by rituals is to chase rainbows. It is like a boy running after the but terfly; it is beautiful, but fleeting. These are only shadows thrown in advance, only types of things to come. The substance, the reality, in every case belongs to the gospel of Christ. Mere shadows of spiritual realities should not be allowed to en croach upon Christian liberty. The law is spoken of as only a shadow of good things to come (Heb. 10:1); these typified what was fulfilled in Christ. Thus eating and drinking are symbols of spiritual food (John 6: 51). The festivals are a type of that continuous festival which is the be lievers in Christ (I Cor. 5:8). EXHIBITS A FALSE HUMILITY (2:18) Humility of spirit is to be appre ciated in any life if it is not ficti tious. It is one of Satan’s most ef fective tools because it can be imita tive and still not be real. A man may talk, pray, walk, and give, but still be swollen with pride. This choice virtue may actually become a vice. Humility, when it becomes self-con scious, ceases to have any value, like the man who testified saying, “I am glad that I am a humble man.” The word (thelon en) “taking delight in” implies the self-consciousness in volved. A man who knows that he is humble, and is self-complacent about it, glancing out the comer of his eyes for a mirror to see himself, is not lowly. IT ALWAYS ENTICES ONE TO A PRESUMPTUOUS WORSHIP These words “worshipping of an gels” relates the only direction that false humility could lead these de luded souls. These Colossians saw them coming out of their temples covered with sackcloth and ashes and actually felt smitten in their con science. There was an officious parade of humility in selecting these lower beings as intercessors, rather than appealing directly to the throne of
Church and then leads to strict as ceticism. The Ascetics taught that in order to be saved, certainly in order to be safe, they must keep the ancient precepts of ceremonial cleanliness and forbidden food and drink. They must religiously observe the festi vals of the law weekly, monthly, and yearly. The Sabbath was regarded in its strict Jewish aspect, not as God’s primeval gift to man, but as His token of convenant with Israel. Every moment of their life they must be careful not to handle, taste, or touch anything that their tradi tions forbade. All this was with the hope that a series of denials and abstinences would promote sanctifi cation and bring under control the cravings of the flesh. They taught that angelic powers were due their reverence and devotion for looking after their mediation between them and God. Paul meets this with a strong appeal to the Colossians to hold fast their liberty and not allow themselves to be judged by man, for this would destroy their Christian liberty that Christ the Head, had wrought out for them (v. 10-15). SHADOWS OF THINGS TO COME (2:17a) Paul vows that to be encumbered
Membersof the Biola Chorale recently com pleted a tour of churches throughout the far western states Including BritishColumbia, Cana da. Directed by professor Edwin Heppner, the young people presented anthems and hymns of the church in sacred concert.
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