Read Colossians 2:16-23
The teachers of error at Colossae were saying that the the cross of Christ was not the only, complete, and final way to be forgiven and accepted by God. That argument has recurred throughout the history of the church. Whenever this argument is voiced it is generally accompanied by an insistence that various rules or laws have to be obeyed in order to gain acceptance. The argument seems to be that, if Jesus Christ did not pay the toll fee in full, then those who want to cross the bridge to reconciliation with God must pay in part themselves. In Colossae, this led to rules about what could and could not be done on the Sabbath (Sunday for the early Church), rules about what could be eaten, and when, and so on. This was, in effect, a throw-back to how the Jews had understood religion before the time of Christ. It is, essentially, a religion based on merit. It confuses actions necessary for our salvation with actions that are appropriate because of our salvation. It mistakes the fruit of faith for its root.
Merit-based religion is still very popular. It can be detected easily. Those who practice merit-based religion are very fond of doing what verse 16 forbids. Some of the taboos are listed in verse 21. They contradict the plain teaching of Jesus in Mark 7:14-23. Notice how Paul restates the point in Colossians 2:23 - keeping strict rules and regulations may appear to be a very faithful way of living the Christian life, but in fact it is without merit in terms of salvation. "I came here to escape the temptations of the flesh," said the man in the monastery. "And did you succeed?" he was asked. ""No," the man replied, "for I find that I brought myself with me when I came...".
The underlying point to get clear is that if we distort the doctrine of Christ's full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for our sin, by either adding to it or taking something away, then we are bound to get our Christianity wrong in almost every other respect.
Prayer: O Lord, Your death was really a triumph; may something of its power be revealed in me today. Amen.
2 comments:
This commentary on a sermon series is a truly congregation-transforming step in our church. It helps each of us move beyond a spiritual high just during the sermon itself but into what belonging to a church is all about - growing in Christ throughout the week through personal study, especially in securing the lessons of the sermon so carefully and lovingly provided for us through the loving Hand of God in a major instrument of growth, our pastor Alan Trafford.
Thanks , Tom. Just don't expect me to do it every week!
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