 So what does religion accomplish? Nothing, but corruption
Vrs 20 Living by the ways of the world, many times that statement tells us that we are living very liberal but this means we are living very religious.
Vrs 21-22 Works based salvation, “if I do this God will accept me”
Vrs 23 religion/self denial is not the answer to our spiritual well being, Jesus is
Religion warps but Jesus teaches us “How We Live”
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