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20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Colossians 2.20-23).[1] I have been saved; therefore, I can do whatever I want and when I die, I will still go to heaven. This is a statement many people either say or believe, and it is why they do not live lives worthy of the One Who gave so much for the freedom they have or the eternal life they will enjoy. Paul explained to the church at Rome, how can we say we can continue to live in sin after we have accepted Jesus Christ into our lives. God would not have any of it! How should we who have died to sin live any more in those sins? Do we not realize or have we so quickly forgotten we have been baptized in Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? We were buried with Him by baptism into His death, so, just like Christ was raised from the dead by God’s glory, we too would be able to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6.1-4, my emphasis added).
It is through the blood of Christ, His death, His burial and His resurrection we are made alive as a new person. Because of this we are no long under the control of the forces of this world, sin no longer has control over us, nor does the devil. Hence, we must subject our bodies, minds, and hearts to the will of God the Father and His ways. How do we subject ourselves to the will of God, let’s look at a great passage of scripture in Romans: 1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8.1-11, ESV).[2] Paul writes here first, we are grounded in Christ Jesus because of what He did at the cross. It has nothing to do with us. What the law could not do Christ was able to complete and set us free from the chains and slavery of the law. Now because we are free, we must continue to follow Him by choosing to walk in the spirit (our spiritual life) and not the flesh (our sinful life, sinful desires). When we walk according to the flesh, we are worldly minded, serving the world and are not focused on godly things or His ways. However, when we are walking in the spirit, we are serving God and walking according to His ways. Henceforth, we must strive to walk in the spirit, be focused on what God wants in our life and continue down His path. It does not mean we will always get everything right or always be in His will. But the more we are focused on Him and what He wants the better we will become at serving the spirit and not the flesh. Remember we have died to the flesh, it was nailed to the cross, and has died, is buried to rise no more. We have been reborn in the image of Christ as new creatures, ready to serve Him with new hearts, minds and spirits designed to walk, follow and listen to the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Allow God to work in our life and show us His ways as He desires to do. We must freely welcome others into the fellowship with God, and be careful of those who want to add to or take away from any worship of God. Man’s rules are just that “Man’s rules” we need to worship our Heavenly Father with awe inspiring holy reverence. When we come any other way, we shame ourselves and show others we are more concerned with us in worship than the Object of our worship, God our Father. So, the question is when we say we want diversity or inclusivity within our worship or church what are we really looking for? Because God does not see color, race, sex or any of those things, He sees people needing a Savior. People who come together as a body to worship Him as Lord, Savior and King, but what do we see? We must welcome freely as Christ has, forgiving everyone their sins, cleansing them from all unrighteousness, and giving them eternal life, as long as they ask for Him to come into their lives. What will we do today with this free gift, given by the greatest King? Application
Prayer God of Heaven, my Refuge and Strength, You are my Mighty Tower in times of trouble. Lord I come to You today giving You praise and glory for Your wonderous glory and grace. You have given me such amazing love, and showed me how to walk each day knowing I am no longer under the bondage of sin, but free to enjoy life in Your Son Jesus Christ. I should be happy every day, but I know I am not, Lord forgive me for not allowing Your Joy to come out of my life each day. Help this day to be better than yesterday, and Lord never allow me to think of Your salvation as “Fire Insurance.” But to truly know the sacrifice Your Son paid and to understand the depth it cost Him. So, I will be more earnest in sharing my faith with others. Lord thank You for Your mercy in allowing another day to serve You, may I be pleasing to You. This I pray in Your Son Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen. [1] The New International Version. (2011). (Col 2:20–23). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 8:1–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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