[:en]SCRIPTURE: COLOSSIANS 2
“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)
“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” (Colossians 2:9-10)
Paul wrote to Colossians to encourage them to have unity in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding about the mystery of God. Christ is the one who has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
He warned them not to allow anyone deceive them into substituting man’s idea or philosophies for God’s truth. They should live by God’s grace, not religious regulations. Through faith and in the power of God, we have been given the fullness of Christ. He had forgiven all our sins, cancelled the written code of its regulations and nailed them into the cross. Do not let anyone judge you by their legalism of human traditions and teachings telling you all the “DON’TS”. They made regulations with the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship, false humility and harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (v. 23)
LESSON:
In order to counter empty philosophies, we have to live by faith in Christ through the work of the Spirit. We must grow in Christ by digging down into the riches of God’s Word. We must be rooted in Christ, grounded in the Word and built up the Bible truth. We must draw on His fullness since He had disarmed the power and authorities and triumphed them over the cross (v. 15). Enjoy the liberty you have in Christ. Let no man judge you with their religious legalism and human regulations. All we need is Jesus Christ. Man-made systems and regulations seem spiritual but they are merely worldly principles. Man-imposed discipline (asceticism) are attractive but it is impossible to control, improve or perfect itself. In conclusion, we should not let man’s law control our lives. Only God can control our lives because our union is with Christ.[:]