Sunday Recap 11-4-12

Morning: The sermon, "No Compromise," focused on Colossians 2:16-23. Here Paul further exposes the errors that are being pressed on to the people in Colosse. Paul urges the church to submit to Christ, and not the world. To this end, he gives them stern warnings:

1. Don't let people judge your freedom in Christ. God has given each person a conscience. That conscience can be refined or dulled. In Christ, we are to live out of a biblically informed conscience. We shouldn't let people judge us on what we eat or drink or our religious celebrations. These things were shadows; Christ is the reality. As long as what we are doing doesn't violate the commands of God, we have freedom in Christ.

2. Don't let anyone disqualify you from the prize. The false teachers promoted a false spirituality.

 They were overly pleased with themselves, but didn't want others to think so. They called for a spirituality based on visions and idle notions. Spirituality divorced from Christ is lifeless: it possesses no life and produces no life.

3. Don't submit to the world's rules. In Christ, the believer has died to the world and its authority.

The world's rules don't prevent sinful behavior, but provoke it. Instead, we are to pursue Christ. 

Evening: Business meeting