Sunday, December 1, 2013

Gleaning from Colossians 2

Gleaning from Colossians 2
====================

1.Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies (E.g Self-Help Programmes, Therapy etc..)

What is philosophies?
Philosophies are any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation.
(E.g Marriage Counselling, Behavioral issue etc...)

Colossians 2:8
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ.

Life Application Commentary
====================
Paul writes against any philosophy of life based only on human ideas and experiences. Paul himself was a gifted philosopher, so he is not condemning philosophy. He is condemning teaching that credits humanity, not Christ, with being the answer to life’s problems. That approach becomes a false religion. There are many man-made approaches to life’s problems that totally disregard God. To resist heresy you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ, and study God’s Word.

2.Adhering to religious rules cannot change a person’s heart. Only the Holy Spirit can.

What are religious rules?
Examples of religious rules are abstinence from certain things etc.

While it is commendable to abstain from certain thing to live a life pleasing to God. Yet without the holy spirit enabling, your endeavor will only results in failure after failure.. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing.

Colossians 2:20-23
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 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, 21 “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.

Life Application Commentary
====================
We cannot reach up to God by following rules of self-denial, by observing rituals, or by practicing religion. Paul isn’t saying all rules are bad (see the note on Galatians 2:15-16). But keeping laws or rules will not earn salvation. The Good News is that God reaches down to human beings, and he asks for our response.(When you do response, do note that unless the spirit enables you, you are dead in your transgression and unable to response.) Man-made religions focus on human effort; Christianity focuses on Christ’s work. Believers must put aside sinful desires, but doing so is the by-product of our new life in Christ, not the reason for our new life. Our salvation does not depend on our own discipline and rule keeping but on the power of Christ’s death and resurrection.

To the Colossians, the discipline demanded by the false teachers seemed good, and legalism still attracts many people today. Following a long list of religious rules requires strong self- discipline and can make a person appear moral, but religious rules cannot change a person’s heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that.

No comments:

Post a Comment