istic practice. In view of the sacred position you hold in your sacrificed and victorious Saviour (v. 13-15) do not let one talk about following some ponderous ritual. Because believers are free, they are not to yield them selves again to subjection to that from which they have been complete ly delivered. The Colossians are be ing warned by Paul of dangers which seem to be both Jewish and Oriental in their origin, the former referring to the Judaistic law of rituals and the latter to the angelic mediators as advocated by the mystic religions. He not only warns them against the observance of these things, but against those who would call them to account for not worshipping with them. RITUALS WILL BIND THEIR CONSCIENCE (2:16a) Doctrinal error will always be fol lowed by excessive rituals that tend to bind the conscience of men. From A.D. 400 until A.D. 1400 there were a thousand years of excruciating binding of the conscience of men which turned Europe into this dark ness of spiritual night. This Essenic Judaism first destroys the doctrinal basis of Christ as Head of the
not be understood until the neces sity and awfulness of the propitia tion has been seen. The justice of God’s broken law had to be satisfied, so Jesus became the propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:25; I John 2:2). The sinner who has broken God’s law must know that he is responsi ble, “for the soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4). That bond was written against sinners because of their Adamic transgression and it certainly opposed them. The validity of God’s law cannot be questioned for it burns in every conscience. They have found— A GLORIOUS VICTORY (2:15) Paul is standing at the foot of the cross and he sees everything in the light of its relation. He says it was the implement of the most merciful deliverance. On the other side, it was the implement of the deliverer’s mighty triumph over his enemies, the powers of darkness. By Christ’s aton ing death He strips them of their captives, their spoils, and led cap tivity captive. His conquered ene mies He leads along, disgraced for ever before the moral universe and thus the cross becomes a triumphant chariot of this wonderful Emancipa tor. The word ( thriabeusas) “leading them in triumph” is a beautiful metaphor as in II Corinthians 2:14. The picture is a group of Roman generals back home from a cam paign, leading their captives through the streets of Rome in a parade. Paul sees Christ riding in a golden chariot with white horses leading a long line of captives, not with chains, but with cords of love, marching down the streets of glory with the garland of victory on His head. “Thanks be unto God which always leads us to triumph in Christ” (II Cor. 2:14). BEWARE OF RITUAL WORSHIP (2:16) The word (krineto) “beware” is imperative and a prohibition forbid ding men to proceed with this fatal
Directed by professor Loren Wiebe, the 23 voice Bioia Colegians recently completed a tour of churches in the far western states. One of the outstanding musical groups of the school, the youngpeople have presented their testimonies throughoutSouthern Californiadur ing the school year.
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