The Word of God Remains Forever

Colossians 2

[20] 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—[21] “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” [22] (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? [23] 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.

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We often feel that sometimes we need to make a grand gesture towards God in order to win his approval to be labeled a worthy servant. However, where exactly do we get this idea from? There seems to be a lot of mindsets, actions, and behavioral disciplines that appear beneficial, or even godly, that aim to please God but are motivated by a completely false understanding of God and our relationship with Him.

In short, these beliefs are carried out of a false gospel.

A great example is one’s service to God, motivated to prove that they are indeed a “good person”. However, we find in scripture that no one is good except for God, which is why we have the gospel at all. However, an unbalanced view can take this truth and chase it even further into a great darkness of self-punishment, ignoring the truth of what the gospel offers us. It’s not by good works that we are privileged into God’s grace. It is by Christ’s righteousness, which covers us, that we experience grace.

In this section of the letter, Paul is addressing regulations and mindsets that, though they appear wise by human convention, have no real permanent freedom from the chains of sin. Many of these practices that Paul is opposing and warning against place oneself as the central liberator of our own sinful nature. These practices ranged from creating additional man-made religious laws, all the way to disciplining oneself for sinning by self-mutilation of their body. People were devoted to atoning for their own sins instead of living in the truth that Jesus atoned for them on the cross. While they may have professed they believed in the gospel of Jesus, they had not yet tasted the freedom of a new life with Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

This should cause us to consider where our behavioral mindsets actually come from. Do they stem from worldly practices that appear wise and logical, but in no way are anchored to the truth of God’s Word? We must consciously examine the motivations of our hearts against the infallible weight of the Word of God.

Paul is correct. If indeed we are with Christ, then we do not need to depend on our own strength to reconcile our means with God. Jesus has sufficiently supplied every aspect of our righteousness and holiness that brings us into an everlasting relationship with Him. Pursuing any other avenue will only lead us back to a life submitted to the flesh.

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Questions

Q: Are there habits or practices in your life that are keeping you from experiencing the fullness of our freedom in Christ?

Q: In what ways do Christians still try to atone for their own sins?