Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20070701.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Colossians: Maturing Over False Beliefs By Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency
Part VIII: Applying Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency To Discern False Movements
C. Using Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency To Discern False Mysticism
(Colossians 2:18-19)
  1. Introduction
    1. The tendency to highlight visions, impressions or cryptic influences for fulfillment, a tendency we call mysticism, has long affected Christendom. In evangelicalism today, experience-based Charismatics especially often extol such mysticism in highlighting their dreams, visions or other unusual experiences.
    2. However, the Apostle Paul countered mysticism, promoting a simple, straightforward, clear-headed dependence upon Christ by the believer (as follows):
  2. Using Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency To Discern False Mysticism, Colossians 2:18-19.
    1. In Colossians 2:8, Paul began to critique the Gnostic error itself, an error that detracted his readers from Christ and His supremacy and all-sufficiency, cf. Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament , p. 677.
    2. One of the segments of Gnostic error was "Oriental mysticism," Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, p. 1690.
    3. Paul countered mysticism, noting that it is by holding to Christ in simple, clearheaded faith that one finds true spiritual fulfillment versus involvement in mysticism that detracts a party from Christ, Col . 2:18-19:
      1. The Apostle Paul urged his Colossian Christian readers to let no one "rob [them] of the prize" (katabrabeueto, cf. J. B. Lightfoot, Colossians and Philemon, 1974, p. 195), or deprive them of God's reward of faithfulness to Him in regards to the negative matter in the context, Colossians 2:18a.
      2. This negative matter was false mysticism described in Colossians 2:18b,c,d,e as follows:
        1. Paul warned the Colossian believers against taking delight in (thelown 'en) [false] humility (tapeinophrosunay), Col 2:18b; Ibid., p. 195-196. (1) Now, humility is usually treated as "a vice with heathen moralists" and "a virtue with Christian Apostles," Ibid., p. 196. (2) However, these mystics were proud of their "humility", so it rose from a false spirituality, cf. 2 Timothy 3:5!
        2. Paul also warned his readers against taking delight in the worship of angels, the apparent practice of mystics that was done in false humility, Colossians 2:18c: (1) Rather than in worshiping God, the Gnostics claimed they humbly worshipped lower beings, the angels, Ibid. (2) Yet, this is expressly forbidden in Exodus 20:3-4 and Revelation 22:8-9 as idolatry, Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 679!
        3. Paul warned his readers against taking delight in "entering at length upon the tale of what he has seen in a vision," [ha horaken 'embateuon (literally "invading what he has seen" according to J. B. Lightfoot, Ibid., p. 196)], Col. 2:18d; Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Engl. Lex. of the N. T., p. 253: (1) the Gnostics, possibly impressed by the mystery religions, loved to pore over alleged visions they had, sharing their resulting insights with others to impress them of their lofty spirituality, Ibid., Lightfoot. (2) Thus, Paul denounced such a focus, which denunciation he upheld in his own example when he showed how much he despised speaking of his own true visions, cf. 2 Cor. 12:1-6.
        4. Paul warned his readers that such mysticism rose from excessive pride in the sin nature, Col. 2:18e.
      3. Actually, just opposite the impressions the mystics wished to leave, instead of drawing man closer to God and fulfillment, mysticism distracted them from Christ's headship and His fulfillment, Col. 2:19a.
      4. Indeed, only in holding to a simple dependence upon the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, would the believer find spiritual fulfillment and eventual Christian maturity, Colossians 2:19b,c,:
        1. Only in holding to Christ in simple, clearheaded faith is the believer supported and stabilized so that he can begin to grow into Christian maturity, Colossians 2:19b.
        2. Only in this supported, stabilized position can the believer actually progress in maturity, Col. 2:19c.
Lesson: Where the false mystics delighted in false humility that leads to theological error, and dwelt on alleged mystical visions, dreams or "experiences" they had, all of which arose from pride in the sinful nature, Paul called believers to hold to a simple trust in Christ for the stability needed for true maturity.

Application: May we avoid the false spirituality of mysticism that often plagues experience-oriented believers, a preoccupation that camps on ecstatic experiences and false humility, and rather promote a simple, clearheaded reliance upon Christ! Only in this way can we be stabilized to grow in the Lord!