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Be on guard and don’t get caught in the devil’s snare of false doctrine and deceit!
Fred R. Coulter–-October 18, 2025
Greetings, everyone, welcome to Sabbath services. Welcome back after the Feast of Tabernacles.
We’ve covered the things concerning tithing, so I’m only just going to review one thing that’s important to understand. God says in Mal. 3, bring the tithe into My House. Where is the House of God today? 1 Tim. 3 tells us!
We also know that in order to receive the tithes and offerings, Jesus gave the apostles authority to do so! That’s what Paul wrote. He said he didn’t use that authority, because he was hoping that those in Corinth would become converted so they would automatically give the tithes and offerings. But he found out that they wouldn’t do that, so in 2-Cor. 12, he said, ‘Forgive me for this wrong.’ Then he had to rob other Churches in order to serve them.
1-Timothy 3:14: “These things I am writing to you, hoping to come to you shortly; but if I should delay, you have these things in writing, so that you may know how one is obligated to conduct oneself in the House of God…” (vs 14-15).
Now, here is the New Testament definition of the House of God, because great to-do is made over the destruction of the temple and the Levitical priesthood. ‘Bring it into the House of God’ (Mal. 3), which is the Church of the living God!
“...the pillar and foundation of the Truth” (v 15).
Heb. 10—we have this concerning everything about Christ and Melchizedek. That proves that tithing was always in force way before Israel. Let’s understand that in the New Testament we have the Temple of God in heaven above, not on the earth! We have the sacrifice of Christ, which is greater than all. It tells us right here in the beginning concerning animal sacrifices.
Now, because they’ve been replaced by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it means we have a Superior Sacrifice! That’s what Paul is talking about here in Heb. 10. Here is the whole thing, right here. Remember what Jesus said; we’re to live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God! Well, that means out of the mouth of Christ, because He was God manifested in the flesh!
Concerning sacrifices, Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering He has obtained eternal perfection for those who are sanctified.” But that perfection is not completed until the resurrection!
In the meantime, we are being perfected. And how are we being perfected? With the Spirit of God and growing in grace and knowledge! Then it says here.
Verse 20: “By a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil (that is, His flesh), and having a great High Priest over the House of God... [that’s the Church] ...let us approach God with a true heart, with full conviction of faith, our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water” (vs 20-22)–-conversion, receiving God’s Spirit, and baptism! All of that is there!
Now then, let’s come to 2-Peter We’ve covered it but we’ll just bring it out. I want to point out that the whole controversy over tithing was a misleading to get you to do something worse, and I’ll read it in the words of Ernest Martin.
Tithing is God’s way of doing things, and offerings. Now if you eliminate tithing do you not also eliminate offerings? Because He said to ‘bring your tithes and offerings into the Treasure House, and the house today is the Church of God, and Paul said he had authority to use it. Now, why did he need authority to use it? Because it was transferred over to the Church when Christ became our High Priest!
2-Peter 2:1: “But there were also false prophets...”
We’ll see where all the false prophets and false prophecies and false doctrines want to take the people of God away! We’ll see it, because everything that was said about tithing was only an introduction to take you away from God!
2-Peter 2 agrees with what Luke wrote about Paul calling all of the elders from Ephesus down to Milpitas. And he said that there ‘will be false wolves entering in among you who shall bring in damnable heresies,’ even of the elders that were sitting right in front of him when he told them this. ‘That even some of you will get carried away to take disciples after themselves.’
We will see the ultimate false doctrine that has the Protestant world in its grips, and that’s where Ernest Martin wanted to go.
2-Peter 2:1: “But there were also false prophets among the people, as indeed there will be false teachers among you, who will stealthily introduce destructive heresies, personally denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many people will follow…” (vs 1-2).
See, now we need to understand this: never believe a doctrine emotionally! You must prove it:
Is it true?
Is it with the Word of God?
Now, we’ll see how Peter emphasizes that in just a minute.
“…and because of them, the way of the Truth will be blasphemed” (v 2).
What did Paul tell Timothy to do? Rightly divide the Word of Truth by diligently studying (2-Tim. 2:15).
Verse 3: “...with enticing messages exploit you for gain.”
2-Peter 3–-let’s see what they like to do. They like to take the Epistles of Paul, where there are difficult Scriptures to understand, and twist them and turn them. We’re going to see that here in just a bit.
2-Peter 3:15: “And bear in mind that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, exactly as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has also written to you; as he has also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things; in which are some things that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable are twisting and distorting, as they also twist and distort the rest of the Scriptures to their own destruction” (vs 15-16).
Now, here’s what we always need to do. Peter’s warning, right here. Remember he said back there in 1-Peter 5:8, that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking to devour whomever he may! Remember that was written to the elders by Peter.
2-Peter 3:17: “Therefore, beloved, since you know this in advance, be on guard against such practices, lest you be led astray with the error of the lawless ones...”
Now, isn’t that interesting? They always attack the Law of God! What did Jesus say about the Law of God? Don’t think I’ve come to abolish the Law, I have come to fulfill! Now, to fulfill means, as the prophecy, that He came to make the Law glorious, so it is understood.
“…and you fall from your own steadfastness” (v 17). Now, you need to ask, everyone:
Will a clever argument cause me to fall?
or
Will you prove all things by the Word of God, as we have done in this whole conflict, to know what the Truth is?
We’ll get to it here in just a bit. So, here’s what we are to do:
Verse 18: “Rather, be growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ....”–-that’s why we have the Word of God! That’s why we go over the Word of God and go over it!
2-Tim.–-here’s what Paul warned against himself when he wrote. We know in 2-Thess. we’re told to prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.
Consider this; 2-Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed...”
Now, ALL the Scriptures are the Word of God, but there are those who misapply them, misinterpret them.
“...and is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (v 16).
That’s a good summary of what Peter wrote to grow in grace and knowledge. The thing is, you will find this with your Bible study–-IF you study–-you will learn more from the Scriptures that you thought you already knew, and there’s more to it than you have imagined!
2-Tmothy 4:1: “I charge you, therefore, in the sight of God, even the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is ready to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the Word!....” (vs 1-2).
Now, we’re going to see why, and we’re going to see how we need to understand these things so that we keep all of it in correct perspective!
Verse 2: “Preach the Word! Be urgent in season and out of season...”
What does this tell us? This one statement here tells us that we’re keeping the Passover and Holy Days of God!
Why would he say that? Because the prophecy in Dan. 7 is that the Babylonian system would change the times!
Isn’t that what we have in the world today with all the days of the world? Yes! Everything has changed. and the worst one that I mentioned already, Halloween, is coming up. But they’re all lies!
Now, here’s what happens IF you don’t ‘prove all things and old fast of that which is good’:
Verse 3: “For there shall come a time when they will not tolerate sound doctrine...”
Now we will see what takes them away from sound doctrine.
“...but according to their own lusts they shall accumulate to themselves a great number of teachers, having ears itching to hear what satisfies their cravings; and they shall turn away their own ears from the Truth...” (vs 3-4).
Now, that is a decision that people make when they accept false doctrine. Then it goes one step further and they harden their heart and then they change the Truth!
Verse 4: “And they shall turn away their own ears from the Truth; and they shall be turned aside unto myths.” Now, that’s what the holidays of this world are; they are myths!
They are pagan days renamed with Christian-sounding names, and people believe it! The whole world believes it!
2-Peter 1:12: “Therefore, I will not neglect to make you always mindful of these things, although you already know them and have been established in the present Truth. For I consider it my duty, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by causing you to remember these things; knowing that shortly the putting off of my tabernacle will come, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has signified to me. But I will make every effort that, after my departure...” (vs 12-15).
Because this is important; my day is going to come. So, you need to ask yourself: What are you going to do when I’m gone? Same thing here.
Verse 15: “But I will make every effort that, after my departure, you may always have a written remembrance of these things in order to practice them for yourselves, for we did not follow cleverly concocted myths... [we just read that’s what people fall to when they reject the Truth] ...as our authority, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His magnificent glory” (vs 15-16). That’s the vision of the transfiguration on the mountain!
Verse 17: “Because He received glory and honor from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I am well pleased.’ And this is the voice from heaven that we heard when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain. We also possess the confirmed prophetic Word...” (vs 17-19). That’s the New Testament; that also includes all the prophecies of the Old Testament!
“...to which you do well to pay attention, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts...”–-return of Christ and your resurrection.
Verse 20: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture originated as anyone’s own private interpretation.”
Now, mark that private interpretation because I’m going to read to you here in just a bit that the ultimate goal that every false teacher wants to do is to take the people of God away from Christ and God the Father! And they’ll do it with cleverly concocted myths.
But Peter writes, v 21: “Because prophecy was not brought at any time by human will, but the Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Now then, I’m going to read the conclusion of the tithing controversy thing here from the book by Ernest Martin: The Tithing Dilemma. We will see exactly the motivation of everything.
Now, a good way to know what is contained in a book is read the conclusion and then start at the beginning. Because then you’ll see everything will be leading to the conclusion.
Summary, from The Tithing Dilemma by Ernest Martin:
Christians in the legal sense in the eyes of the Father have already made it into the kingdom and salvation of God by being attached to Christ.
False statement! That’s where all false doctrines lead, to take people away from Christ. All right, we’ll look at it here in just a minute.
Christians have died to this world. They are recognized by the Father as already having kept all of the commandments of all the rituals including all tithing, all Sabbaths, all Holy Days, new moons, etc.
You’ve already done that, which is a lie! You have not done it!He’s saying, you did it because Christ did it! And if Christ did it and you belong to Christ, then you did it!
What is he preaching here? Just like Peter warned, lawless teachers! Here it is, read it again.
Christians who have died to the world.
Now, Martin doesn’t explain what it means ‘die to the world,’the whole thing concerning baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, etc.
And they are recognized by the Father as already having kept...
past tense
...all the commandments, all of the rituals, including all tithing, Sabbaths, Holy Days, new moons, and indeed, all the requirements of God were kept in Christ when He was on earth, and we kept them perfectly at the time He did.
Does this not pale into absolute insignificance the question concerning tithing? One other thing, Nowhere in the Bible does it say tithing is a sin!
The fact that Jesus was made our substitute sacrifice and our stand-in to undergo judgment for us is the very basis of what the teaching of Christianity is all about.
Martin is saying here that judgment on the Church has already been done and judgment on the Church says that you have already kept all the Sabbath, all the Holy Days, and everything like that!
Big lie! That having been said, that means there’s no judgment that needs to be done against us now! IF we’ve already done it and since Christ did it and that’s transferred to us, THEN we have nothing to do! Isn’t that the ultimate of Protestantism? Yes!
1-Peter 4:17: “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the Household of God There it is, the House of God is the Church.
“...and if it first begins with us...” This means that we are being judged every day:
what we do
what we think
what we say
“...what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?” (v 17).
What does Rev. 20 show us that’s going to happen to them? Lake of Fire!
Verse 18: “And if the righteous are saved with much difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Notice v 19 and how this ties in with what we read there in 2-Peter:
Verse 19: “For this reason also, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.”
Now, let’s see what else Martin has to say here; here’s the big lie explained even more:
The simple truth is Jesus did all the works for all mankind that the Father has required of mankind to perform in order to reach salvation, and all those works have been awarded to us by grace and not by our own works.
There it is right there!
By virtue of the Father having put us in Christ from before the foundations of the world.
That is absolute lawlessness!
Martin is parroting Protestant doctrine! Now, he doesn’t tell you up front that’s what he’s going to do. A liar never tells you where he wants to deceive you and take you!
Now, we’re going to cover Col. 1, and into Col. 2, because Martin is:
blaspheming Christ
blaspheming overcoming
rejecting true baptism
rejecting the true Holy Spirit of God
That’s what he’s doing!
So, all of this about tithing and giving and all of that, that’s just all ‘fluff-fluff,’ to get you into the conclusion to buy the big lie!
Colossians 1:1: “Paul, an apostle by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossi: Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying for you continually since hearing of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love that you have toward all the saints because of the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, which you heard before in the Word of the Truth of the Gospel” (vs 1-5).
Now, IF it’s all laid up in heaven, it’s not already done on the earth!
Isn’t that true?
How can Christ do everything for everyone so everyone has nothing to do? Not true!
Verse 6: “Which has come to you, even as it also has in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, just as it is among you, from the day that you heard and knew the grace of God in Truth.”
This also gives us an understanding there’s something for them to do! How do we always sum up what we need to do? we’ll see this fits in everything:
believe God
obey God
love God
Those three things have to always be in what we are doing! IF you believe God and what He says, and what the Word of God tells us...
What does the Word of God tell us where the Laws and Commandments of God are to be? Written in your heart and in your mind!
Does that sound like that Christ has already kept them for you? No!
They’re written in your heart and mind because:
you know them
you understand them
you practice them
you live by them
Verse 7: “Even as you also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you; Who has also informed us of your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, from the day that we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled...” (vs 7-9).
Now notice the difference. Christ hasn’t done it all! You need it!
“...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthily of the Lord...” (vs 9-10). That is a way of life!
What did we read recently concerning walking in the Truth in 2nd and 3rd John?
based in love
based in obedience
walking in Truth
There’s no way that Christ has done everything that you should do.
Verse 11: “Being strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, unto all endurance and long-suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father, Who has made us qualified for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the Light; Who has personally rescued us from the power of darkness and has transferred us unto... [not into, unto, or under, as it could be, the jurisdiction of] ...the Kingdom of the Son of His love” (vs 11-13)–-the Kingdom of the Son of God!
Verse 14: “In Whom we have redemption through His own blood, even the remission of sins; Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation” (vs 14-15).
That means the firstborn, no other one was born like Christ in the flesh, because:
He was begotten by God the Father
He was born of the virgin Mary
No other one had that! Then it also talks about having been raised from the dead, the Firstborn from the dead!
Verse 15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation... [all the creation of men and women] ...because by Him were all things created, the things in heaven and the things on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him” (vs 16-16).
We know for sure what I just read; He’s not running all of those things.
Verse 17: “And He is before all, and by Him all things subsist. And He is the Head of the Body, the Church; Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead so that in all things He Himself might hold the preeminence” (vs 17-18).
We’ll continue on into Col. 2, and then see the vehicle, the method of operation and teaching that all of these false Christians and Christian teachers use over and over again.
(break@39:15)
Colossians is important to understand, because the Colossians were basically all Greeks. They followed the Greek philosophical religions. We find that Paul also addressed that in Acts 17 when he went up to Mars Hill and spoke to all of the philosophers, the Stoics and the Epicureans.
Colossians 1:21: “For you were once alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works; but now He has reconciled you.” The reconciliation comes through:
repentance
baptism
forgiveness of sin
“...He has reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblamable and unimpeachable before Him” (vs 21-22).
Notice what Paul says right after that. That doesn’t mean that Christ has done everything for you. He writes what we have to do in order to complete it!
you must have a beginning
you must have progress
you must have an ending
the beginning is repentance and baptism
the ending is the first resurrection
Think about all the things that are in between that!
“...to present you Holy and unblamable and unimpeachable before Him; IF indeed you continue in the faith...” (vs 22-23).
What is the faith?
Is it just something you think of? No!
The faith is a way of life!
“...grounded and steadfast...” (v 23). To what?
the Truth
to Christ
to the Word of God
“...and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you have heard, and which was proclaimed in all the creation that is under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a servant” (v 23).
Now, that is also prophetic. Because the Gospel is still going out today.
Verse 24: “Now, I am rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and I am filling up in my flesh that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ, for the sake of His Body, which is the Church; of which I became a servant, according to the administration of God that was given to me for you in order to complete the Word of God” (vs 24-25).
So, they knew what they were doing in writing the epistles and finishing the Word of God.
Verse 26: “Even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints; to whom God did will to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (vs 26-27). Christ in you is the Holy Spirit of God!
What are we to develop? The mind of Christ!
How are we to live? According to:
the love of God
the Commandments of God
the instructions that He has given in His Word
Verse 28: “Whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is showing all the work that needs to be done toward that perfection!
Verse 29: “For this cause I also labor, striving according to His inner working, which works in me with power.”
That’s what it has to be with all of us. Through all of this:
what we do
how we think
how we act
the Holy Spirit is there to lead us and guide us! Christ has not already finished it!
Col. 2–-here we get to the key of the error that we are discussing:
Colossians 2:1: “Now, I want you to understand what great concern I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (vs 1-3).
That’s important to understand, because you cannot take the wisdom of this world, as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 2, and bring that into the teachings of the Bible, and say that YOU are now perfecting the Word of God.
Verse 4: “Now, this I say so that no one may deceive you by persuasive speech.... [that’s what I just read to you] ...For though I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ” (vs 4-5).
Verse 6 is telling them what they need to do. Far from saying Christ has done everything for you!
because Christ kept the Commandments that He kept them for you
because He kept the Holy Days that He kept them for you
because He kept the Sabbath that He kept it for you
Verse 6: “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him.” That is:
walking in His footsteps
walking in the way of Truth
Verse 7: “Being rooted and built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, exactly as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Now, here is the warning. Here is the heart and core of the problem of:
Protestantism today
Catholicism today
Evangelicalism today
They’re always looking to increase numbers. Remember, numbers do not mean conversion!
All you have to do is, if you’re watching a football game, and they give a whole shot of the stadium, they’re probably upwards of 30,000 or 40,000 there. Do those numbers equate in to what, if they were Christians, true Christians? No!
Verse 8: “Be on guard...” Now, that’s what Jesus said: Be on guard about false prophets, that means:
once you understand the Truth
once you know what you need to do
once you understand how you need to grow in grace and knowledge and overcome
You need to guard that! Why? Because Satan the devil, as a roaring lion, is seeking whom he may devour!
2-Timothy 2:14: “See that they remain mindful of these things, earnestly charging them in the sight of the Lord not to argue over words that are not profitable in any way, but which lead to the subverting of those who hear. Diligently study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of the Truth; but avoid profane and vain babblings because they will only give rise to more ungodliness, and their words will eat away at the body like gangrene; of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus, who have gone astray from the Truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place, and are destroying the faith of some” (vs 14-18).
Isn’t that true with what we read?
If Christ has done it all?
Doesn’t that destroy faith, saying, you don’t have to do anything?
That Christ already did it?
IF you don’t have to do anything, how come judgments on the House of God today?
What is there to judge if it’s already done? There’s nothing to judge!
Verse 19: “Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who calls upon the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.’”
Doesn’t that tell you that you have things to do? Yes!
What is it that we read, as we have covered recently. Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!. Same thing right here! Depart from unrighteousness!
Verse 23: “But foolish and ignorant speculations reject...”
We will see that applies to philosophies, which are human reasonings! Isn’t the entire Catholic Church based upon the philosophies of the so-called ‘early church fathers’? Yes!
not on the Word of God
not on the writings of Paul
not on the writings of Peter and John
Verse 25: “In meekness correcting those who set themselves in opposition...”
That’s what we’re fighting right now. We’re fighting the opposition to try and bring in false teachings that Christ has done everything for us!
“...if perhaps God may grant them repentance unto acknowledging of the Truth, and that they may wake up... (v 25-26).
So, if there’s anyone who has believed some of this nonsense that has been going around:
God is commanding you to repent
God is commanding you to wake up
God is commanding you to get rid of those things that are lies that come to you as they’re Scripturally true when they are not
“...that they may wake up and escape from the devil’s snare, who have been taken captive by him to do his will” (v 26).
Remember in the temptation of Jesus, the devil quoted Scripture. He said to Jesus:
Cast yourself down for it is written, He will give His angel charge over You lest you stumble your foot over a stone.
And Jesus said: ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God!’
IF you believe the snare of the devil, are you not tempting God?
Col. 2 is the place that tells us what we should do, but is interpreted by the Protestants, making it seem to bring the exact opposite! That’s exactly what is happening in this case.
Colossians 2:6: “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him”—walking in the Truth!
the Truth is the Word of God
the Truth is the Commandments of God
the Truth is the precepts of God
the Truth is the Passover and the Holy Days of God
Verse 8: “Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.”
That’s what all of this is about!
Verse 9: “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power in Whom you have also been circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands...” (vs 9-11).
Remember this, just because there is the New Covenant and there’s no longer the temple, there’s no longer those things, that doesn’t mean that they have been obliterated. They haven’t! They have been made spiritual!
Now, instead of keeping the Commandments, we live by every Word of God! Does that sound like it’s been done for us? No!
Verse 8: “Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power in Whom you have also been circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (vs 8-11).
Now that is getting rid of carnal nature. That circumcision of the heart is not complete transference of the obedience of Christ to you, instead of your obedience. That’s so you can receive the Holy Spirit! Here’s how that is accomplished:
Verse 12: “Having been buried with Him in baptism, by which you have also been raised with Him through the inner working of God, Who raised Him from the dead.”
Rom. 6–-Let’s look at how Paul described it here, because this is even much more astounding than what he’s writing here in Colossians.
Romans 6:1: “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?”
God’s grace doesn’t take away any of your obedience that is required. God’s grace gives you the spiritual understanding to obey Him and to love Him, because Christ is not doing it for you instead of you!
Here’s the circumcision of the heart: “...Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? MAY IT NEVER BE! We who died to sin...” (vs 1-2).
This kind of theology that I just read to you is saying you can live in sin and still be saved. Baptism is a covenant pledge uniting YOUR repentance and YOUR coming to Christ through the sacrifice of Jesus! That you are conjoined to the sacrifice of Christ! That’s the spiritual operation when you’re baptized.
Verse 3: “Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death...” (vs 3-4).
That baptism means that your baptism is YOUR PLEDGE to be faithful to love God, to obey Him, or you die!
“...so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, in the same way, we also should walk in newness of life” (v 4).
Now, IF it’s already done for you,how do you walk in newness of life? You don’t! IF it’s already done for you, you have nothing to do!
Verse 5: “For if we have been conjoined together in the likeness of His death, so also shall we be in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin” (vs 5-6).
Why? Because you receive the Spirit of God!
Now, philosophy and the pagan religion is sin! When you have been baptized, you are no longer to be enslaved to sin, because of the circumcision of the heart!
Verse 7: “Because the one who has died to sin...” That’s what baptism is; that’s why it’s a symbolic death. You die to sin, meaning:
you die to living in sin
you die that you no longer break the Commandments of God
Verse 8: “Now, if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has any dominion over Him. For when He died, He died unto sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives unto God. In the same way also, you should indeed reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord” (vs 8-11).
Now then, we have the whole rest of the chapter telling us:
how we should obey God
how we should live
NOT that Christ lived for us!
Verse 12: “Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal body by obeying it in the lusts thereof. Likewise, do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin; rather, yield yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (vs 12-13). That’s what we read back there in 2-Tim. 2!
Verse 14: “For sin shall not rule over you...” Notice the difference!
It doesn’t say you won’t sin, but it says sin will not rule over you! Why? Because:
you’re overcoming sin
you’re putting out sin
you are loving God and keeping His Commandments
Verse 12: “Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal body by obeying it in the lusts thereof.”
That’s what Paul is writing in Col. 2, being deceived by persuasive speech, and so forth!
Verse 14: “For sin shall not rule over you because you are not under Law...”—under the penalty of law!
That has been paid for with the sacrifice of Christ. But you’re under grace, which means you are now given the strength to obey! Let’s read it:
Verse 15: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? MAY IT NEVER BE! Don’t you realize that to whom you yield yourselves as servants to obey...” (vs 15-16).
Isn’t that action?
Isn’t that something you would do? Yes!
“...you are servants of the one you obey...” (v 16).
IF you obey God the Father and Jesus Christ, you belong to Them
IF you don’t obey, you’re sinning
IF you live in sin, sin rules over you
That’s why we have baptism! That’s why we have repentance every day!
Verse 16: “Don’t you realize that to whom you yield yourselves as servants to obey, you are servants of the one you obey, whether it is of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
Notice, obedience. Obedience is works! Obedience is effort! It’s not just a fluffy thought in your head.
Let’s just use an example. Can you keep the Sabbath by thinking about it? No! Thinking about something. is not doing! Thinking comes before doing. So, IF you think about how to keep the Sabbath, you think that so you can keep it. Or:
IF it is to love God
IF it is to love your neighbor
or whatever it may be. you can do! Now notice this. Here’s quite a statement:
Verse 16: “Don’t you realize that to whom you yield yourselves as servants to obey, you are servants of the one you obey, whether it is of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you; and having been delivered from sin, you became the servants of Righteousness” (vs 16-18).
That is, you are a Law-keeper. Doesn’t it say, everyone who names the name of Jesus depart from unrighteousness? Now, you are the servants of Righteousness. there it is, right there. This is quite a thing, when you understand it:
it takes the Spirit of God
it takes the Word of God
it takes effort
it takes endurance
Colossians 2:8: “Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (vs 8-9.
you study about Christ
you study what He did
you study what the apostles have written
and live by it that way!
We talk about baptism, which is the circumcision of the heart!
Verse 11: “In Whom you have also been circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism...” (vs 11-12). That’s why we covered it! This is a pledge to:
always obey God
know that only the sacrifice of Christ can forgive your sins
walk in righteousness
Verse 12: “Having been buried with Him in baptism, by which you have also been raised with Him through the inner working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. For you, who were once dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has now made alive with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses” (vs 12-13).
What is a trespass? That’s a sin!
What is sin? Going against the Laws of God!
The ultimate of that is ‘anomia,’ which is lawlessness, and lawlessness leads to insanity, as the world today shows us.
Verse 14: “He has blotted out the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins...”
That’s symbolic, but were our sins written? Right in the spirit of man!
Remember that everything that we are, think and do is recorded on the spirit of man! Jesus said, that in the judgment you’re going to give an account for every idle word. How are you going to have every idle word to be judged? Because you have it permanently in you!
This is why, with the Spirit of Christ now, He erases those sins, though some we remember, like Paul said that ‘he remembered.’ But:
we’re not living in sin
we’re not obeying sin
we’re walking in righteousness
we’re putting out sin
we’re overcoming the pulls of the flesh
All of that’s involved in what we’re talking about here!
Verse 14: “He has blotted out the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it away, having nailed it to the cross.”
Now, the Protestants like to read that the Commandments of God have been nailed to the cross. No! Christ was! Now, here’s what the sacrifice of Christ has done for us, and receiving the Spirit of God:
Verse 15: “After stripping the principalities and the powers, He made a public spectacle of them...”–-as I have read concerning the thoughts of Jesus from Psa. 22.
“...who, and has triumphed over them in it, that is, in the resurrection. Therefore, do not allow anyone to judge you...” (vs 15-16).
Now, anyone is anyone else in the community. They were all pagan. They had pagan religion, and the pagan religion was a philosophy, and it was very effective.
Verse 16: “Therefore, do not allow anyone to judge you in eating or in drinking...”–-because when you come to the knowledge of the Truth, you also come to the knowledge of clean and unclean meats! You also come to the knowledge that no more drunken brawls like the pagans have in drinking.
Don’t people judge you from that? If they hear you keep the Sabbath, they say:
Why do you keep the Sabbath? You mean you don’t keep Sunday?
They’re judging you!
“...or with regard to a Festival...” (v 16). Now, IF you’re not keeping a Festival, how can anyone judge you? They can’t!
But IF you’re keeping a Festival, they judge you. Especially coming out of the raw pagan society that they were in. So, this shows they were keeping the Holy Days.
“...or new moon...” (v 16). Being singular, that has to refer to the Calculated Hebrew Calendar.
“...or the Sabbaths” (v 16). So, we have Festivals and we have Sabbaths.
Verse 17: “Which are a foreshadow...”–-not an after-shadow!
Do you understand the difference? A foreshadow leads you to the real thing! Passover, the sacrifice of Christ, leads us to Christ!
Verse 17: “Which are a foreshadow of the things that are coming...”
In other words, the Festivals, the Calendar, the Sabbaths, are a foreshadow of the coming things,
“...but the Body of Christ” (v 17)–-meaning, that the only one who can judge you in those things is the Church!
Verse 18: “Do not allow anyone to defraud you of the prize by doing his will in self-abasement and the worship of demonic angels, intruding into things that he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his own carnal mind.”
That’s just exactly what happens when they say, ‘Christ has done it for you.’ No! Christ, through His sacrifice–-because of the will of God the Father, and you accepting that sacrifice–-will forgive your sins!
That after that, as you come out of the watery grave of baptism, we’re to walk in newness of life! What is the ‘newness of life’? Right here:
the Sabbath
the Holy Days
the eating right
not getting into debauchery
This is how all of these things come the past. Look at how many things that the Catholics have added on to do through their philosophies, and who was one of their greatest philosophers, so-called ‘St. Thomas Aquinas.’ All philosophies of men!
So, I hope this helps you understand that when someone comes along with a doctrine that sounds like it is probably true:
you have got to prove everything by the Word of God
you’ve got to take and examine it closely
comparing it with the Word of God
comparing it with the Truth
Because Paul warns here:
Verse 8: “Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy... [human reasoning] ...and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men...”
So, I hope that helps us understand what we need to do in
changing
growing
overcoming
keeping the Truth
I need to mention that what I read to you that Ernest Martin wrote, was when he went into Protestantism full bore. Before that, he wrote some things that were good.
But he fell victim, as Paul warned to the elders when they came to Miletus, that of some of you, you will raise up and you will say and preach things that are not right, to draw disciples after yourself!
So, unfortunately, that happened. That happened to Ted Armstrong, that happened to Herbert Armstrong, that happened to all of the ministers in Worldwide Church of God when they got rid of the Sabbath and started keeping Sunday and started keeping the pagan holidays. They followed the philosophies of men!
Most brethren don’t know it, but many of the leading elders and ones that Pasadena that during the time when Tkach was head of the Church, they all went to Azusa College to study theology. Now, Azusa College was down a few miles from Pasadena in Azusa. What was that college? That was the Protestant College to teach Protestant pastors the doctrines of Protestantism!
That’s what happened and why when the day came to switch over to Sunday, everyone was prepared in the ministry in Pasadena that it was coming; because they all went to Azusa College and learned the doctrines of the Protestants, which are all based upon human philosophy!
So, I hope this is a good lesson for us. Now, let me just say this. We have to always be on guard! We have to be on guard:
for people bringing doctrines that are not true
for bringing philosophies
We have to be on guard of our own selves, that our human nature doesn’t deceive us and lead us into sinning and that we obey the sin instead of rejecting it!
We have to be on guard that Jesus said, because there will be many false prophets preaching that Christ is the Christ but will deceive many!
I think this was good for us to go through the whole thing and to understand the final outcome of it, and for us to realize that we always have to be:
maintaining the Truth
growing in grace and knowledge
the love of God
in everything that we do and asking God:
to lead us
to guide us
to forgive us
to help us
in every way!
Scriptural References:
1-Timothy 3:14-15
Hebrews 10:14, 20-22
2-Peter 2:1-2, 15
2-Peter 3:15-18
2-Timothy 3:16
2-Timothy 4:1-4
2-Peter 1:12-21
1-Peter 4:17-19
Colossians 1:1-18, 21-29
Colossians 2:1-8
2-Timothy 2:14-19, 23, 25-26
Colossians 2:6, 8-11, 8-12
Romans 6:1-14, 12, 14-18
Colossians 2:8-9, 11-18, 8
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
Malachi 3
2-Corinthians 12
2-Timothy 2:15
1-Peter 5:8
2-Thessalonians
Daniel 7
Revelation 20
2nd & 3rd John
1-Corinthians 2
Acts 17
Psalm 22
Also referenced: Book (secular): The Tithing Dilemma by Ernest Martin
FRC:bo/po
Transcribed: 10/22/25
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