Hold Fast To Christ (August 16, 2026)

<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><p>Colossians 2:16-23</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Where we&#39;ve been so far in Chapter Two:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Christ possesses all wisdom (2:3).</p></li><li><p>Christ possesses all fullness of Deity (2:9).</p></li><li><p>Believers have been filled in Him (2:10).</p></li><li><p>Believers died with Him (2:12).</p></li><li><p>Believers were raised with Him (2:12).</p></li><li><p>Believers were forgiven in Him (2:13).</p></li><li><p>Believers triumphed in Him (2:15).</p><p><br></p></li></ul><p><strong>Hold fast to Jesus!</strong></p><p><strong>1. What were the false teachers holding fast to?</strong></p><ul><li><p>Observing the ceremonial laws (food, drink, festivals, Sabbath)</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:16</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Religious asceticism (&quot;don&#39;t touch&quot;, severe treatment of the body)</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:18</p></li><li><p>Colossians 2:23</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Personal &quot;spiritual&quot; experiences (worshiping angels, visions)</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:18</p></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>2. How were these people impacting the believers?</strong></p><ul><li><p>Judging those who weren&#39;t observing their practices</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:16</p></li><li><p>Judge (Krino [kree&#39;-know) - judge, condemn, call into question</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Robbing the believers from delighting in Christ</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:18-19</p></li><li><p>Condemn, defraud : <em>katabrabeuō  </em>(kat-ab-rab-yoo&#39;-o) - to decide as an umpire against someone, to defraud (rob) of the prize of victory.</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Regulating the believers with human decrees</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:20-22</p></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>3. What did Paul want his readers to hold fast to?</strong></p><ul><li><p>The Head, Christ!</p></li></ul><p><strong>4. Why hold fast to Christ?</strong></p><ul><li><p>Christ is the reality of the shadows</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:17</p></li><li><p>Why hold fast to shadows when you can hold fast to the person, Jesus Christ!?</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Christ nourishes the believer with what they need to grow</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:19</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Only Christ is able to save us from selfish, fleshly-indulgence (the flesh)</p><ul><li><p>Colossians 2:23</p></li><li><p>Coplossians 2:11</p></li><li><p>Romans 8:12-13</p></li><li><p>Galatians 5:16</p><p><br></p></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Application</strong></p><ul><li><p>What am I holding onto that is keeping me from holding fast to Christ?</p><ul><li><p>Psalm 32:3-5</p></li><li><p>Psalm 32:1-2</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Has something that was supposed to help me follow Jesus quietly become the thing I am trusting instead of Jesus?</p></li></ul>