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INSUFFICIENCY OF ASCETICISM (Col 2:20-23) 09/10/17 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. SUBMITTING TO ASCETIC
PRINCIPLES (Col 2:20) A. Proposition: Asceticism is
insufficient in securing salvation or victory over man’s sinful nature.
Christ alone is supreme and sufficient in securing those things. B. Asceticism Explained 1. The
principles or practice of the Ascetics [pertains] to the exercise of
extremely rigorous self-discipline, severely abstinent, austere. (OED 1881). 2. In Ecclesiastical History [it referred
to] those who in the early church retired into solitude, to exercise
themselves in meditation and prayer, and in the practice of rigorous
self-discipline by celibacy, fasting, and toil. (OED 1881). 3. Asceticism comes from the Greek word
askêsis [askeō - Act 24:16], meaning "exercise, training,
practice." Ascetics renounce worldly pleasures that distract from
spiritual growth and enlightenment and live a life of abstinence, austerity
and extreme self-denial. Asceticism is common in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism,
Judaism, Islam, [as well as the Christian Desert Fathers and Monastics].
Historically, asceticism has involved fasting, exposing oneself to heat or
cold, sleep deprivation, flagellation [(flogging or beating)], and even
self-mutilation. C. Believers Died with Christ
to Ascetic Principles 1. Paul
uses a simple condition (“if”) that implies, “since you have died with
the Christ.” All believers have died with Christ so that they might
live in newness of life (Col 2:12; Col 3:3). 2. That union with Christ’s death rendered
inoperative: a. the
power of sin (Col 2:11; Rom 6:7), b. the Law (Col 2:14), c. the World (“elementary principles of the
world”). 3. We have
seen the word “elementary” before in Col 2:8 in reference to the philosophy.
“Elementary” is the Greek word stoicheion and essentially means
the basics or rudimentary elements in any field (Heb 5:12). But Paul connects
it with the rudimentary elements of the world, which would be: a. Natural
inclinations of human religion (Gal 4:3). b. Natural religious philosophies and
traditions of men (Col 2:8). c. Natural religious legalism and asceticism
(Col 2:20-21). d. Therefore, weak, worthless, and enslaving
(Gal 4:9). 4. Not only
is there no spiritual gain from ascetic practices, but the believer is
delivered from such worldly notions through union with Christ’s death. D. Why Live in Ascetic
Principles? 1. The
question remains, “Why were some of the Colossians being persuaded to follow
false teaching?” 2. Paul spiritually reasoned that since they
were dead to the world, why were they living as though they were alive to the
world (“living in the world”). 3. In doing so, they were submitting
themselves to decrees (dogmatizesthe - pres pass ind of
dogmatizō - in the passive it means “submit to rules, obey regulations
decreed by others” Friberg) and ascetic regulations of the false
teachers. 4. They were most likely persuaded through
the dogmatic intimidation by the false teachers. Intimidation and pride
normally accompanies legalism and asceticism. In essence, the false teacher
stated that because he does certain things, he is more spiritual than those
who do not. II. SPECIFIC ASCETIC
PRINCIPLES (Col 2:21) A. Do Not Handle 1. What
were these ascetic decrees that the false teachers were promoting? They were
regulations such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.” 2. Paul may be thinking of particular rules
and practices that the false teachers promoted. Or there could be some
sarcasm in Paul’s words, “Don’t handle this, don’t taste that, in fact don’t
touch anything at all!” 3. The word “handle” (haptō)
is similar to the word “touch.” However, the former has the nuance of
handling, fastening, or clinging to something (cf. Joh 20:17). The idea is
that the ascetic rules demand the external practice of not fastening on to
certain foods, drinks, or cling to any evil material thing. B. Do Not Taste 1. “Taste”
(geuomai - to drink -Mat 27:34, or eat food - Act 10:10, or figurative -
Heb 2:9) most likely refers to renouncing of certain foods or even
fasting. 2. Fasting is certainly within the
Christian’s liberty. Jesus talked about fasting in regard to his disciples.
It is acceptable if a believer seeks the Lord in a particular matter with
prayer and fasting. Or if a believer desires to focus solely on spiritual
things or a spiritual issue, fasting is acceptable 3. However, if a person is fasting for the
purpose of self-glory (Mat 6:16-18) or believing that fasting produces
holiness, then fasting becomes a worthless practice. 4. Groups like Jainism regularly fasted,
sometimes weekly and sometimes up to a month. C. Do Not Touch 1. “Touch”
(thigês) is similar to the word “handle” but probably used here in a
more literal sense. It was used in reference to man and beast who were not
permitted to touch Mt. Sinai when God spoke to them in Exodus 19 and 20 (cf.
Exo 19:12; Heb 12:20). 2. [The Ascetics’] prohibitions relate to
defilement contrasted in diverse ways by contact with impure objects. Some
were doubtless reenactments of the Mosaic law, while others would be
exaggerations or additions of a rigorous asceticism, such as we find among
the Essene prototypes of these Colossian heretics, e.g. the avoidance of oil,
of wine, or of flesh-meat, the shunning of contact with a stranger or a
religious inferior, and the like.
(Wuest in loc.). III. SPAN OF ASCETIC PRINCIPLES
(Col 2:22) A. Ascetic Principles Will
Perish 1. The
principles of the ascetics are temporal and earthly. All things of the earth
are temporal and will eventually “perish” (phthora - physical death
through decay - 1Co 15:42). 2. They are not eternal and will be “used”
up (apochrêsis - used up with consumption), decay and be destroyed. B. Ascetic Principles are
Commandments of Men 1. Paul is
finishing his sentence after the parenthetical insertion. Therefore, Paul is
saying, “Why do you submit yourself to decrees … in accordance with the
commandments and teachings of men?” 2. The principles of ascetics are
unspiritual. They are not of God but are the commandments and teachings of
men. In other words, ascetic principles are nothing more that man-made
religion. IV. SUPERFICIALITY OF ASCETIC
PRINCIPLES (Col 2:23) A. Ascetic Principles Appear
Wise 1. The lure
of ascetic principles is that they appear to have the appearance of wisdom.
The reason why ascetic principles appear wise is because they appeal to man’s
sinful nature. 2. The sin nature has effected man’s
understanding of spirituality and how to have a relationship with God. 3. Man’s innate nature believes that he must
earn his way to heaven. In so doing, he must make some contribution toward
the removal of his own sin and guilt. B. Ascetic Principles Are
Self-made Religion 1. In one
sense, this explains how false teachers can be so successful. Their self-made
religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body appeals to
man’s sinful nature to one degree or another. C. Ascetic Principles Have No
Value for Fleshy Indulgence 1. However,
the problem with any man-made religion is that it is has no value
spiritually. 2. It is not able to take away sin, bring a
sinner closer to God, or give victory over fleshly indulgence. “Indulgence”
is the Greek word plêsmonê which means the desires and gratification
of the flesh. 3. Asceticism does not stop the temptations
of the flesh, stifle the desires of the flesh, nor does it provide victory
over the flesh. Actually, it intensifies the sensual desires. V. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. Why do false teachers have
a great influence? B. What about ascetic disciplines today? C. Is there a place for self-discipline in
the Christian Life? VI. Conclusion: No one will
secure salvation or holiness by pursuing man’s philosophy, legalism,
mysticism, and or asceticism. But by fastening to Christ and His death on the
cross one is not only saved but has Christ’s sufficiency to live a life
pleasing to God. VII. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Why do False Teachers have
a great influence? 1. Intimidation a. Legalistic
and ascetic false teacher can be very intimidating. They make people believe
that they are not living up to the standard. But they are man-made standards
not God. b. No one can live up to God’s standard. The
reason Jesus Christ was sent to the cross was to pay for man’s sin of not
living up to the standard and to give sinful man His own righteousness. 2. Pseudo-spirituality a. Not only
do these teachers intimidate, but they put on a pseudo spirituality in front
of everyone. b. The unlearned fall for such a ploy and
are easily duped and motivated to follow. 3. Appeal
to carnal desires a. Many
false teachers subtly cater to the flesh, sometimes not so subtly. 4. Appeal to carnal thinking a. Carnal
thinking believes we have to do something to remove sin and guilt. b. Carnal thinking believes we can work our
way to heaven. c. Carnal thinking believes that
sanctification comes by the harsh treatment of the body and ascetic
principles. 5. The
solution: a. Possess
the True Knowledge that our Salvation is in Christ alone b. Possess the True Knowledge of Christ as
Savior c. Possess the True Knowledge that our
Sufficiency is in Christ alone B. What about Ascetics
disciplines today? 1. The
Desert Fathers were monastics and ascetics. In fact, it could be argued that
the Desert Fathers copied many of these practices from other religions. a. The Desert Fathers (along with Desert
Mothers) were early Christian hermits, ascetics, and monks who lived mainly
in the Scetes desert of Egypt beginning around the third century AD. (Wikipedia). b. The desert fathers believed as long as
the desire for God was sincere--anything could be utilized to reach God. If a
method worked for the Hindus to reach their gods, then Christian mantras
could be used to reach Jesus." (Yungen,
A Time of Departing, pg. 43). c. It was a time of great experimentation
with spiritual methods. Many different kinds of disciplines were tried, some
of which are too harsh or extreme for people today. Many different methods of
prayer were created and explored by them. (Ken Kaisch, (Episcopal Priest and
Christian mystic) Finding God, op. cit., p.191.) 2. Nevertheless,
the Desert Fathers had their own movement and it influenced many for centuries
to follow. 3. Today multitudes are going back to the
Desert Fathers for spiritual mentoring. Christians today are looking to the
Desert Fathers for enlightenment of a mystical relationship with God and
ascetic practices. 4. Celebration of Disciplines - Richard
Foster a. For
Foster, spirituality and sanctification are all about the “disciplines.” When
he speaks of “discipline,” he is not referring to the character quality of
discipline, which the believer must have to read his Bible, pray, attend church,
and serve in ministry. Rather, Foster’s “disciplines” are a series of twelve
disciplines, which transport an individual into a mystical experience with
God and increase spirituality. C. Is there a place for
self-discipline in the Christian Life? 1. Yes. a. Discipline
of studying the true knowledge of God in the Word. b. Discipline of meditating on Scripture and
prayer. c. Discipline of putting spiritual truths
into practice. d. Discipline of putting the principles of
the Word in practice. |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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