START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
DIED WITH CHRIST TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THIS WORLD / COLOSSIANS 2:20
Notice that the types of rules Paul says do not apply to Christians are called “the basic principles of this world.” For the most part, these principles have to do with outward religious rituals, regulations, routines, and customs (“do not handle … taste … touch,” Colossians 2:21). By Paul’s time, they had become the extreme human-imposed guidelines of the Old Testament laws. However, the elaborate set of restrictions Paul addresses here were mostly the creation of the false teachers themselves. Relying on such rules – even God’s laws – in an effort to gain spiritual salvation or favor with God is called legalism (Mark 7:6). However, we must be careful not to misapply or abuse the spiritual principles behind Paul’s God-inspired instructions. For example, the fact that we need not follow outward physical regulations such as circumcision (Colossians 2:11; Galatians 2:4, 12: Philippians 3:2) or food restriction (Colossians 2:16; Romans 14:6; 1 Corinthians 10:25) does not excuse us from living by the moral standards of God’s commands. Following the commands does not save us spiritually; yet, if we are truly saved and in a right relationship with God, we will obey His commands out of and gratitude to Christ and because they are good and right (Romans 8:4). In addition, the freedom from rules about what to eat or what days to celebrate (Colossians 2:16) is not meant to mean “freedom” from standards that have true moral significance and spiritual consequences. Often, passages dealing with Christian freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10) are misinterpreted, abused, or taken out of context to justify behavior that truly does compromise or cross moral boundaries. Food simply goes in and out of the body and has little, if anything, to do with spiritual matters. However, when people try to apply this principle to morally questionable activities and behaviors that actually do affect the mind and spirit, they are seriously missing the point (Colossians 2:23; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 8:7).
Bible Study Tools I Use
- NIV Bible
- King James Bible
- www. biblegateway.com
- www.biblestudytools.com
- www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
- Map Pencils
- College Ruled Spiral Notebook
- Ballpoint Pens
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