Daily Bread 2010 - Colossians 2
20Since 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: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such 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.
In the church at Colossae, Paul is confronting two different types of “heresies” or false teachings. One group were the Stoics, who basically the thought the body and its desires were bad. They taught that the way to being like God was to deny and purge the body of its desires.
Paul is warning the new believers, the Colossians, not to submit to these legalistic requirements. After all, if adherence to some strict moral laws could bring us closer to God, or even to become like God (the real heresy), then Christ died for nothing. In the chapter, Paul also teaches on the fullness or sufficiency of Christ. Paul argues that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Him, since in Him all the fullness of God lives in bodily form.
Therefore, that is why Paul tells them not to fall prey to being judged by observing this special Holiday (holy day) or the New moon or other festivals, which were driven by men. When Christ died on the cross, the written codes and all of their accusations against us were nailed to the tree. Having triumphed on the cross, Jesus made a spectacle of them. And in the end, Paul concludes that these regulations, though they have the appearance of wisdom, lack any value in actually restraining self indulgence.
How do you see these religions being played out in the world around us? In what ways does the New Age Movement, or other self-help movements impose codes on people they cannot keep? What has truly motivated you to make changes in your life that happen on the inside versus from the outside? What changes have lasted in your life? In what ways do you need to die to the basic principles of this world, and instead live in the reality that your sins have been nailed to the cross which leads to true transformation from the inside out?
Jesus thank you for the work you did on the cross. Make us wise to notice when people are trying to impose on us deceptive teaching based on the traditions of men and not based on the Law of Love and Grace. Help us to discern when someone is teaching anything but that we are saved by grace through faith in You and what you did for us on the cross cancelling the written code and all its marks against us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
In the church at Colossae, Paul is confronting two different types of “heresies” or false teachings. One group were the Stoics, who basically the thought the body and its desires were bad. They taught that the way to being like God was to deny and purge the body of its desires.
Paul is warning the new believers, the Colossians, not to submit to these legalistic requirements. After all, if adherence to some strict moral laws could bring us closer to God, or even to become like God (the real heresy), then Christ died for nothing. In the chapter, Paul also teaches on the fullness or sufficiency of Christ. Paul argues that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Him, since in Him all the fullness of God lives in bodily form.
Therefore, that is why Paul tells them not to fall prey to being judged by observing this special Holiday (holy day) or the New moon or other festivals, which were driven by men. When Christ died on the cross, the written codes and all of their accusations against us were nailed to the tree. Having triumphed on the cross, Jesus made a spectacle of them. And in the end, Paul concludes that these regulations, though they have the appearance of wisdom, lack any value in actually restraining self indulgence.
How do you see these religions being played out in the world around us? In what ways does the New Age Movement, or other self-help movements impose codes on people they cannot keep? What has truly motivated you to make changes in your life that happen on the inside versus from the outside? What changes have lasted in your life? In what ways do you need to die to the basic principles of this world, and instead live in the reality that your sins have been nailed to the cross which leads to true transformation from the inside out?
Jesus thank you for the work you did on the cross. Make us wise to notice when people are trying to impose on us deceptive teaching based on the traditions of men and not based on the Law of Love and Grace. Help us to discern when someone is teaching anything but that we are saved by grace through faith in You and what you did for us on the cross cancelling the written code and all its marks against us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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