Honestly, I regret not paying more attention to my English classes during my school and college days. Due to my lack of prioritizing education back then, I now find myself having to catch up on proper English grammar and word usage after many years. I like to read and listen to audiobooks, and my interest in reading and appreciating the English language and words has grown over the years. Admittedly, my knowledge of the original text of the Bible is limited, so I often read English translations of those texts slowly, paying more attention to words and grammar. And thank God for some of the modern tools we have to aid our Bible study and for friends that can assist with difficult passages, especially those relating to Greek or Hebrew.Today, we will examine a larger portion of text, specifically 2:20 verses chapter 3:7. It may surprise those new to reading the Bible or just getting acquainted with the biblical text that these texts in the original languages did not have chapters, verses, or punctuation. In the case of Greek, while upper- and lower-case letters exist, most Greek text related to the New Testament is generally capitalized.Bible translators do their best to insert chapters and verses to make navigating the New Testament text easier and interpreting it in English. So, with direct translation into English, punctuation is necessary to make sense of the text. I mention all this to make a point: the best way to read the New Testament epistles is in one sitting, ignoring the chapter divisions and trying to understand the flow of thought.Today, as we reflect on this Scripture passage, let's focus on a few particular words: "therefore," "if," "why," and "then." When reading Paul's epistles, or any epistles for that matter, I pay attention to these words as they are significant.

I have frequently expressed two ideas: one can place the Bible on one end of a table and all other religious texts on the opposite. Though my opinion may be biased, it is the truth and that it can be objectively proven. The second idea I have shared is that Christianity stands apart from all other religions and philosophies worldwide, and I will explain why.The appeal of religion to our fallen human nature lies in the belief that we can achieve our atonement. All religions acknowledge our inherent flaws but offer a solution: if we follow the prescribed rules, we can improve our standing. This system reinforces the egotistical pride that is part of human nature. We find comfort in the lists of do's and don'ts that religions provide, as we are responsible for following them. This provides a sense of moral accomplishment and progress, leading to comparison and competition. We measure our adherence to the rules against the objective list but also compare ourselves to others to see who is “righteous”. Thus, religion becomes a social hierarchy, with individuals vying for the title of most devout according to their respective religion.

One thing that drastically transformed my understanding of the Bible was realizing that Jesus Christ is the central focus of the entire Bible. This can be seen even in the statement made to the first woman in the garden about her seed crushing the serpent's head. This proposition sets the stage for the whole story of the Bible, where God created man and man broke with God, leading to the need for redemption and restoration.This concept is so fundamental that even the apostle John claims in a passage found in Revelation the text that “Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” This underscores the fact that the redemption of mankind through Jesus Christ is at the very center of human history and its whole purpose.So, how does this relate to the text we are discussing today? Paul believed that the Jewish law, or at least the things that were representatives of the law, such as festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths, were merely shadows or illustrations that pointed to the reality of the person of Jesus. This is not just the writer's opinion but can be seen in many passages in the New Testament.The Bible is full of prophecies and symbols that point to Jesus Christ as the Savior of humanity. Paul, in Romans 3:21-22, affirms that the plan of God for redemption through Jesus Christ was spoken of in the prophets. Although the prophets did not fully understand God's plan for redemption, they all pointed to Jesus Christ. Similarly, Hebrews 10:1 expresses the same idea, stating that the law of Moses with its festivals, rules, and regulations, was just a shadow of the good things to come in Christ.

Let no one judge you in food, drink, festival, new moon, or sabbaths.Despite the passage of time, the issue of the Sabbath and new moons still divides the church. Some groups insist on following Jewish laws and traditions. Still today, there are small groups and individuals that, while holding to the belief that Jesus is the Messiah and initiator of the new covenant, still hold tenaciously to tenants of the Levitical law. Some Christian groups insist on worshiping on the Sabbath and holding to a kosher diet, and some exclude meat all together. Others insist that Jewish holidays and feasts should replace Christian holidays. And if you look at some of these believers, you will think they were Jewish despite not having a drop of Semitic blood.Granted, it is difficult to conceive that Jewish believers abruptly abandoned their cultural and dietary customs in the first century preceding the temple's destruction. The gospel's message was not focused on cultural transformation but on spiritual rebirth and a changed heart. The Colossian church probably comprised both Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul's cautionary remarks in this text suggest that there were two potential dangers, namely, Jewish traditions and mysticism on the one hand and mystery religions and Gnosticism on the other, which posed a threat to the church.Each believer must have the freedom to obey their conscience and follow the path God has laid out for them. God can give different directions to different individuals, such as abstaining from eating pork or some other action. However, Paul's warning is not to allow others to impose their convictions on you and elevate trivial matters to undue importance. He cautions against any teaching that fails to keep Christ and his salvific work at the core.Certain groups within the church were encountering individuals who advocated for new or existing Christians to adopt Jewish customs, laws, and traditions. Additionally, there were indications that Gnostic or mystery religions threatened the church by promoting asceticism. In response to these dangers, Paul emphatically warned the Colossian church to be vigilant and not be deceived or robbed of their reward.Paul's reasoning is that these things were only shadows that pointed to Christ, and now that Christ has come, the shadows are no longer necessary. Therefore, Christ’s Followers should focus on Christ, the substance of the shadows of the Jewish law. By focusing on Christ, those that follow Jesus can be liberated from the burdensome requirements of the Mosaic system and experience true freedom in their faith.

“So let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. (Col 2:16–19)”Have you ever experienced listening to one side of a phone conversation while being in the same room as the person talking? Although you can't hear the other person's words, you can still gather a general idea of the discussion's topic and direction by hearing only half of the exchange.When reading the letters of Paul (or any apostle), it becomes evident that they often respond to specific information or letters that have been sent to them. This aspect makes reading the letters similar to listening to a one-sided telephone conversation, where you can only hear half of the exchange.For example, Paul's letters to the Romans and Corinthians address particular issues that were raised by members of those churches. In Romans, he writes about the relationship between Jews and Gentiles, the role of the law in salvation, and the importance of Christian unity. In Corinthians, Paul tackles topics such as the proper use of spiritual gifts, the role of women in the church, and the consumption of meat sacrificed to idols. In both cases, Paul's responses demonstrate that he is directly addressing the questions or concerns that were brought to his attention.The same pattern is observable in the letter to the Colossians, where Paul provides solutions to presumed questions based on the prevalent religious and philosophical ideas and practices of the time of writing. By understanding the historical context, we gain better insight into Paul's concerns and the guidance he provides to his audience.The Holy Spirit certainly inspires the letters of Paul (and other apostles) and has much to teach us about the Christian faith, but it is important to remember that they were written in specific historical and cultural contexts and that they are often part of ongoing conversations between the apostles and the early Christian communities to whom they were writing. What does Paul mean let no one Judge you concerning meat and drink?The Judaizers were a group of Jewish Christians who believed that Gentile converts to Christianity must also follow Jewish customs, particularly the requirement of circumcision. Paul addressed this issue in his letter to the Galatians, where he vehemently opposed the idea of imposing Jewish customs on Gentile converts. Paul argued that justification before God comes by faith in Jesus Christ and not by observing the Jewish law. Despite Paul's teachings, the Judaizers followed him and tried to undermine his work by preaching their own version of the Gospel. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul called them "dogs," calling them out for their insistence on circumcision and the observance of Jewish customs as a requirement for salvation.The New Testament records multiple instances where there were attempts on Paul's life by those who opposed his teachings. For example, in Acts 9:23-25, after Paul's conversion to Christianity, the Jews in Damascus plotted to kill him. In Acts 14:19, Paul was stoned and left for dead in Lystra. In Acts 20:3, we learn that there was a plot to kill Paul in Greece. And in 2 Corinthians 11:32-33, Paul refers to a plot against him in Damascus, where he had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the wall to escape. These are just a few examples of the dangers that Paul faced as he preached the Gospel and opposed those who sought to undermine his work.

Popular culture has a strong fascination with occult and spiritual entities such as angels and demons. I became aware of this a few years ago when I heard that some children in a nearby elementary school were claiming to have pet demons that would perform tasks for them.

The Bible's Take on the Antichrist: Separating Fact from FictionI recently watched a video where a man claimed to have spent several years investigating the identity of the Antichrist. It probably won't come as a surprise, but his conclusion was that Prince Charles is the Antichrist. Of course, people attempting to identify the Antichrist is not a new phenomenon, as there have been several candidates since the time of Christ who have been purported to be the Antichrist.

This verse highlights that our natural inclination to resist laws is not limited to traffic signals or other man-made regulations. It is a deeper issue that is tied to our sin nature. Our disobedience and rebellion against God's law separate us from Him, but that separation is removed through Christ. He has paid the penalty for our sins and set us free from the law’s condemnation. This doesn't mean we should continue to disobey God's law, but rather that we are no longer bound by it. Instead, we are free to obey Him out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us.

In Colossians 2:11-14, the apostle Paul teaches that baptism represents the spiritual truth of being transformed into new beings in Christ. He emphasizes that without this revelation received by faith, we are merely religious and wet. This transformation into new beings in Christ is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus, which is the core belief of the Christian faith.

Baptism is an essential sacrament in the Christian faith, symbolizing a believer's connection with Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It represents a spiritual reality where believers are set free from their sins and empowered to live according to God's will through the Holy Spirit. The Gospel message of Christianity challenges human pride by emphasizing our complete reliance on God's grace for salvation. The death of Jesus Christ provided a way for us to be reconciled to God, satisfying His justice and making propitiation for our sins. It is a powerful reminder of our need for redemption and transformation through faith in Jesus Christ.