SINCE YOU DIED WITH CHRIST

Passage: Colossians 2:20-23

Key verse: 20a

NIV

20 Since you died with Christ(A) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(B) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(C) 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(D) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(E) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(F) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

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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

20 If with Christ (A)you died to the (B)elemental spirits of the world, (C)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 (D)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 ((E)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to (F)human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in (G)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are (H)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

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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. Since you died with Christ (2

)

How is dying with Christ different from becoming an ascetic? When we repent and accept God's grace of forgiveness through Jesus, we die with him to sin and to the world. We are free to love God, to obey him and to do what pleases him. An ascetic tries to be more spiritual by submitting to rules or by punishing his body. But these things belong to the world because they are based on human commands and teachings. This is not the way to become more spiritual.

2. Restraining sensual indulgence (21-23)

An ascetic life may seem to make a person more holy, but if one's inner desires are not changed he is only living a double life. He appears on the surface to be holy, but his inner life is overwhelmed by sinful desires and feelings. Union with Christ by faith in his death and resurrection brings peace and changes the inner person.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to love you with a pure heart. Wash me clean with the precious blood of Jesus, shed for my sins.

One Word: I died to the world with Christ