Day 317: Don't go by appearances – Colossians 2 vs 18 – 23
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. 19-21 Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Colossians 2:18-23 New Living Translation's paraphrase (English Standard Version link)
A part of Jerusalem today is known as 'the wailing wall'. It’s all that’s left of the retaining wall that was built in ancient times around the temple mount. It’s a holy site for many Jewish people and crowds of them visit it. They stand right up against the wall and their heads nod vigorously as they recite prayers. One sees similar acts of devotion at Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church shrines. And then there are also the followers of Eastern religions, many of whom go to extreme lengths of bodily discipline. It all gives a picture of great religious devotion. But what does Paul say in vs 23 about the rules and rituals of religious systems? (vs 23)
They may give the appearance of great devotion and commitment – but they are not able to deal with the problem of evil desires that are common to us all. Even in the Old Testament, the many rules God gave the Israelites could never save them from sin, but were mostly meant to remind them that God is holy, and that He is the only one who can deal with our sins.
There were religious people in the city of Colossae who were teaching that Christians needed to fast and keep certain festival days or they would not be saved. They also forbade certain foods. It seems that some of them even claimed to have had revelations from angels. But what does Paul say is the true state of those who have put their hope and trust in Jesus Christ? (vs19-21)
When people believed on Jesus as the saviour God sent and were baptized into Him for forgiveness of their sins, Paul says it was as if they had died to this world. They were no longer under it's ways or restrictions. They were now joined to Christ in the same way our hands and feet are joined to our body, and are part of the body. The true Church is like a spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the head, and God Himself causes this body to grow. The implication is that it is through the Holy Spirit living in us that our evil desires are conquered - not through outward rules and rituals.
Paul describes this work of the Holy Spirit in his letter to the Galatians. He says to the Christians there: “Live by the Spirit, and you won't gratify the desires of the flesh. The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and such like. Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25)
A time of fasting can be a good thing if the time is used for prayer. Celebrating the Lord's Supper is a good thing if it is used to remember Jesus. But our salvation does not depend on doing those things or any religious rites. It is Jesus Christ who saves sinners by the perfect sacrifice He made for their sins. And it is through believing on Him that we are made pure and perfect in God's sight.