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COLOSSIANS - Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians

Part 2 - The Recognition of the Mystery of Christ Guards Against False Teaching (Colossians 2:1-23)

13. Warnings against False Legalism and Unbiblical Visions (Colossians 2:16-23)


Colossians 2:16-23
16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. 18 Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth. 20 If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, 21 “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” 22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Jesus relaxed the dietary prohibitions on food, given in the Law of Moses, and said: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man”. He later said to His disciples: “17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matt. 15:11; 16-20).

The words of Jesus do not cancel natural dietary regulations. To eat pork or meat which carrion eating animals eat is unhealthy in the hot climate of the Middle East. Whoever drinks wine or other alcohol in the gruelling heat will soon have his mental facilities weakened. To eat with unwashed hands can lead to an infection from all kinds of bacillus. Smoking can often lead to a viscous lung. All of this is to be avoided for the sake of health. The ceremonial uncleanliness of a person, however, occurs neither through food nor drink, but arises out of the corruption of the heart and the subconscious. Evil thoughts, arrogance, lies and moral impurity are not linked to foods forbidden by religion, but arise out of our own sinful predisposition, which sits deeper in us than we imagine.

In view to the correct holidays and days of festivity, whether Sunday or the Sabbath, Jesus freed up His followers from a naïve legalism. The Lord did not sanctify days or times in the New Covenant, but people! We are not to live holy and joyfully only on certain days, but be sanctified in His grace all the days of our lives. Paul described the ordinances of the Old Testament, revolving around the calendar, as only symbols and shadows of the future world, which had become visible in Jesus, who healed the sick also on the Sabbath, through His word of authority. The true meaning and content of the Old Testament feasts became reality only in Jesus. Righteousness does not depend on the keeping of certain days, but on a faith-connection with the Lamb of God alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rev. 7:10).

Jesus gives us a share in His victory through our personal faith, not by the keeping of laws. Therefore, we should be careful not to fall pray to any so-called “enlightened” witnesses, who have supposedly received visions, dreams and instructions from angels or spirits of the dead. Whoever preaches a gospel different from that of Paul and the other disciples falls under the wrath of God (Gal. 1:8-9)! The person persuaded that he has received additional visions, inspiration and revelation, and who thereby boasts from a false humility, stands under suspicion of possessing a pompous arrogance. Our commands and encouragements come directly from Jesus, our Head. He controls and determines what truth is. Our power comes from Him alone, which flows from His grace. His gospel holds the church together and promotes her growth, which echoes the work of God.

Paul writes that ultimately, human ordinances do not affect our relationship with Christ. We live in Him and with Him on an entirely different spiritual plateau. We are in the world, but no longer of the world. Earthly laws do not serve our justification and sanctification. Divine salvation is outside of us and has been completed by Jesus on the cross. Church ordinances, such as dietary laws, special dress, fasts, pilgrimages, taxes, celibacy and confession, which were rendered as laws to help enact salvation, are mainly earthly and useless. They diminish the salvation of Christ, which He has already completed and realized in His followers.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You through Jesus Christ, Your Son, that You have drawn us into Your salvation by grace alone, without any personal achievement. Keep us from additional teachings, laws and visions, so that Jesus alone will remain our Saviour, and that no other ordinances or self-sanctification will in any way diminish or destroy His grace. Help those responsible in churches to teach no other salvation save that alone through the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Question 36: Why did Paul battle against fanatics of the law, spiritists and those worshiping angels and the spirits of the dead?

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; any you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Col. 2:8-10).

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