Colossians 2:16-23

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

There are really only two belief systems: man centered, and God centered.  The danger we constantly face is man centered thinking invading our hearts and minds.  Any attempt to impose self-reliance in place of dependence on Christ must be put off.  Justification by faith in Christ alone will be criticized and contaminated as long as we live on this earth.  We must be prepared to face these attacks and stand firm in the defense of the faith.

 

DON’T BE DISQUALIFIED BY RELIGEON: There are religious activities established by men in an attempt to please God.  Some of these traditions may stem from commandments of Scripture that are twisted out of their context to become more than was initially intended.  Dietary laws and certain festivals were established as a means to point to Christ but were never intended to somehow replace Him.  Now strict adherence to rules and regulations, encounter with angels, or emotional experience does anything to save us.  Instead, these things promote pride and self-centered religion apart from Christ.  The sad thing is that those who trust in these man-centered activities strive to impose them on others and condemn those who refuse to follow their regulations and rituals.  We must never disqualify others or allow others to disqualify us for failing to practice the traditions of men.  

 

DON’T BE DISTRACTED FROM CHRIST: We are called to hold fast to Christ who is the Head of the body of Christ, the Church.  He is the source of our strength and our growth.  He saves us, not based on our work but on the work of Christ on the cross.  We were dead in our sins and Christ made us alive through faith in Christ; not by following regulations or practicing religious rituals.  Anything that seeks to replace Christ or distracts us from Christ must be rejected.  Only Christ through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can save us from sin by setting us free of both the penalty and power of sin.  In Christ we have forgiveness of sin and freedom from sin.  

 

DON’T BE DECEIVED BY REGULATIONS: Those of us who have been liberated from sin by the Spirit should never be deceived into thinking that we must now somehow maintain or earn salvation through our own words.  Prohibitions of eating, touching and requirements of doing and depriving the body are all regulations that are made by men that have absolutely no value before the Lord and make no contribution to our salvation.  These are simply dead works that have no part in those who have been made alive through faith in Christ.  Unfortunately, these regulations are not only ineffective at liberating us from sin and its power; they actually awaken desires to sin.  We must never place our faith in these dead deeds.

 

APPLICATION: Never seek to gain security in salvation by practicing religious rituals or through some other special experience.  Trust in Christ alone to forgive and free us from the penalty and power of sin.  Don’t allow rules and regulations that appeal to the flesh to become the focus of our lives.  Instead, build a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.