Jul 8, 2018
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. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come,
but the substance belongs to Christ...
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?
As the church was beginning in the
years following the resurrection of Jesus, there were many rules
that were trying to keep people from being unified in Christ.
False religions grew up around Christianity trying to make the
follower of Jesus slaves to the rules of their particular cult.
These people were putting new rules on the people in the church and
demanding that they follow their rules in order to have, not only
salvation, but any kind of mystical experience with God.
They demanded a strict diet and a strict form of pietism. Rules!!
Rules!! Rules!! What does this mean for the church
today? How are we judged, and how do we judge others
based on outward appearances of spirituality when in fact, hearts
and wandering minds are never changed? Join us as Paul
clarifies the rules for us so that our lives and bodies will not
longer be slaves to sin!