Colossians 2:22-23

Colossians 2:22-23

Scripture: kjv Colossians2:²² Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?²³ Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Observations: Paul is telling the Colossians why Dont touch, Dont taste, Dont handle doesnt work to save. Reasons:

• perish with the using:....these things are temporal and deteriorate with use. Sounds like the more you use rules the more they perish. *Perish with use*. Rules are carnal and dont have super natural power. Rules and religious standards come and go, they perish when used.
• after the commandments and doctrines of men:....reminds me of Mathew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Pharisee.
• indeed a shew of wisdom:Adhering to rules certainly appears to show off mans wisdom. *Shew of Wisdom*.
• will worship: one version calls this self imposed religion. Willing yourself to be holy. Doesnt work.
• humility: false humility. Man made humility. Paul talked about this a few verses up....he mentions those who take delight in false humility.
• neglecting of the body: asceticism, denying the flesh pleasure, or even basic comforts in order to gains Gods favor and mans admiration. Fasting, doing without. May seem spiritual but only the Spirit of Gods is Spirit-ual.
• not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.: I like the way the ESV renders this verse, (because I sure dont understand it in the KJV.) but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. That is very clear to me, hard for my flesh to submit to sometimes but the Word is clear. Rules like dont touch taste or handle have *NO VALUE* in stopping our sin. Denying ourselves doesnt work. Paul made that clear when he mentioned that our circumcision is *made without hands*. And again when he tells us Christ nailed the rules to the cross and made a public spectacle of them....blotted them out, because they are against us, contrary to us. Rules have NO VALUE in stopping the desires of the flesh.

 

Application: When the Bible screams something we should listen...Paul is screaming here...over and over he is saying the same things in several different ways. Rules are futile, they work against us. Religion is contrary to Christ. Christ alone, not only saves but HE is the substance that helps us to cease from sin. Hes enough.

PRAY: After years of trying to adhere to the rules and failing miserably I am so thankful for these verses Lord. They comfort me. My efforts are futile. Rules have *NO VALUE*. Christ has ALL value, ALL power. ALL. I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around these concepts....teach me God to yield. Show me how to surrender my every human effort. To let you live fully in my life. Please.