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    Colossians 2:16-3:4
    Lesson 387

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Freedom from the Mosaic Law.
    Freedom in Christ versus bondage in legalism, asceticism, and other heresies.
    False teachings (2:16-19).
     
    "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (3:2).
     
    This concludes Paul's expose' of heresy begun in lesson 386.

    ​By American artist Warner Sallman (1892-1968).
    Study Tip:     
     
    Review past lessons.  It helps tie the Bible together in your mind.

    The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Colossians

    The King James Bible    ​



    Colossians 2:16-3:4
    ​    Heresies exposed

    16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
     
    17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
     
    18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
     
    19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
     
    20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
     
    21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
     
    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.        


    Colossians 3:1-4
    Let heaven fill your thoughts
     
    1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
     
    2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
     
    3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
     
    4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday." (2:16) - Paul is refuting the Judaizers who believed that God judges us by what we eat, drink, or which holy days we keep, and which Mosaic Laws we follow.  See also Romans 14:2-6  and Galatians 4:9-11.
     
    "The new moon." (2:16) - The Old Testament called for a sacrifice on the first day of each month (Numbers 10:10; 28:11-15).  These are no longer necessary.  Jesus was the final sacrifice. 
     
    "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (2:17) - The Mosaic Law was but a shadow of the body, but Christ is the body.
     
    "Voluntary humility." (2:18) - "False humility."
     
    "Worshipping of angels." (2:18) - Contrary to the Scriptures (Revelation 22:8-9), Gnostics believed that we are too lowly to worship God, so they worshipped angels.  While this shows humility, it is false humility. 
     
    "Those things which he hath not seen." (2:18) - Refers to false visions.
     
    "Puffed up by his fleshly mind." (2:18) - The Gnostics were proud of their man-made religion.
     
    "Not holding the Head." (2:19) - "Not believing in the head (of the church)."
     
    "Joints and bands." (2:19) - "Joints and ligaments."
     
    "If ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances." (2:20) - "If you died with Christ, you are free from the (religious) rules of the world, so why do you submit to them?" 
     
    "Touch not; taste not; handle not." (2:21) - A summary of the Judaizers rules.  Instead of putting their faith in Jesus for their salvation, Judaizer's thought they could save themselves by what they ate or did.  Jesus is our hope, not ourselves.   
     
    "Doctrines of men." (2:22) - "Teachings of men."
     
    "Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship." (2:23) - "These things (rites and ceremonial rules) have the appearance of wisdom in false worship."
     
    "Neglecting of the body." (2:23) - This is called asceticism.  Asceticism is the man-made philosophy that living an austere life of sacrifice and self-denial will please God.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, asceticism is "the practice of strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline."
     
    "Not in any honour." (2:23) - "Not of any value."
     
    "Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (3:1) - The right hand of God is the seat of honor (Psalm 45:9; 110:1).
     
    "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (3:2) - "Set your heart on heaven, not on earthly things."
     
    "For ye are dead." (3:3) - Christians are dead to the things on this world but resurrected and alive in Christ.
     
    "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear." (3:4) - "When Christ, who is our life, returns."


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Colossians 2:16-3:4
     
    16 So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

    17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

    18 Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,

    19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
     
    20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,

    21 "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!"?

    22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

    23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires.
     
     
    Colossians 3:1-4
    Living the New Life
     
    1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.

    2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

    3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

    ​4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. What life changes occur when a person becomes a Christian? (3:1-4)





    Strengthen your relationship with God by studying His word every day.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. Once a person accepts Jesus as their Savior, their focus changes, and they begin to seek their treasure in Christ (3:1).  Their thoughts turn more to the truth of heaven and less to the things here on earth (3:2) as they learn and God slowly becomes their life (3:4).




    Application thought for the day:
     
    What are you doing to be connected to and nourished by Christ (2:19)?
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    © 2022 evolke