Post by Watchman on Oct 15, 2005 12:37:29 GMT -5
The blotting out of ordinances? Col 2:14
Collosians 2:14 is a verse of scripture which has been used by false teachers to rationalize the disobediance of God's law and commandments. (2 Peter 3:16). Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Ephesians 5:6
If we look at the situations facing the 1st century members of the Church it is clear that the modern interpretation that this is the doing away with God's law and commandments is in error. These Christians were living in the middle of an openly pagan society- as are we- Paul was telling them not to be concerned with persecution due to their following the Word of God. Often Jewish leaders also tried to get them to observe the carnal ordinances and interpretations which had been added to the law by men.
Beginning with verse 6:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Paul was here admonishing these believers not to be swayed by the openly pagan world in which they lived. If, as interpreted by many, he is suggesting the 'blotting out' of God's law and Holy days- why then did he admonish the Corinthian church to "keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor 5:8? This is a clear reference to the Passover and the Feast of Unlevened Bread! Paul was letting these Christians know that they needed to move from the outward, physical ordinances imposed by the relgious leaders (throuth their vain interpretation), and move toward the truth of the spiritual meaning of these laws and observances.
Paul called them a 'shadow of things to come'. When we understand the pattern given to us by Moses and the Prophets- we can see God's ultimate plan of salvation and of the timing of the Day of the Lord!
Jesus said "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Jesus was the transition from the physical to the spiritual observance of the law. We are to follow him as our pattern. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Iniquity is lawlesness!
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
Jesus was able to show that the law was simply 1) Love God above all else. 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. It is not pssible to fulfill these truths in our lives without the Holy Spirit.
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: James 2:8
This is the transition from the Levitical (physical) priesthood- to the Melchisedec (spiritual) priesthood -" For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Hebrews 7:12
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Hebrews 7:16
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39
No man living a physical carnal existance can fulfill the "Law of Moses". "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4. This is the entire purpose for Christ's sacrafice and the gift of the Holy Spirit- this is how we can be justified. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Romans 2:13
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:25
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31
The simple truth is that if we are living in the Spirit of Christ we are justified by grace- and not under the law: " For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Romans 7:5-6
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Galatians 5:18
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:7
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. Galatians 2:19
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Romans 9:31-32
Those who are not following Christ, baptized into his death, living and walking a Spirit filled life are still under the letter of the law! Those who follow and believe the lie of paganized churchianity are under the letter of the Law!
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Cor 15:56
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Galatians 3:11 -12
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19
Collosians 2:14 is a verse of scripture which has been used by false teachers to rationalize the disobediance of God's law and commandments. (2 Peter 3:16). Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Ephesians 5:6
If we look at the situations facing the 1st century members of the Church it is clear that the modern interpretation that this is the doing away with God's law and commandments is in error. These Christians were living in the middle of an openly pagan society- as are we- Paul was telling them not to be concerned with persecution due to their following the Word of God. Often Jewish leaders also tried to get them to observe the carnal ordinances and interpretations which had been added to the law by men.
Beginning with verse 6:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Paul was here admonishing these believers not to be swayed by the openly pagan world in which they lived. If, as interpreted by many, he is suggesting the 'blotting out' of God's law and Holy days- why then did he admonish the Corinthian church to "keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor 5:8? This is a clear reference to the Passover and the Feast of Unlevened Bread! Paul was letting these Christians know that they needed to move from the outward, physical ordinances imposed by the relgious leaders (throuth their vain interpretation), and move toward the truth of the spiritual meaning of these laws and observances.
Paul called them a 'shadow of things to come'. When we understand the pattern given to us by Moses and the Prophets- we can see God's ultimate plan of salvation and of the timing of the Day of the Lord!
Jesus said "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Jesus was the transition from the physical to the spiritual observance of the law. We are to follow him as our pattern. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Iniquity is lawlesness!
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
Jesus was able to show that the law was simply 1) Love God above all else. 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. It is not pssible to fulfill these truths in our lives without the Holy Spirit.
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: James 2:8
This is the transition from the Levitical (physical) priesthood- to the Melchisedec (spiritual) priesthood -" For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Hebrews 7:12
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Hebrews 7:16
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39
No man living a physical carnal existance can fulfill the "Law of Moses". "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4. This is the entire purpose for Christ's sacrafice and the gift of the Holy Spirit- this is how we can be justified. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Romans 2:13
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:25
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31
The simple truth is that if we are living in the Spirit of Christ we are justified by grace- and not under the law: " For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Romans 7:5-6
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Galatians 5:18
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:7
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. Galatians 2:19
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Romans 9:31-32
Those who are not following Christ, baptized into his death, living and walking a Spirit filled life are still under the letter of the law! Those who follow and believe the lie of paganized churchianity are under the letter of the Law!
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Cor 15:56
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Galatians 3:11 -12
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19