Freedom from religion -- Today's Devotion from Mike MacIntosh

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using -- according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2:20-23

Jesus did not die on a cross for you to be bound by rules and regulations. In this passage from Colossians 2, Paul continues to warn the church against self-imposed religion and false humility, two things that demean and distort the simple truth of the Gospel.

False humility and religion say, "If I don't touch this or eat that, if I pray often enough or do enough good things, then I can be righteous and pleasing to God." But that does not follow the teaching of Jesus. It was not Jesus or the Bible that taught the people not to touch, taste, or handle; it was the doctrines of men. Men wanted to look holy and righteous outwardly, and this is exactly what Paul is warning against.

Rules and regulations do not make us righteous -- only the redeeming blood of Jesus can do that. Be assured that Jesus died on a cross for you in order to wipe out the handwriting of requirements that were against you -- they have been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). You are free!

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