Colossians 2:20-3:4. In yesterday’ reading Paul moved from theology (the facts about Jesus) to practice, or the actual thoughts and actions of the Colossians. There were false teachers in the area who were trying to get them to do more, be more spiritual. The teachers’ answer was to follow the old actions of Judaism and more. They wanted the people to punish themselves into some higher form of honoring God. They though that angles were better at honoring God and that we need to figure out how to be more like them.

In verses 20-22 Paul asks them why they continue to submit to manmade religion since they have “died with Christ”. Remember the idea of death in the Bible is the idea of separation. In verse 11 we learned that when we give our lives to Jesus that his death is applied to us. He deals with the spiritual punishment or consequences of our sin (disobedience and rebellion toward God). Since we have a restored personal relationship with God, he comes into our lives and helps us overcome our old nature and live respectful lives for him. If you remember from yesterday the “elementary principles of the world” describes human reason. Specifically Paul is talking about ideas about God that come from our own minds rather than from God. We need to be careful because in Romans 1-2 Paul clearly tells that church that certain things can be known about God from the way the creation is and works and also that our conscience teaches us about what sorts of activities honor God and which do not, but those are not a complete picture of God. The Bible reveals more about God’s plan and is more clear and specific. Our conscience is foggy and the creation is distorted so we need to be sure to check those sources of information against the Bible.

In Romans 7:4-6 Paul talks about this idea of dying with Jesus and how it relates to the Old Testament Law. He is using the idea of marriage and how a person is free to remarry if their spouse dies, but until then husbands and wives are tied to and live for each other. When we died with Jesus (remember yesterday’s reading) we were free to be joined to Jesus. This is not in the physical way that humans are “joined”, but it does involve a life dedicated to living for the one we are “joined” to (spiritually and emotionally), to Jesus. Paul makes this clear when he says, “so we might bear fruit”. The “fruit” here is actions that honor God (see Matthew 7:12-20; 12:33-35, Luke 6:43-46). In verse 5 Paul told the Roman believers that when they were “in the flesh” that the Law actually tempted them to act badly and that they followed those temptations (sort of like what happened with Adam and Eve, Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-8). In Romans 7:6 thought he explains that since we “died with Jesus” we now can live new lives with the help of the [Holy] Spirit (see “Three or One?”) and are not tied to the rules of the Law anymore. Remember though from yesterday that the Law had two functions or jobs in our lives. It judges and condemns us by showing us we fail God but it also helps us see who God is and what sorts of things he likes. In this second way the Law is still useful to us even though we are free from it’s regulations (You might want to check out Galatians some time it deals with the Law a lot). So now in Jesus we are free from the control of our own distorted reason and with the help of the Holy Spirit can lives God pleasing lives; be “fruitful”.

In verse 21 we see a sample of what the Colossians were being tempted with, they were being told, “don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”. The first and third seem similar but if you look at the Greek words (Greek is the language Paul wrote in) you will find a difference. The first word literally means to “fasten or cling to”. It seems to deal with physical contact between a man and a woman, the idea here is probably the idea of celibacy, not getting married. The second and third words are pretty much what they mean in English. So the Colossians were being told not marry, to eat only a little, and probably not to own a lot of stuff. They were to live lives of denial and self-punishment. This kind of life was promoted by the Essene Jewish community of Paul’s day and was and still is promoted by lots of religious groups. Punishing your body seems to be a very popular idea for how to have a good relationship with God

In verse 23 Paul calls these “do not” ideas self-made religion. The words “self-made religion” (“will worship” in the King James translation or “self-imposed worship” in the NIV) translate one Greek word. That word has two parts, the first means “will, desire, or intent” and the second comes from a word that means to “cry out”, like calling to someone (the Greeks liked compound words).

In Matthew 6:7 Jesus told his followers that when they prayed they should go into their house and pray to God quietly in private. God can hear you wherever you are. He also told them they didn’t need to stand in public places making a big scene when they prayed and that they didn’t need to keep repeating themselves like they were going to change God’s mind or talk God into something (Matthew 6:5-7). People often like the idea of god. They want someone out there on their side. But it is often “their” side. We want things the way we want them and we want someone powerful who will come along when we ask and do what we want. This word is like that “crying out” to God for things to be the way I want them.   The so-called “wise” actions that the Colossians were being tempted to follow included not only this self-made religion but also fake humility (pretending to submit to God) and fake sincerity (they tried to show how serious they were by punishing their bodies, like the body was the problem).

Paul tells the Colossian readers that all this self-made “religion” might look like a good idea (“appearance of wisdom”) but that it is really useless. It focuses on things that don’t really last and doesn’t really stop us from following the temptations of our old nature. It is our person, Our soul or spirit that really lasts. Our old nature is part of that and that is the thing that needs to be dealt with. We might like to use the idea of “heart”; what is important is our “heart”, our real self.

In Colossians 3:1-2 Paul hints at this inner part as being the important part. In verse 1 he says “if you have been raised up with Christ (another way of referring to Jesus)”. Paul has already complimented the Colossians on their faith in Jesus so I don’t think he is saying “if” like he doubts that they are part of God’s forever family, the “if” is probably there to get them thinking, “Have I been raised with Jesus? Yes I believe in what he has done for me, I trust him.” The “raised up” is referring to the fact that we now have a restored relationship with God (new life that is eternal) and will also one day have a new physical life (see Colossians 2:12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

So Paul is getting them to focus on Jesus and the new relationship they have with God. This relationship was started when Jesus died on the cross for us, something he did while we were still spiritually dead and his enemies (Colossians 2:13, see also Romans 5:8-10). The relationship isn’t based on what we do in or with our physical beings is based on what Jesus did for us in his physical being. Paul wants them to seek the “things above” specifically Jesus. Paul wants their minds to focus on Jesus not on food or drink or festivals or religious ceremonies (Colossians 2:16). Hunger and thirst and denying the desire to have a husband or wife don’t make us closer to God in fact they can keep us from God (Matthew 13:1-23, especially v. 22).

In verse 3 we are reminded that we have died, to our sins, to the old nature, to any system that promises to bring us back to God. We are alive in Jesus. Jesus is in Heaven, waiting for the day when he will return and take physical control of this world, wait to establish the kingdom promised in the Old Testament, waiting especially for mort citizens of the kingdom to find new life in him (2 Peter 3:9-10). In the mean time our new life is hidden in Heaven in Jesus who is with God. To the world this all must seem foolish. God becoming a man? Foolish. Resurrection from the dead? Foolish. His life for yours? Foolish. “you need to do it on your own, punish yourself for your evil, get to God your way.” Wisdom? In the world eyes but in God’s it is foolish. In verse 4 someday the world will see Jesus and then they will see what we have been given in Jesus and the word will honor Jesus fro who he is, God in Heaven, and what he has done, offered new life, spiritual and physical, to a world that had turned it’s back on him. For many it will be too late.

Real life both physical and spiritual are in Jesus. He is the only way to have our relationship with God restored (spiritual life) and only he can replace our dead and dying bodies with new imperishable ones (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). In the mean time he has given us the power, through the Holy Spirit, to live here and now for him, a new and cool life that has real meaning and purpose. That life may involve suffering but we don’t make ourselves suffer to have that new life. We need to focus here and now on what is really real, what will really last, Jesus and our relationship with him. We need to focus on him and work on that relationship. Our physical life is important but only in how it relates to God and our forever life with him. Live each day to honor God for who he is and what he has done for you, don’t dishonor him by trying to get what only he can give, especially by beating up the life he has given you to live for him.

Jesus help me live each day for you. You told us through your servant Solomon that we should enjoy the life you have given us but that we should always remember you in all we do (Ecclesiastes 11:7-10). I know you want only the best for us; the best now and forever. Help me live with you and eternity in focus. Help me help others see you now and being to enjoy all you have done for us and all you give us. Thank you Jesus. By the way thank you for rent this month too. Thank you.