SCRIPTURE: COLOSSIANS 2
MEMORY VERSE:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
Paul had been struggling for the Colossians, for those at Laodicea and for who had not met him for the purpose that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God – Christ – in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Paul did not want anyone to deceive them by fine-sounding arguments. He was absent from them in body but present with them in spirit and delight to see them in spirit and delight to see how orderly they are and how firm their faith in Christ. is.
FREEDOM FROM HUMAN REGULATIONS THROUGH LIFE WITH CHRIST (vs. 6-23)
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sin, and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers, and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come, the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels, disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
THOUGHTS:
Paul wrote these warnings to the Colossians:
- Let no one deceive you (v. 4) – Do not follow the religious systems and persuasive leaders that substitute man’s ideas for God’s truth.
- Let no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
- Let no man judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Do not let them steal your liberty in Christ by making you live by religious regulations instead of by God’s grace. (v. 16)
- Let no one defraud you with empty and exciting religious experiences that replaces spiritual nourishment from Christ (v. 18)
Paul encouraged the Colossian believers to be rooted in Christ, meaning we must draw our life giving strength from Christ. The more we draw our strength from him, the less we will be fooled by those false doctrines and human regulations. Paul was against the philosophy of life based on human ideas and experiments that totally disregard God. To resist heresy, you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ and study God’s Word.
Jewish males were circumcised as a sign of the Jews covenant with God. With the death of Christ, circumcision was no longer necessary. Our commitment to God now is written on our heart, not our body. Christ sets us free from our evil desires by spiritual operation, not a bodily one. God removes the old nature and gives us a new nature.
Paul mentioned baptism which is related to circumcision. Baptism is a sign of the covenant in the New Testament that parallels the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It also portrays the death and burial of our sinful old way of life followed by resurrection to new life in Christ. Our sinful life is dead and buried with Christ. He gives us a powerful motive to resist sin so that we can continue to enjoy our wonderful new life with Christ.
The false teachers in Colossae claimed that God was far away and could only be approached through various levels of angels. They taught that people had to worship angels in order to reach God. The Bible teaches that angels are God’s servants and it forbids worshiping them.
When we become Christians, we should keep listening to God and change our lives. Christian growth is a lifelong process. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically think all good thoughts with pure attitudes. The change may be slow, but our lives will change significantly if we trust God to change us.