Bible Verse of the Day Friday November 18th, 2022

Colossians 2:23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

This verse describes legalism plain and simple because there is only an appearance of wisdom in legalism. As this verse points out very succinctly, legalism has no value in preventing the yielding of our fleshly or worldly nature. On the contrary, it directly opposes true Christianity because it feeds our fleshly desires in a most subtle manner. In legalism, you will find the highest degree of self-imposed, arbitrary religion because its foundation stands on human pride and works of the flesh. Legalism is humanity attempting to impose their will over and beyond God’s will, and in doing so, it goes against the true Gospel of Christ Jesus (Galatians 5:1). Similar to the days that Paul communicated with the Church at Colossi, humanity today loves to fashion and originate new structures of religion. But, unfortunately, this form of humanity-imposed religion will draw those that follow these false teachings away from the Holy Word of God and consequently create a void between us and God’s love, grace, and mercy. 

True Bible Christianity functions on authentic and genuine Godly spirituality and does not tolerate quasi-humility but directs humility towards God. There were monks during the 17th and 18th centuries that would beat themselves with a whip of many strands; however, true Christianity has nothing to do with self-generated suffering. The act of fasting or any elimination of food or other necessities of life to attempt to gain God’s favor is legalism and is wrong. Fasting, in and of itself, is not inappropriate; it only becomes improper and unacceptable when one is fasting to obtain and secure God’s favor. Jesus suffered the shame and pain on the Cross on our behalf, and we do not need to believe that we have to go through any self-imposed suffering to gain the favor of God. Jesus won the blessing of God on the Cross of Calvary, and if we attempt to earn God’s favor independently, we are “trampling underfoot” what our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus did for us through His blood sacrifice (Hebrews 10:29). 

 

The Cross answers all of life’s questions; true Godly Christianity accepts the sacrifice made by Christ Jesus to atone for our sins. We please God not by some valueless or insignificant attempt at good works or deeds but by accepting the sacrifice Christ made on the Cross on our behalf. All rumblings of legalism we allow ourselves access to have one primary factor in common, it will draw us away from our relationship with Christ Jesus. 

 

We must never allow ourselves to believe that we could never slip into one of these legalist traps. Satan will be vigilant to any surrender to pride or vanity that we might show.