Participants: Tony Moore
Series Code: IFP
Program Code: IFP000016
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01:36 I'm walking here in the pools of ancient Hierapolis known
01:43 today as Pamukkale, the white cotton cliffs. 01:47 This Clift is spectacular as the water comes from the 01:52 thermal pools and literally baths the rocks turning them 01:57 to this beautiful white that can be seen for 02:01 miles and miles around. 02:03 The view is spectacular, the water is warm. 02:07 This was a great resort place in Bible times and it 02:12 cause the Romans to build a fantastic city on the top 02:17 of this hill known as Hierapolis. 02:20 There is the Gate of Domitian decorating the entrance 02:24 to the city, there are various gates and cultic temples 02:28 that were built here, as well as a fantastic Necropolis. 02:33 Sarcophagi scattered over all of the hills. 02:38 The Romans took great interest in the city and built 02:43 a tremendous theater with incredible acoustics. 02:47 It is one of the finest preserved theaters today in 02:51 Anatolia, but the reason people came here was for the 02:56 baths, even today people come and vacation in the hotels 03:00 surrounding the cliffs. 03:03 They are able to take advantage of the thermal pools and 03:06 the minerals that are deposited here. 03:11 We are now going to follow the water down into the valley 03:14 to the ancient ruins of Laodicea. 03:17 From there we will look for the ruins 03:20 of ancient Colossae. 03:24 We have just come down from the site of ancient 03:28 Hierapolis, those great thermal pools we saw up on top 03:33 of the cliffs, we have come down into the Lycus river valley 03:37 to the immense city of Laodicea. 03:40 This was a large city by New Testament standards, 03:44 wealthy, you can tell by all the marble that is laying 03:48 around, and the water from the top we noted was being 03:51 channeled down into the valley. 03:54 This water reached the valley and was no longer hot nor was 03:58 it cold, it was lukewarm. 04:01 Here we can see some of the great capital and dentils 04:07 that have now fallen into the street. 04:09 We can see many of the fertility symbols, eggs 04:13 everywhere, the symbols of fertility that were so important 04:17 in this part of the world. 04:20 We have come looking through these fantastic ruins seeing 04:22 if there might be some evidence of the cross. 04:25 Here we can see part of the pediment, Latin inscriptions 04:30 that is written here, we can see the fertility 04:34 decorations on this pediment. 04:38 We can see all kinds of fascinating designs. 04:42 And we have come here looking to see if there is some 04:44 evidence of the cross. 04:46 Pau sent a letter to the church here, Jesus sent 04:50 a letter to the church here in Laodicea also. 04:53 As I was wandering around these ruins, I came across this 04:58 stone, and I want to try and stand up here because this 05:04 beautiful white stone we see a cross. 05:07 On the side I saw this stone and I want to put it on the 05:13 top because we see that it is a cross. 05:18 Yes there was a thriving Christian community here. 05:23 Over the hill are the ruins of the Great Basilica of John. 05:27 Christianity took deep root, but unfortunately it has 05:32 been broken, it is no more. 05:35 Jesus wrote to this church that prided itself on its 05:39 wealth, prided itself on its black garments, that prided 05:43 itself on that fine eye powder. 05:46 He said really you are poor, and naked and blind. 05:51 Jesus gave a prescription for this church, He said you must 05:56 buy from Me gold tried in the fire. 06:00 They were wealthy, as we walk this immense site we see 06:05 marble everywhere, marble littering this site. 06:08 Jesus said buy from Me gold tried in the fire. 06:11 Gold is faith that works by love, by from Me pure faith 06:17 by surrounding yourself to Me. 06:20 Then He said you need white raiment, they had prided 06:24 themselves on their black garments. 06:27 Jesus said you need white raiment, 06:30 the white raiment of My righteousness. 06:32 Yes the finest that human beings can produce, the finest 06:37 robes that we can weave are just like filthy rags. 06:42 We need the righteousness that comes as 06:44 a gift from Jesus. 06:47 He promised to give it to Laodiceans, He said you must 06:51 buy it, we buy it by surrendering our heart to Jesus. 06:57 Unfortunately, Laodicea was so content in its wealth, 07:02 in its splendor, in its own righteousness, that Jesus said 07:07 they were neither hot nor cold. 07:10 We saw the hot water at Hierapolis, bubbling up out 07:14 of the thermal springs, coming down the channels and it was 07:18 lukewarm when it got to the valley. 07:19 Jesus said that the Christians here were in the same 07:23 condition, neither hot, nor zealous, 07:27 nor cold against Him but complacent. 07:30 As I think about it what a description 07:33 of modern Christianity. 07:36 What a prescription of 21st century Christianity. 07:41 We are rich and increased with goods, we live in the 07:45 wealthiest time of history of our world, 07:48 We think we have need of nothing. 07:50 Yet the reality is, that when our eyes are touched 07:53 by the Spirit, we see that really we are 07:56 poor and blind and naked and in need of everything. 08:05 We are here at the tell of ancient Colossae. 08:09 It is such a beautiful setting, so peaceful that we can 08:13 hear the Lycus River in the distance as it is gurgling 08:18 and making its way past. 08:19 This river begins up on the hills of Hierapolis, 08:24 those great White cliffs and it's slowly meanders its way 08:28 down past Colossae. 08:30 As you can see this is a largely unexplored site. 08:34 Today there is grain growing on the top of it, 08:37 very unusual for tell. 08:39 We can make out the edge of the city walls 08:43 around the tell. 08:44 We could see there was a temple platform on the eastern 08:49 edge of the city, perhaps that was the main approach. 08:53 We can also make out the gates into the city and 08:58 their water source. 09:00 Of course the brook close by provided a source of water 09:04 for growing their crops. 09:06 We can see the farmers working their fields around here. 09:08 There are orchards, is a very fertile place. 09:12 We are probably about 9 or 10 miles away from 09:16 Laodicea, that great city where we visited earlier where 09:21 Paul had written a letter to, and Jesus had 09:24 written the letter to. 09:26 Although Paul never came to the site of Colossae, 09:29 he wrote one of his pastoral epistles to this city. 09:32 To the church that was located here. 09:35 The city is long gone, earthquakes have done their work 09:41 on the ancient buildings. 09:43 Today the village is moved up to Honas upon the hill. 09:48 Many of the building materials that were used in ancient 09:51 Colossae have been recycled into the modern village. 09:56 Paul wrote a letter to Colossae. 10:00 He had never visited the city, but his friend Epaphras 10:05 had brought the Gospel here. 10:07 It appears that Epaphras was actually from this city and 10:12 he brought the good news of Jesus as the Christ here. 10:17 He shared, perhaps the family, friends, coworkers and 10:22 they became believers in Jesus. 10:24 Epaphras also planted the Gospel in Laodicea and 10:29 apparently up at Hierapolis as well. 10:33 While Paul never visited the city, he had heard of the 10:37 faith of these believers, and while at Rome he penned 10:41 one of his most beautiful epistles to this city. 11:24 Although Paul had never actually visited the city, 11:27 he had a tremendous bond because of his friend Epaphras, 11:31 who had shared with Paul. 11:34 Perhaps they have prayed together about the saints 11:37 that lived in this city. 11:38 Perhaps they have prayed about the Gospel that had 11:41 been planted here at Laodicea. 11:44 Paul is concerned and so from a pastor's heart he writes 11:47 this letter of concern, sharing with them some of the 11:51 most beautiful teachings that Paul ever penned 11:54 were sent to this church. 11:56 We don't see dramatic problems that he had to address 12:00 like developed in Galatia, the problems over the 12:04 issues of salvation, we don't even catch a hint of that 12:07 in Colossians, we don't see some of the problems that 12:11 developed about exclusivity that we see in Philippi. 12:15 We certainly don't see the massive problems that 12:19 developed in Corinth and the letters Paul wrote there. 12:23 We do see a pastor sharing his heart, 12:26 a pastor encouraging people that he has never met 12:30 to be faithful in Jesus. 12:56 What a tremendous message Paul sent to this church. 13:00 Set your mind on things above where Christ is risen for 13:03 you, don't set your mind on earthly things. 13:07 We can see the evidence of the splendid past. 13:11 Here is the base of a column, there is piece of stone 13:16 that was a pediment. 13:18 We can see a splendid past here, but the material 13:21 things have all passed away. 13:23 Paul said make your life count, set your mind, 13:26 your heart, all the things above. 13:29 Things that will come for eternity. 13:31 Paul shares some of his most intimate 13:34 teachings with this church. 13:48 He says to the Colossians, just as you were taught by 13:52 Epaphras to live in Christ, so continue to walk in Him. 13:56 Be rooted in Christ and grow up in Him. 13:59 What a tremendous epistle on spiritual formation, and yet 14:03 Paul does give one teaching that is often misunderstood. 14:07 He goes on to say in verse 11. 14:21 Paul says that we were circumcised, not by the physical 14:25 putting off of the foreskin of the flesh, but we were 14:28 circumcised in our hearts by the putting off of the old 14:31 life, he says we were called to live a new life in Jesus. 14:35 The old life has been set aside. 14:38 Paul uses another wonderful image, 14:49 Yes the believers here were baptized down in the Lycus 14:52 river and he says that you were buried with Christ in 14:56 baptism, you put off that old life, that old life has 15:00 been buried, it is gone, it's washed away. 15:03 You are now a new person in Jesus Christ. 15:05 Now let's look at the two images he has used. 15:07 The one was circumcision, putting off the old nature. 15:12 Cutting off the old life. 15:14 The second was that of baptism, burying the old life, 15:18 letting it die, letting it go. 15:21 He says that you have been made full and complete in 15:24 Jesus, as the Christ. 15:27 And then he says in verse 13. 15:49 Paul says that when you were dead in your 15:52 uncircumcised life, when you were living that old life, 15:55 that he made you alive in Jesus Christ. 15:59 Having put off the old nature, it is as if you were 16:02 buried, as if it was cut away in circumcision. 16:05 Yes he says. 16:22 Paul says don't get caught up in these philosophies, 16:25 don't get drawn back into this mix of Jewish thinking and 16:30 mysticism and cynicism that was going on your Colossae. 16:34 Paul said that you have been so completely forgiven 16:39 through Jesus Christ. 16:40 Don't be drawn into these philosophical ideas and 16:45 practices about the spiritual life, 16:48 No! you have been made one in Christ. 16:51 You are just as if you had never sinned. 16:54 Paul says that we have been so completely forgiven that 16:59 he even took the written code with it's regulations that 17:03 stood against us and nailed it to His cross. 17:06 What is this written code that Paul said stood against 17:10 us with its regulations? 17:13 Many people misinterpret this passage, they misunderstand 17:17 this passage thinking that Paul is talking 17:20 about the Ten Commandments. 17:22 They think that Paul is actually talking about God's 17:25 moral law, they say the moral law was against us and that 17:29 Jesus took the moral law and nailed it to the cross. 17:33 Yet when we read it in its context, it does not make 17:36 sense that way, for Paul is saying that we have been 17:39 completely forgiven, that he even took this record, 17:44 this certificate of debt and nailed it to the cross. 17:48 Were the Ten Commandments contrary to us? 17:51 Were the Ten Commandments against us? 17:55 No, what was against us? 17:59 The word that Paul uses appears only in this passage in 18:03 the New Testament, it doesn't appear anywhere else in 18:07 Paul's writings or any of the other Gospels. 18:11 The word is used in the Apocalypse of Elijah where an 18:16 angel is seeing recording the sins of the people in a 18:21 book, in a special book. 18:23 This book then stood as a testimony against them 18:29 because of their sinfulness. 18:31 Paul says the very record of sins being kept by an angel 18:37 in heaven was taken to the cross and nailed to the cross. 18:42 That is how completely you have been forgiven. 18:45 Even the record of your sins has been nailed to 18:49 the tree with Jesus. 18:51 Paul then goes on to say. 19:01 He uses that imagery when a general will conquer a land, 19:05 that he would bring the King from that land in a 19:09 great train behind him. 19:11 We see this happening in the arch of Titus at Rome. 19:15 There are all the treasures in the temple that Titus 19:19 brought back from Jerusalem to his Imperial capital at 19:23 Rome saying that he has triumphed over them. 19:26 I have made a spectacle over them. 19:28 The old devil had invented death there in the garden of 19:32 Eden, that serpent had not only given them an 19:36 understanding of knowledge, but also of evil. 19:40 He brought evil into our world, he brought sin into our 19:43 world, and he brought death. 19:46 Jesus came to destroy the one who had very power of death 19:51 by triumphing over it He entered into it the realm of 19:55 Hades and experienced all the devil could give. 19:58 Even the second death and then by His own power 20:02 He came back to life. 20:05 He said no one takes My life from Me, I lay it down of 20:10 My own accord and I will take it up. 20:13 Jesus came back to life breaking the bonds of death, 20:17 delivering those through fear of death all of their 20:22 lifetime subject to bondage as Paul wrote 20:24 in Hebrews chapter 2. 20:26 So he made a public spectacle over the enemy who has 20:31 terrorized people with death. 20:33 All through these lands we see the fear of Hades, 20:36 we see Pluto as the keeper of Hades, we see the various 20:40 ways that people have tried to deal with death. 20:44 Jesus came and experienced it and defamed its power. 20:49 Paul says that we have been so completely forgiven that 20:53 even the very record of our sins was nailed to the cross. 20:57 I have to confess that I'm not a great believer in the 21:01 Living Bible, although I read it occasionally for my 21:04 devotions, I am very careful of it for doctrinal 21:09 purposes, but Dr. Taylor captures the essence of the 21:13 passage so clearly that I wanted to read it to you. 21:46 Isn't that powerful! 21:48 He took the very list of commandments that you have 21:51 broken, that I have broken, and he nailed to the cross. 21:55 In this way He took away Satan's power to accuse us. 21:59 Yes, Satan means the accuser, he is the 22:03 accuser of the brethren. 22:06 Unfortunately there is plenty for him to accuse most of us 22:11 isn't there? And yet Jesus has completely forgiven us. 22:15 So don't get caught up in these other philosophies. 22:18 Don't get caught up in these ideas of Gnosticism. 22:21 Don't even get caught up in the Jewish teachings that 22:25 you must do more than believe in Jesus. 22:29 Paul comes to verse 16 and says, "therefore in light of" 22:34 "this," in light of how completely you have been 22:37 forgiven in Jesus Christ by faith in Him. 22:59 Paul says in light of this do not let anybody judge you 23:01 about what you eat or drink or your religious festivals, 23:04 or new moons for Sabbath days for all of these things 23:07 were shadows pointing forward to Christ. 23:10 But now He is the reality, He has come. 23:13 Apparently here at Colossae there were some Jews who had 23:19 become believers in Jesus, and they were mingling 23:23 teachings of Judaism with belief in Jesus. 23:27 Now Paul was a Jew, he left Ephesus to go to Jerusalem 23:33 that he might celebrate Pentecost there. 23:36 Paul was even arrested while participating in a vowel 23:40 in the temple at Jerusalem. 23:43 He was a Jew and we have seen all through his travels 23:46 that he was obedient to the Ten Commandments. 23:52 Yet Paul recognized that there was a difference. 23:56 The Gentile Christians did not have to participate 24:00 in Jewish festivals. 24:03 While he chose to, he said it was optional because you 24:07 have been forgiven in, Jesus don't let anyone judge you 24:10 about whether or not you participate in these festivals. 24:14 There was nothing wrong with keeping the feasts, there was 24:17 nothing wrong with celebrating Passover or Pentecost. 24:20 There is nothing wrong with Christians doing it today, 24:23 but he said don't let people judge you whether you 24:26 participate in that or not. 24:28 Now somebody may be thinking, Tony you must be 24:30 stretching this a bit. 24:31 Is that really what he is talking about? 24:33 Notice is the language that is used in the 45th 24:37 chapter of Ezekiel? 24:53 Did you notice that? 24:55 It is for the part of the priest to provide the grain offering, 24:58 the drink offering, or the wine offering. 25:02 In all festivals, and all the new moons 25:06 in all the Sabbaths. 25:08 If we compare the list in Colossians 2 with the list in 25:12 Ezekiel 45, we will see an exact parallel. 25:15 Paul was talking about the temple services. 25:19 You see Christians here at Colossae, Christians in 25:22 Galatia, Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis, they had to 25:26 struggle with different issues than you and I. 25:31 I don't think that you have had to struggle recently 25:33 about going up to the temple for Passover. 25:36 While many of us look forward to going to Jerusalem, 25:42 do we have to go up as part of our spirit belief? 25:47 No, and yet some are saying that this was necessary. 25:52 Some were saying it was necessary to add to our faith in 25:57 Jesus by participating in the Jewish cultic practices. 26:02 Paul said no, it is not necessary for Christians, 26:05 it is optional. 26:07 Don't let anybody judge you about whether you participate 26:10 in that or not, for you have been completely forgiven 26:14 in Jesus Christ. He says. 26:25 Paul says to not let anybody judge you in meat or drink, 26:28 festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. 26:31 It is very interesting that actually seven Sabbaths in 26:36 the annual calendar of Israel, they were tied to days of the 26:42 month, not days of the week. 26:44 You see the seventh day Sabbath would come every seventh day 26:49 on what we know today as Saturday. 26:53 Even today the Jews still celebrate the Shabbat. 26:56 Paul celebrated the Shabbat, Jesus celebrated Shabbat. 27:01 John celebrated Shabbat. 27:06 But there were seven annual Sabbaths not tied to a day 27:10 of the week but tied to a different day of the month. 27:13 Paul says don't let people judge you about whether 27:16 you keep them or not. 27:18 In Leviticus chapter 23, when Moses discusses the day 27:21 of atonement, he said that there would be a Sabbath of 27:25 the first day of the month, and a Sabbath on the 10th 27:28 day of the month, obviously this cannot refer to the 27:32 weekly Sabbath because they are 10 days apart. 27:35 There were seven annual Sabbaths that roved through 27:38 the week like your birthday that are tied to 27:41 days of the month. 27:43 Paul says to not let anybody judge you about whether 27:45 you keep those are not, for we have been fully forgiven 27:49 in Jesus Christ and it is not necessary to 27:52 participate in these festivals. 27:54 Paul writing to the church here at Colossae says that 27:59 we have been made one in Christ, therefore as we receive 28:04 Jesus Christ as Lord, so we should live in Him. 28:08 So from Colossae we have to take our journey now and go 28:12 on, but we wish you God's blessings and pray that He 28:17 will watch over you. 28:18 Father in heaven as we study this powerful passage of 28:22 Colossians written by Paul to a church he never met 28:26 personally, yet his heart was bound close to the 28:30 Colossians when he heard of their faith. 28:32 Lord I pray that you will help us to be rooted in 28:36 the faith, to grow up in You. 28:38 I pray that You will help us to set our minds on things 28:41 that are above, on Jesus Himself may that be true in our 28:45 lives both today and every day for the rest of our lives 28:48 we pray in Jesus name, Amen! 28:51 And so from the green fields of Colossae, as the sun sets 28:56 here by the tell, we wish you God's blessings. |
Revised 2014-12-17