Daily Bread 2011 - Colossians 2
Daily Bread 2011 – Colossians 2
Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8 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.
What Does This Mean?
One of the off-shoots of the Gnostic movement was a form of religiosity called “asceticism”. Ascetics denied all forms of bodily pleasure, including curbs on eating and drinking; and practiced special worship festivals and observed lunar holidays (such as New Moon celebration v.16). By contrast Paul focuses on one only thing, being rooted in Christ, through whom all the fullness of God dwells. (v.9) Later v. 23 states regarding the other way, “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.”
In essence Paul is saying these folks are creating a new Law, and we all know that if by observing the Law in its many forms we could be made holy, then we would not need Christ. But as we are rooted, connected and built up in Christ as our center, we have been given a new power and authority. Paul uses the analogy of circumcision to compare our old life with its circumcision (for men/boys) by human hands, versus being circumcised by Christ through faith.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Since our self-imposed methods of piety have no real value in producing real spiritual growth, how do we grow then to become more like Christ? Paul describes the intimate, organic relationship the believer has with Christ by faith. He envisions a radical dependence on Christ, rather than on human traditions and principles of this world. And hence as we are connected with a power than can transform us from the inside out by His power which is epitomized by Jesus’ being raised from the dead.
So here is the question for you today? Are you going to rely on your own power through religious activity to transform your life, or the power you have in Christ, which is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead? The answer is obvious, and yet the tendency in all of us is to try and manage our sinfulness and holiness on our own. The problem is the results are ineffective and actually lead to a false humility where we are more promoting our own religiosity than the power of Christ working within us.
Jesus, you are the head of the power having defeated all the powers of darkness. Today we commit to living in Your power being rooted in You through Your Word and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Change us from the inside out so we can show the world the evidence of Your power not our own. Amen.
Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8 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.
What Does This Mean?
One of the off-shoots of the Gnostic movement was a form of religiosity called “asceticism”. Ascetics denied all forms of bodily pleasure, including curbs on eating and drinking; and practiced special worship festivals and observed lunar holidays (such as New Moon celebration v.16). By contrast Paul focuses on one only thing, being rooted in Christ, through whom all the fullness of God dwells. (v.9) Later v. 23 states regarding the other way, “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.”
In essence Paul is saying these folks are creating a new Law, and we all know that if by observing the Law in its many forms we could be made holy, then we would not need Christ. But as we are rooted, connected and built up in Christ as our center, we have been given a new power and authority. Paul uses the analogy of circumcision to compare our old life with its circumcision (for men/boys) by human hands, versus being circumcised by Christ through faith.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Since our self-imposed methods of piety have no real value in producing real spiritual growth, how do we grow then to become more like Christ? Paul describes the intimate, organic relationship the believer has with Christ by faith. He envisions a radical dependence on Christ, rather than on human traditions and principles of this world. And hence as we are connected with a power than can transform us from the inside out by His power which is epitomized by Jesus’ being raised from the dead.
So here is the question for you today? Are you going to rely on your own power through religious activity to transform your life, or the power you have in Christ, which is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead? The answer is obvious, and yet the tendency in all of us is to try and manage our sinfulness and holiness on our own. The problem is the results are ineffective and actually lead to a false humility where we are more promoting our own religiosity than the power of Christ working within us.
Jesus, you are the head of the power having defeated all the powers of darkness. Today we commit to living in Your power being rooted in You through Your Word and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Change us from the inside out so we can show the world the evidence of Your power not our own. Amen.
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