Devotional: Colossians 2:16-23

Reflection

• (Col 2:16 ESV) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
• (Col 2:17 ESV) These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
• (Col 2:18 ESV) Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
• (Col 2:19 ESV) and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
• (Col 2:20 ESV) If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations–
• (Col 2:21 ESV) “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
• (Col 2:22 ESV) (referring to things that all perish as they are used)–according to human precepts and teachings?
• (Col 2:23 ESV) These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Discussion

Has there ever been a person in your life that you could not bear to disappoint?  You had such high regard for them that you just wanted them to be pleased with you?  For me that was my grandfather.  I wondered for years how he had that aura that caused me to hold him in such regard.  I think it was two part, really.  First, he did love me unconditionally.  It did not matter what I did, he loved me always.  Second, he valued the relationship with respect.  He treated us well and listened and engaged.  That love and respect built into me a deep desire to reciprocate to him.  I respect him immensely and hopefully had grown up in a manner to honor his legacy.  For the believer, Christ is much like that.  He loves us unconditionally and He brings us up in Him honoring the relationship. 

Connection

Does the measure of what Christ has done for you cause you to want to please Him?

What are the areas of your relationship with Christ that cause you the most struggle?

How can reflecting on the grace and mercy of God heal those areas?

Expansion

Salvation and Preservation

God saves people by their faith in Him alone according to His grace alone through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone, not on the basis of any human work.  All of the redeemed are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit and justified before God beginning the transforming sanctification of the whole person the fruit of which is shown by their attitude and conduct.  Having been saved by faith, we are justified in Christ before God, forgiven of our sins, and held eternally secure by Christ alone forever where we will one day assume a glorified condition with Him forever.  From beginning to end the salvation of people is entirely a work of God to bring glory to His name.

Acts 8:27-30, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, John 1:12-13, Romans 6:16-18, Romans 9:10-24, John 6:43-45, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Ezra 18:23, Romans 10:10-21, 2 Peter 3:9, John 12:32, Romans 14:10-12