Read: Colossians 2:20-23, Colossians 2:11-14
How can we grow in holiness? What should we do to defeat sin in our lives and grow to be more like Christ? How can we deal with our sinful desires? These are important questions that face any serious Christian. We have all experienced times in our lives where we have been frustrated and horrified at our own sin and wondered how we can possibly grow to be more like Christ. Even on what seem like our best days we can be discouraged by sinful attitudes or thoughts and wonder how we can grow.
The false teachers in Colossae had their own answer to this question. It seems that they were teaching the believers that the best way to restrain their sinful desires and to grow in holiness was to set harsh rules on themselves. We see some of these rules in verse 21: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” According to the false teachers these rules would help the believers to restrain their sinful desires and grow in holiness.
Paul writes very clearly against these rules and regulations. In verse 20 he tells the believers that they have died to regulations and rules like this when they died with Christ. They no longer need to submit to these kinds of rules and regulations (see vs 16-17 and Wednesday’s notes). They are willingly subjecting themselves again to the very thing that they have been freed from. In verse 22 he tells them that these rules and regulations are only destined to perish and pass away because they are based on human wisdom instead of the wisdom of Christ. They might appear to be helpful (vs 23) but they have no real value in restraining sin and helping God’s people to grow in holiness.
So how should we grow in holiness? How can we defeat sin in our lives if it is not through rules and regulations? The answer is found in verses 11 to 14. Through Christ our sinful nature has already been dealt with and cut away. Christ has totally defeated it at the cross and through Him we are no longer under it’s power. We are not slaves to sin anymore (Romans 6:17-18). But this doesn’t mean we are sinless. We have been released from the power of sin and slavery to it but we must still struggle against it and seek to grow in holiness.
We do this by growing in relationship with God. We do this by clinging to Him and living out of the work that He has already done to deal with sin in our lives. As we grow in love for Him and relationship with Him we will desire to please Him with our lives and we will grow in holiness. As we grow in understanding of all it is that He has already done for us we will grow in our desire and ability to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
Not only that but He empowers us and strengthens us through His spirit to resist sin and to grow in holiness. We use all our effort to participate with Him in this work that He is doing of changing us and growing us in holiness. It’s not about manmade rules or regulations, it’s about His grace working in us and our participation with Him in that work.
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would be working in your heart to convict you of sin and to help you to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Pray that He would strengthen you against temptation. Pray that He would help you to encourage and challenge others to live in a way that is pleasing to God also.
We don’t depend on human regulations and manmade rules to know how God desires His people to live. We find out how God wants us to live in His word. Whenever you read God’s word consider whether it shows any sin you need to confess or a way you need to live. Then, by the power of God in us, seek to put it into practice.
1. What are some of the self-imposed rules and regulations we put on ourselves to try to restrain sin?
2. Is there a place for self-imposed restrictions as we seek to live a holy life? What is the difference between these and what Paul is talking about in this passage?
Intro: Sometimes people make up rules that aren’t in the Bible and tell you that you aren’t a real Christian if you don’t follow their rules.
Share: An example, if you can, of a time when someone did this?
Read: Romans 14:17-18 In Paul’s time people made up rules about eating and drinking. They tried to make other Christians follow their rules. According to these verses how can you really tell if you’re a Christian? What makes someone a Christian? What should you do when someone tries to get you to follow their rules to be a real Christian?
Read: Romans 14:17-18 In Paul’s time people made up rules about eating and drinking. They tried to make other Christians follow their rules. According to these verses how can you really tell if you’re a Christian? What makes someone a Christian? What should you do when someone tries to get you to follow their rules to be a real Christian?
Pray Together: Pray that God would help us to follow Him and obey Him as our King.
Intro: Sometimes people make up rules that aren’t in the Bible and tell you that you aren’t a real Christian if you don’t follow their rules.
Share: An example, if you can, of a time when someone did this?
Read: Romans 14:17-18 In Paul’s time people made up rules about eating and drinking. They tried to make other Christians follow their rules. According to these verses how can you really tell if you’re a Christian? What makes someone a Christian? What should you do when someone tries to get you to follow their rules to be a real Christian?
Read: Romans 14:17-18 In Paul’s time people made up rules about eating and drinking. They tried to make other Christians follow their rules. According to these verses how can you really tell if you’re a Christian? What makes someone a Christian? What should you do when someone tries to get you to follow their rules to be a real Christian?
Pray Together: Pray that God would help us to follow Him and obey Him as our King.
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