2018-12-28
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The time has come that the Holy Spirit directs us to review and discuss the Colossian Heresy. A heresy is false teaching believed by a group of people. In this case, the heresy is part of the opposition to the truths of the apostle Paul’s teaching on the truth of Jesus Christ. This heresy and the practice a little later of Gnosticism were what gave Paul plenty of concern. Briefly, this heresy included: 1) Ceremonialism, including strict rules about food and drink, religious festivals [COL 2: 16-17], and the rite of Circumcision [COL 2: 11; COL 3: 11]. 2) Asceticism-all the “do nots” [COL 2: 21, 23]. 3) Angel worship [COL 2: 18]. 4) Deprecation of Christ-implied in Paul’s stress on the supremacy of Christ [COL 1: 15-20; COL 2: 2-3, 9]. 5) Secret knowledge, of which the Gnostics boasted [COL 2: 8]. 6) Reliance on human-crafted wisdom and tradition. It is thought that the Colossian heresy was a mixture of extreme Judaism and early Gnosticism. The false teachers created this philosophy and paraded their humility. These teachers were not from God [COL 2: 2-3, 9-10]. Point for point, the truth Christ teaches us goes against this heresy.
We are freed from sin’s one-way trip to spiritual death by our belief in Christ’s power to “circumcise our hearts not by human hands…” [COL 2: 11]. When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ, and in baptism we were also raised with Christ through our faith in the active power of God. We were also freed from human-crafted rules (legalism), false humility, and angel worship by Christ, Who is the Head of the body-His church. It is Christ, Who nourishes us and makes us grow. Asceticism involves the harsh treatment of one’s body, which has no power to control physical passions. That is why beating oneself with knotted ropes and the like serves no purpose and isn’t called for by Christ. Originally Catholic priests were allowed to marry, for example. Around Augustine’s time, the rule that priests must be celibate was imposed. In this author’s opinion, the latter has led to the present scandal within the church of child abuse.
It is helpful to discuss what the “new moon festivals” are. During the time the Jews were wandering in the desert, God ordered that on the first day of the month, they were to set up the Tent of the Lord’s Presence [that which held the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies]. These Scriptures shed light. NU 10: 10 tells us the trumpets [ram’s horns or shofars] are to be blown at the New Moon festivals. NU 28: 1-10, 11-15 outline the offerings that are to be presented. NU 29: 1 makes it clear that the Israelites were to gather for worship, and no work is to be done on the first day of the seventh month (called Tishri or Ethanim) when the shofars are blown. That is the New Year festival [also mentioned in 1 K 8: 2]. PS 104: 19, “You [God] created the moon to mark the months; the sun knows the time to set.” At the Passover (Pesach in Hebrew), the story of the Exodus is to be retold every year [see EX 12: 1-42]. In ancient times, the Kosher (or Kashrut) diet regime was set up by God for health reasons. By the time of Peter’s visit to Cornelius’ roof, where he had a vision, Jews were to remain on this strict regime. However, after Peter’s vision [AC 10: 9-18], the only groups remaining on it are today’s Orthodox and Chasidic Jews. 1 COR 10: 20-21 makes it clear that people are not to eat or drink anything offered to demons, nor should it be offered to the Lord. We are not to be partners with demons.
From the time of the Creation, God has made it clear that like Him in Creation, we are to take one day out of the seven (of the week) to stop working and focus on Him. Sabbath (Shabat in Hebrew) for Jews is sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. At the Sabbath table, we are to, after blessing (the Kiddush) the wine (the fruit of the vine), drink it. A blessing is also said on the lights (candles are lit), and over the bread (Hamotzi- fruit of the earth). This is considered a family time and a time to commune with God. Sabbath is not to be confused with Chanukah, the Festival of Lights referred to in JN 7: 37-39. Ancient Jews traveled from their homes to Jerusalem at this time of the year to celebrate Chanukah. Its origins are described in the book of Maccabees I found in the Apocrypha. As I have written before, it is my opinion that this one book should have been included in the Scriptures, because it describes events that took place during the Bible’s Intertestimental period from 721 BC until Christ’s birth. It was probably political reasons why it wasn’t.
PRAYER: O Lord, we are learning about the connections between the OT and NT. In the process, You teach us about the Jewish culture and beliefs, out of which Christianity grew. We worship You, the one and only true God [DT 6: 4-5]. You are a God, Who wants us to worship no other, and we will obey. Keeping the Sabbath holy is very important to You and to us. We acknowledge Your superior knowledge and wisdom. As we attend our churches each week and take time to recognize our blessings, we accept that all of them originate with You. We reject any and all heresies, like the one that got started in Colossae, but has been replaced by faith in You. Much of this is due to the hard work of the apostle Paul with the help of his fellow believers. In keeping with RO 7: 6, we place the Spirit first over legalism, heresies, and other human-crafted behavior rules. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom You sent to redeem the believing world. There has been much bad behavior toward others done in the name of religion. That is why we beseech You to help us come against this bad behavior, so that world peace can be achieved. You and You alone have the right to determine the fate of a person-no matter what his station in life might be. We thank and praise You for teaching us what we should know and sacrificing the physical life of Your Son on the cross, so we can gain eternal life with You.
This prayer is said in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’ve been commanded to write about how to determine what is ritually clean, more on keeping the Sabbath, and other subjects mentioned in the book of Colossians. This continues my effort to supply supporting Scripture for this small but important book of the NT. I’m aware that this “Christ and Believers” segment of the “Knowing God” has seemed long and sometimes repetitive. However, my writing is in response to the commands of the Holy Spirit. That is why I believe God is placing our individual and corporate relationship with Him so much in the spotlight. He wants us to regularly take stock of the condition of that relationship, in particular, our response to His commands. It’s not that He wants us to evoke guilt, but instead, He wants us to match up how well we are obeying Him to find His direction and even intervention in improving it. God detests laziness and dishonesty. He loves it to be our willingness to ask His help and direction first-before making decisions and taking actions. He loves us unconditionally and wants nothing more than for all of us to spend a blissful eternity with Him. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2018. All Rights Reserved.
<-- Back to Archives