A. We want to jump ahead to Colossians 2:21, 22a "(Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22.) Which all are to perish with the using;)

1. Let’s all remember this and not only remember it but more important in life make it a major rule of our 2. life’s. The word "perish" means corruption, "with the using" the word "using" means consumption but this Greek word comes from "Apo" which means to stay away from.

3. The Lord commanded us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

4. 1 Peter 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"

5. Beloved this should be (however sometimes is not) the greatest rule of every born again believer. Do not look at, do not think about, do not ask about, and lastly do not do anything that is worldly!!

6. If these Colossian believers would have obeyed God teachings they would not have had a problem causing Paul to fight with these false teachers.

B. Verse 20a. "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world,"

1. We died with Christ as a union with Him. This world killed Him and it was happy, it kills (metaphorically not literally) us and it is happy, their teachings go against Christ, their love is against Christ, their way of life is against Christ, and their worship is against Christ, which means it is also against us, so why would a believer that is in union with Christ seek any of this.

2. Paul goes on with the age old question "why" verse 20b Why so Christians disobey God and fall into the worlds temptations?

3. Verse 20c "as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances" this is what Paul says here - why do you not abstain from the world and it’s Anti-Christ teachings? Why put your selves under laws and rituals that were put to death with Christ. Why?

4. Let’s remember Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Can the Lord be any plainer? Matthew 11:27-30 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (28.) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29.) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30.) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." How is this true if we are under laws, works, or obedience’s?

5. Paul says to stay away from them period; they are neither of God nor of Christ, but verse 22b "after the commandments and doctrines of men?

6. Man made traditions and doctrines are going to perish with there creator in the deepest and hottest part of hell. The lost that follow this will follow them into hell, the saved that will follow them will follow them to be the least in heaven and beloved that just is not good enough for any believer. Who wants to be the least in heaven?

7. By this a believer has allowed Satan and the workers in the world to "Let no man beguile you of your reward" verse 18a

C. Paul speaks of wolves in sheep’s clothing in V. 23 "Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

1. "Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship" Oh how they look to be honoring to the Lord, to the naked eyes and ears they appear to be of God, bringing honor and glory to the Lord, but look close at them and you will see they all honor and bring glory to the creature.

2. "not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." This goes back to verse 18 "vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," Their minds have been built up to believe they are truly worshiping God in truth but they are truly just satisfying their fleshly nature.

3. I will close with Paul’s question "why" why would a believer want to be involved in something that is Anti-God??