Writing Rules

Colossians 2:16-23

God writes your Rules – the Bible.

1. Hebrews 1:1-3 “God has spoken”

2. John 12:48 Words of Jesus will judge us in the last day

3. Revelation 20:12 Judged by the Book of Life

4. In matters where God has given us liberty – We must allow others to have this same liberty.

5. Alexander Campbell, in his Declaration and Address, said, “In matters of faith – unity; In matters of opinion – liberty; In all things – Love.” This must be our guiding principle.

Four Principles taught in Colossians 2:16-23

Do not judge others or allow yourself to be judged. (16-17)
Meat or drink – daily choices
Holy Day – annual choices
New Moon – monthly choices
Sabbath Days – weekly choices
Matthew 7:1 “Judge not …” (a) Eternal destiny; (b) Motives
TODAY – Meat vs. vegetarian; observe a holiday; spend a Sunday afternoon

Do not beguile others or allow yourself to be beguiled. (18)
Beguile = to judge against, an umpire’s decision
Others can “rob you of the prize”
No man is my umpire, judge, able to disqualify me
Do not appoint yourself as umpire

Do not reject Christ as head or claim to be head in His place. (19)
Some think they are smarter, wiser than Christ.
Some will claim authority – power – rule – headship.
Diotrephes – 3 John 9-10
“I don’t like ____. You can’t like ____ either.”
Some will change the will of God. (1 Timothy 4:1-4)

Do not write the rules for others or submit to rules others try to impose. (20-23)
We try to be experts at rule writing.
If the Bible commands it – OBEY.
If man writes the rule – it is for him only.
DANGER: We write rules for others.
THEN: We violate them oursleves. (Romans 2:1-3)

Expansion of Last This Study

TEXT: Romans 12:2 “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and move you toward the goal of true maturity.” (Phillips paraphrase)

1. Do not let the world write your rules. (Colossians 2:20-22)
   
   1 – Church attendance – TV, company, Super Bowl
   2 – Dress – fashion, hemlines
   3 – Music – Art – Moral Values
   4 – Sex before marriage
    

2. Do not let civil authorities write your rules. (Acts 5:29)
   
   1 – Abortion
   2 – Lottery, Gambling
   3 – Divorce
   4 – Discipline of children
   5 – Homosexuality
    

3. Do not let fellow Christians write your rules. (Colossians 2:23)
   
   1 – Where to eat (restaurants which sell beer)
   2 – How to spend money (Foolish things like fishing.)
   3 – When to change channels, walk out of movie (1^st bad word, 3^rd word)
   4 – When to give from monthly income (divide out weekly vs. 1^st of month)
   5 – Where to work – Work on Sundays – Out of town