Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

The doctrine of justification by faith—a Biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism and unavailing self-effort—has in our time fallen into evil company and been interpreted by many in such manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God.

The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless.

Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego.

Christ may be "received" without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver.

The man is "saved," but he is not hungry nor thirsty after God.

In fact he is specifically taught to be satisfied and encouraged to be content with little.

Tozer, A.W.; Christian Book Collection (2001-04-11).

The Pursuit of God (Optimized for Kindle) [Updated 4/14/2010] (pp.

12-13). .

Kindle Edition.

Key theme for the book: Supremacy and Sufficiency of Jesus Christ

Syncretism of Colosse

“Intellectualism”

The exercise of the intellect at the expense of the emotions.

Devotion to intellectual pursuits

The exercise of the intellect.

Excessive emphasis on abstract or intellectual matters, especially with a lack of proper consideration for emotions.

Philosophy

The doctrine that knowledge is wholly or chiefly derived from pure reason.

The believe that reason is the final principle of reality.

“Ritualism”

The regular observance or practice of ritual, especially when excessive or without regard to its’ function.

A traditional or fixed way of behaving.

Adherence to or insistence on ritual.

The study of ritual practices or religious rites.

Excessive fondness for ritual.

The only explicit use of the word “philosophy”

“science” - Knowledge

The world system has a template for how they do things.

They have a template for how a person determines self-worth.

Illustration: A Chinese student was in class when she succumb to the pressure of education.

The student got up when to the window and jumped out.

Our students spend 35+ hours per week some kind of schooling either at home, public school, or private school.

There is a natural tendency to fall into a trap/cycle of teaching security based on educational success.

Illustration: It is amazing to learn how little we speak about our children’s spiritual accomplishments; but we speak much about their educational accomplishments.

Education is good; but success in education is not ultimate.

Education is good; but success in education should not be all we talk about.

Education is good; but success in education should not be where we find our greatest joy.

Question, “What is education the answer to?”

Proposition: It is imperative that believers see their own idolizing of intellectualism and traditionalism as enemies of the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ!

(1) A new creation in Christ is satisfied in knowing God (3:10) -  

What does it mean to be “renewed in knowledge”

(a) It is a passive verb that means someone is being acted upon

(b) It is the knowledge of God that was lost in the Fall - , ,

(d) It is a knowledge that continually transforms us -

App: Our self worth must not be attached to educational accomplishments.

Our break with the world will be the direct outcome of our changed relation to God.

For the world of fallen men does not honor God.

Millions call themselves by His Name, it is true, and pay some token respect to Him, but a simple test will show how little He is really honored among them.

Let the average man be put to the proof on the question of who is above, and his true position will be exposed.

Let him be forced into making a choice between God and money, between God and men, between God and personal ambition, God and self, God and human love, and God will take second place every time.

Those other things will be exalted above.

However the man may protest, the proof is in the choices he makes day after day throughout his life.

Tozer, A.W.; Christian Book Collection (2001-04-11).

The Pursuit of God (Optimized for Kindle) [Updated 4/14/2010] (pp.

102-103). .

Kindle Edition.

Recap: A new creation in Christ is satisfied in knowing God ( - Woman at the well…)

(2) A new creation in Christ finds that knowing Christ is the highest and greatest pursuit.

(3:10)

(a) It is an ongoing renewal in this new knowledge -

(a) It is an ongoing renewal in this new knowledge -

The next concern is the goal of growth.

Paul described it in 3:10.

The goal is knowledge.

Knowledge was a preoccupation of the false teachers.

Paul stressed knowledge (epignōsis), genuine knowledge attained through Christ in the process of renewal.

This is progressive, not instantaneous.

It comes through Christ, not some other flash of insight as, perhaps, the false teachers were saying at Colossae.

(b) It is a knowledge that continually transforms us -

(b) It is a knowledge that continually transforms us - [Lead to next point..]

App: Any pursuit of knowledge that rivals the supremacy of Jesus in your life is an enemy to be slain.

- False teachers proclaim the knowledge of God but their lives deny Him.

Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.

Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people.

He waits to be wanted.

Tozer, A.W.; Christian Book Collection (2001-04-11).

The Pursuit of God (Optimized for Kindle) [Updated 4/14/2010] (p.

17). .

Kindle Edition.

Recap: A new creation in Christ is satisfied in knowing God ( - Woman at the well…)

Recap: A new creation in Christ finds that knowing Christ is the highest and greatest pursuit.

(3:10)

(3) A new creation in Christ conforms to the image of His Creator.

(3:10)

(a) The importance of this allusion to Adam - “the old self” ,

(b) The importance of the new “creation” - ,

This image of God, is expressed in Christ - Christ is the pattern for the renewal.

See also

See

App: We must refuse the pursuit of intellectualism that leads to deformity rather than Christ-like conformity.

In Christ, we are a new humanity; but that does not mean the distinctions of this world are obliterated.

They are relativized (Pillar) - They are no longer what is most important.

The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.

Tozer, A.W.; Christian Book Collection (2001-04-11).

The Pursuit of God (Optimized for Kindle) [Updated 4/14/2010] (p.

20). .

Kindle Edition.

Recap: A new creation in Christ is satisfied in knowing God ( - Woman at the well…)

A new creation in Christ finds that knowing Christ is the highest and greatest pursuit.

(3:10)

A new creation in Christ conforms to the image of His Creator

(4) A new creation in Christ considers the corporate institution accomplished in Christ.

(3:11) 

(a) Christ demolishes polarities:

National or ethnic polarities

Religious heritage

Cultural heritage