Colossians 2:20-23 says,...
Today's verses are Colossians 2:20-23, which read,
v.20-22 - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
Paul is writing to the new Christians in Colossae who received the message of the gospel from a man named Epraphas who received the message of the gospel from him. Paul is instructing them about their salvation and the foundations of the faith of who Christ is. He is praying earnestly for them to continue in the faith against the efforts of the false teachers who are giving a message of Jesus plus something else for salvation. Paul is saying Jesus alone for salvation.
To grow in the faith is to have it firmly rooted, built up, and established in who Jesus is and what He has done. This is what keeps you from being taken "captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world." They have died with Christ to be raised with Him through the working of God. They have had their transgressions nailed to the cross through Jesus very physical body with "paid in full" stamped upon it.
In the face of that Paul questions them why they are still following the elementary principles of the world that relies on outward obedience to bring about salvation themselves (which is not possible) than the obedience offered by Jesus given to us. They are stuck on rituals and outward signs of holiness set up by men that will all perish someday in the face of a risen and eternal Lord who is and who was and who will ever shall be inviting us to live with Him forever.
v.23 - These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
"I can will myself into heaven" or "I can be perfect in my efforts to qualify myself a spot there." When you act that way it does give an appearance of a holy person but if you are doing those things to think that you can gain something under your power that only God can provide and give than what you are doing has no eternal value. There are some great holy activities that we can do as Christians but they are not to replace His sacrifice of salvation. Anything that we do should be in accordance "to" His salvation and not in anyway to think we can "gain" His salvation.
Are my actions because of my salvation or am I still trying to earn it someway? If I am trying to earn it or earn others approval then my salvation is in myself and my efforts and they will die with me. If I rest in the salvation provided by the Lord Himself, I will rise with Him by Him to live with Him eternally. Look at the outcomes and make your decision. Let's pray.
"Lord, the world's influence and its even holy rules can easily take the place of the sufficiency of Your salvation to us. When we take upon ourselves those actions with a hint that this addition is adding to our salvation then we are saying that Your effort was not enough. May anything I do today be because of Your salvation and reflect a follower of that salvation. May I see when Satan is trying to sneak in to make anything other than Your salvation become an added ingredient I need to gain it. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.20-22 - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
Paul is writing to the new Christians in Colossae who received the message of the gospel from a man named Epraphas who received the message of the gospel from him. Paul is instructing them about their salvation and the foundations of the faith of who Christ is. He is praying earnestly for them to continue in the faith against the efforts of the false teachers who are giving a message of Jesus plus something else for salvation. Paul is saying Jesus alone for salvation.
To grow in the faith is to have it firmly rooted, built up, and established in who Jesus is and what He has done. This is what keeps you from being taken "captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world." They have died with Christ to be raised with Him through the working of God. They have had their transgressions nailed to the cross through Jesus very physical body with "paid in full" stamped upon it.
In the face of that Paul questions them why they are still following the elementary principles of the world that relies on outward obedience to bring about salvation themselves (which is not possible) than the obedience offered by Jesus given to us. They are stuck on rituals and outward signs of holiness set up by men that will all perish someday in the face of a risen and eternal Lord who is and who was and who will ever shall be inviting us to live with Him forever.
v.23 - These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
"I can will myself into heaven" or "I can be perfect in my efforts to qualify myself a spot there." When you act that way it does give an appearance of a holy person but if you are doing those things to think that you can gain something under your power that only God can provide and give than what you are doing has no eternal value. There are some great holy activities that we can do as Christians but they are not to replace His sacrifice of salvation. Anything that we do should be in accordance "to" His salvation and not in anyway to think we can "gain" His salvation.
Are my actions because of my salvation or am I still trying to earn it someway? If I am trying to earn it or earn others approval then my salvation is in myself and my efforts and they will die with me. If I rest in the salvation provided by the Lord Himself, I will rise with Him by Him to live with Him eternally. Look at the outcomes and make your decision. Let's pray.
"Lord, the world's influence and its even holy rules can easily take the place of the sufficiency of Your salvation to us. When we take upon ourselves those actions with a hint that this addition is adding to our salvation then we are saying that Your effort was not enough. May anything I do today be because of Your salvation and reflect a follower of that salvation. May I see when Satan is trying to sneak in to make anything other than Your salvation become an added ingredient I need to gain it. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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