Legalism (a system of rules and regulations which are suppossed to bring salvation and spirituality) had been brought into the church by Jews, endangering the very foundation of the Colossians’ faith. False teachers promised salvation and power over sin by following a list of rules such as abstaining from certain foods and continuing to observe special days set forth in the Old Testament; however, Paul expressed that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone provided salvation and brings freedom from sin (2:16-17). Paul wrote “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1) to the church at Galatia and I believe his words can also be applied in this situation. Man-made rules and regulations can never bring life, only bondage. True spiritual life stems from Jesus Christ. “If you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations – do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using – according to the commandments and doctrines of men?” Paul was reminding them that Jesus Christ died for our sins because He knew we could not attain salvation or spiritual growth on our own. Creating a list of man-made rules for spirituality cannot save. If following rules cannot save, they also do not have the power to bring holiness in everyday life; therefore, we must look outside ourselves for that ability. I believe legalism has carefully disguised itself in churches today because everyone looks good from the outside, but many are corrupt on the inside being filled with bitterness, hatred, selfishness, and greed. The churches’ obsession with rules is their way of controlling people and Paul gets it right when he says “these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body” but Paul declares that regulations “are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” Don’t get me wrong…Paul was not sanctioning a “do whatever you want” spirituality, but he was giving permission for diversity within the body of Christ. Whenever the Bible is specific on an issue, we submit to God’s authority and obey Him with all our heart. However, sinful man should not be in the business of speaking for God and creating additional lists of rules and regulations to gain favor with God. Paul was begging the churh at Colosse to stay far away from these Jewish legalist and rely on God’s word to provide guidance.
Dear God, protect people within the church from relying on a man-made list of rules to get God’s attention and help believers to live according to Your word alone.
