With Pastor Dan Nickerson – April 28th, 2021
(Colossians 2:18-19)…..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, 19 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.
Once again let’s look at Paul’s epistle to the Colossians to gain some more insight into the church in Laodecia. In verses 18-19 we see there was still another danger at Colosse that possibly gained roots in Laodicea, a danger of false humility and the worship of angels. A false humility and based upon one’s vain imagination, here it is the worship of angels. Really, these were Gnostics (from the word gnosis – knowledge). These Gnostics prided themselves on humility (here fake) and extra knowledge, and they prided themselves on the special visions of secret things which were not open to the eyes of ordinary men and women. Notice, (2:18)…..“in reality intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind….” They and their teaching (worship of angels) came into conflict with the exalted rank of Christ. Notice, it is actually the result of not holding on to the head of the body, Christ (2:19).
Holding fast to the Head (Jesus) is where our worship should always be. Keeping in mind that this was to be read in Laodicea, is it possible that they had become lukewarm because they were detached from the head (Christ)?Finally, we can glean that there was the problem of “asceticism” (asset-is-ism) which is the practice of self-denial, abstaining from self-indulgence (2:20-23). How many were trying to gain righteousness by what they, did not taste, did not handle? How many today are trying to do the same? Yet what does the Scripture say (1 Corinthians 6:12-13) (1 Corinthians 8:8) (1 Corinthians 10:25-27) (Romans 14:14-17).
Our identification with Jesus in both His death and resurrection (as mentioned before in (2:11-12) has nothing to do with subjecting ourselves to foods and drink. Those religions that would teach various forms of “asceticism” (asset-is-ism) would have us believe that regulations, not touching, not tasting, not handling certain things (here food and drink) is how we get victory over the flesh. Rather, by holding fast to Jesus Christ (the Head) is where victory over the flesh is found (Galatians 5:24).
Is it possible that in Laodicea the regulations were such that those who were contributing to them were becoming lukewarm, maybe. As we live the Christian life, attempting to mature spiritually, beware of any doctrine or teaching of man that suggests we need more than Jesus Christ. Remember, as a Christian – we are COMPLETE in Him. Are you IN Him? (Galatians 3:26-28)