Expert: Dean Gade - 12/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dean and Merry Christmas. I hope that the Holiday season is going well for you. I finished reading the book of Colossians yesterday, but went back to reread chapter 2 because something was troubling me (especially the last few verses; I think verses 20-23; I don't have my Bible in front of me). It seems like the church at Colosse was in the middle of a war of spirituality and had taken their focus away from Christ, who is the center of our lives (Amen). What was the nature of their spiritual dilemma, and what exactly were they being taught that the apostle Paul talks about 'DO NOT TOUCH, DO NOT TASTE, DO NOT HANDLE.’? Chapter 3 goes on to emphasize that whatever they were refraining from was carnal-minded, and had no avail to spirituality, but that they should focus on spiritual things, and in which the apostle goes on to list vices, or sins which they should avoid instead, to increase their relationship with Christ. I just need your help clarifying what was going on with the believers in the Colosse church here and what was the nature of the teachings that they were being subjected to which led Paul to write verses 20-23, thus leading to chapter 3. Thanks a bunch for your time and for helping. I appreciate it.
Brandy

Answer
Brandy,

The context which explains what Paul is speaking of is still in chapter 2:

Col 2:16-23

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
NIV

There are still many Christian groups and denominations which continue to live under the Law (10 Commandments) plus they judge other Christians according to their own legalistic traditions and teachings.  These new rules include "when to worship, what not to eat, seeking medical help" and many other requirements of what to do and what not to do.

On the other side, but really just the same, are the "liberal" Christians who have accepted the "basic principles of the world" like religious environmentalism and forms of "political correctness".

We, who are in Christ, are free from being condemned on these matters.  In verses 22-23 Paul tells us that these regulations may look good;  they even have an appeal of being pious, loving and concerned.  BUT,  they do not build us up spiritually.

Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Law.  The Law was given on Mt. Sinai through Moses to bring people to the end of their self-righteousness and was to cause all to turn to God alone for their salvation, purely through God's favor towards us.  The 10 Commandments at least were holy and were the will of God for all people.  Man's regulations for being religious are most often a poor addition to the Law but often meant to carry the same burden and condemnation as the Law. It's that burden and condemnation that St. Paul is speaking against in Col.

We walk by the Spirit. As promised in the O.T., His Law is within us and as we learn His Word, the whole of the Bible, we will be hearing His voice and He will shepherd us.

Here are  some passages to consider concerning our Christian Liberty.

Jer 31:31-34

31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
RSV

Matt 5:17-18

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
NIV

John 19:30
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished ." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
NIV

Col 1:18-20
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross .
NIV

Rom 3:19-25

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law , so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law ; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
NIV

Rom 5:20-21

20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV

2 Cor 3:7-11

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
NIV     (ONLY THE 10 COMMANDMENTS WERE WRITTEN ON STONE)

1 Cor 6:12-13

12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. 13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" - and God will destroy both one and the other.
RSV

Matt 15:8-9

8'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"
RSV

Luke 11:46

46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
NIV