THE REALITY IS FOUND IN CHRIST

Passage: Colossians 2:16-19

Key verse: 17b

NIV

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(A) by what you eat or drink,(B) or with regard to a religious festival,(C) a New Moon celebration(D) or a Sabbath day.(E) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(F) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(G) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(H) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head,(I) from whom the whole body,(J) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(K)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Let No One Disqualify You

16 Therefore let no one (A)pass judgment on you (B)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to (C)a festival or (D)a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 (E)These are a shadow of the things to come, but (F)the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one (G)disqualify you, (H)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, (I)going on in detail about visions,[a] (J)puffed up without reason by (K)his sensuous mind, 19 and (L)not (M)holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 2:18 Or about the things he has seen
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Not a shadow, but reality (16-17)

Christ is the source of our life. Some people try to find God through all kinds of rituals. Festivals and rituals are shadows, but reality is found in Christ. We must come to Christ daily with humble, repentant, and thankful hearts, and not put our hope in religious activities. We must not try to satisfy people who judge us by how religious we look.

2. Don't lose connection with the Head (18-19)

Sometimes we are envious of a Christian who has impressive spiritual experiences. He talks about his dreams or about seeing angels. Paul says that such a person has an unspiritual mind, and that he is spiritually proud. Anyone who loses connection with the Head is tempted to put up a front of false spirituality. But we can only grow and bear good fruit when we maintain a strong and healthy connection with Christ the Head.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be led astray by the opinions or religions of others, nor by my own pride. Keep me connected to Christ the Head.

One Word: Stay connected to the Head