C) THE FALSE OF MEN. 2:16-23 1. The Substance of Christ Vs. the Legalism of Men. 2:16-17 2. The Head of Christ Vs. Eastern Mysticism of men. 2:18-19 3. The Death in Christ Vs. Ascetic Ordinances of Men. 2:20-23 1. The Act of judging. v.16-17 2. The Attitude of pride. v.18-19 3. The Appearance of false religion. v.20-23 1. The Substance of Christ Vs. the Legalism of Men. 2:16-17 V.16 a) Shallow Regarding - Accusation against the freedom in Christ. The saints have been freed from the law and no longer in bondage to the ordinances of clean and unclean food, drinks and days. V.17 b) Substantial Reality - Antitypes of Christ. I. All of the law, festivals and Sabbath were pointing to Christ. 1.Cor.8:8-9; Gal.4:9-11; Heb.9:10; Acts 10:9-16; Mark 7:18-19; 1.Tim.4:3 II. Christ is reality and substance of all Scripture. John 5:39; Luke 24:27; Heb.10:5-7 2. The Head of Christ Vs. Eastern Mysticism of men. 2:18-19 Mysticism is the pursuit of a deeper or higher religious experience and teaches that: Spiritual reality is perceived apart from the human intellect and natural senses. The higher “ conscience” of god and the universe is experienced through self-denial and spiritual experience. V.18 c) Stealing Reward - Angel worship instead of worshipping Christ. I. Eastern Mysticism Promotes Self. The saints should not be moved away by proud people declaring what they had seen: False humility. II. Their delight was in: Humility, angels and spiritual sight. V.19 d) Stopped Retaining - Acquainted but not Attached to Christ. Eastern Mysticism Demotes Christ. Right humility is to hold on to the head, this false teachers delighted more in their own mind than in the head of Christ. 3. The Death in Christ Vs. Ascetic Ordinances of Men. 2:20-23 V.20 e) Subjection to Regulations - Abased to regulations instead of Ascending in Christ. In Christ the saints died to them selves and the world, so why should they again live in subjection to it. V.21 f) Staged Rules - Asceticism instead of Christ. I. False humility is a show for acceptance and honour. They abstained to gain acceptance with God. Matt.6:16 II. Asceticism feeds the flesh by starving it. III. Spirituality is here measured by not doing while true measuring is through how we love and works. V.22 g) Strayed Requirements - According to man and not Christ. Man-made requirements serve only the flesh. V.23 h) Self-imposed Religion - Appearance but not manifestation of Christ. It has an Appearance but no Ability, it cannot overcome the flesh. Rom.7:5, 8-25 The answer to philosophy is the fullness of Christ, the answer to legalism is the realization of the grace of Christ, the answer to mysticism is our relation to Christ, the answer to asceticism is our death with Christ. The answer is where it all began: At the foot of the Cross.