Colossians 2:20-23
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Since we died to living by the world’s methods of attempting to placate God by earning His favor through particular actions and accomplishments, and now live in Christ’s grace and His work of righteousness on our behalf, why would we want to go back to those ways? We live in this world, but are citizens of the heavenlies now. All the keeping of rituals and added teachings of men outside of God’s word do not last, but the word of God is forever, as is His work in and for us. No matter how appealing it is to “do penance” or play with beads, no matter how self gratifying it may appear to follow checklists and compare our goodness with others or beat our bodies with whips or figurative punishments, these all fall short of the glory of God by His standards. They do no good against sin. But Christ by faith in His grace shows us we are dead to our efforts apart from His work in and through us.
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