LEARNING DAILY

Colossians 2:16-17, So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival, or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ,

The message this weekend included several forms of “isms”; these are patterns of thought about people trying to gain favor with God by “doing different things” they thought would bring them to higher levels of spirituality. Pastor Newton used the verse above to discuss legalism which he defined in the Listener Guide as “the religion of human achievement”. He went on the say that legalism was “spirituality based on what we did or did not do”. Regarding one’s relationship with God, it refers to the attempt to earn God’s acceptance by following a set of rules.

The verse above begins with the word “so”; other translations use the word “therefore”. When we see these words used, we need to refer to previous verses. When we go back and read those verses, we see that Paul explained that our relationship to God is through Christ and not through anything we do, eat, drink, or festival we keep. Jesus Christ has removed the penalty for sin when we accepted Him and He destroys the forces of evil when they come against us (Colossians 2:13-15). There were those in Colosse that were telling Believers they had to fallow certain rules and follow certain rituals in order to be saved. Pastor Newton said that the people who tried following these rules and rituals and people today who “spend their time trying to get to God while living for the applause of people” need to stop. No one can gain God’s acceptance by following rules. God comes to us just as we are and He saves and cleanses us. It is not some man-made religion or set of rules that does this – only God can change us. We need to allow Him to change us! The change in us will cause us to live the way He wants us to live – by faith in Him!

Paul stated that the Old Testament legal requirements were “a shadow of things to come”. The law was a hint of what was to come – Jesus Christ. The Law was not superior to Jesus just like a book is not superior to the author (I found that in my research and thought it was good!). Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law not to abolish it in Matthew 5:17. In the verses of the Sermon on the Mount He went on to explain the principles behind the Law that had been given. Jesus said when we do these things they begin in our heart. Other verses in Scripture tell us sin begins when we choose to give into our temptations or our thoughts (James 1:14-15). We know the Law, but what about the principles behind it?

Be careful when people try to hold you to a set of “dos and don’ts”, a set of rules. They do not bring anyone closer to God. Walking a narrow way into God eternal kingdom is about allowing the Holy Spirit to cleanse Believers of unrighteousness, conforming us to be like Jesus. He comes to us as we are, saves us and changes us into His image. To be identified with Him is enough. None of us is perfect yet; each of us is a “work in progress” (Pastor Newton). What the Bible says we are to follow is for our benefit; we follow His Word not to look good in the eyes of others but knowing there are spiritual and moral boundaries Believers must follow as they walk the narrow way.