At the church in Colosse, the major challenge was a teaching going round about how to make our salvation certain through strict discipline. The apostle Paul wrote; "You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Colossians 2:20-23 NLT. It comes down to this; grace versus human effort, trusting in Christ's sacrifice on our behalf or exacting our effort. Grace says you died with. Your dying is the solution. Dead people don't taste, handle, touch or strive, they are dead. Grace says your life hidden in Christ is what sets you free to live for God. Human effort says no, touch, don't touch, handle, don't handle, stand, speak, cover your hair, don't wear trousers, don't do this, don't do that, etc. Notice Paul says that at best, such rules, even though they seem wise because they require devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline, some people even brag about how much price they pay in human discipline, Paul says; they deteriorate with time. They ultimately have no answer or help in conquering the evil desires lurking in a person's sinful nature. Which will you choose; grace or rules, the choice is yours?
