Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh (Colossians 2:20-23)
Being dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world
In Colossians 2:20, Paul wrote to the saint at Colosse, since they were dead with Christ from the rudimentary things of the world, why as living in the world, they were subjecting themselves to ordinances, such as do not touch, taste and handle, which things all are destined for corruption in their consumption.
Instead of walking by faith in Christ in the will of God and keeping the commandments of Jesus, they turned to the flesh and were subjected to ordinances, and lived according to human precepts and traditions.
As written before, all the rules, (sacrificial, food) laws, precepts, and rituals in the Old Covenant were meant for the old man, who is carnal and belongs to God’s people.
The only thing from the Old Covenant that still applies to the New Covenant, which is meant for the new man, who is born again in Christ and is spiritual, is the moral part of the law that represents the nature and will of God (Read also: ‘The commandments of God vs the commandments of Jesus‘ and ‘The secret of the law‘).
The old man is subject to the rudimentary things of the world
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world (Galaten 4:3)
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain (Galatians 4:9-10)
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8)
In the Scriptures above, Paul wrote about the fact that if you died in Christ and are raised in Him, you no longer live in bondage under the elements of the world.
You are no longer the old creation, who is carnal and is ruled by the rudimentary things of the world, but through the dead of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, you have been made complete in Christ and have become a new creation and shall live from your faith in Him.
As the new creation, you have been made free from the law of sin and death and don’t live in bondage anymore and you shall not turn to the weak and beggarly elements of the world and therefore won’t submit yourself to all kinds of carnal human precepts and commandments and follow doctrines of man.
All these ordinances, commandments, and doctrines of man are corrupt and shall not profit anything, since they originate from the carnal mind and the flesh and are only meant for the flesh and to satisfy the flesh.
Paul warned the saints to not become influenced and be spoiled through philosophy and vain deceive, after the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world and not after Christ (Read also: ”Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit’)
A self-made gospel
All of this creates a self-made and self-imposed gospel, which is not the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but a false gospel, which may seem Christian, spiritual and pious, but in reality is humanistic and carnal and focuses on the flesh and meant for the flesh and the temporary things on earth.
A religion from and for carnal people that is based upon human knowledge, wisdom, doctrines, ordinances, and traditions and meant for the body, but has nothing to do with the Body and Christ, Who is the Head of the Body.
A religion, whereby God is replaced by man and man is put above God and man determines the rules and writes his own ordinances and commandments instead of God, and causes the people to walk in a false humility (Read also: ‘What does it mean to be humble?’)
But Paul said, to not turn to the flesh and not be influenced and led by the rudiments of the world and the commandments and doctrines of man. They shall only feed the flesh and satisfy the flesh, but not the spirit.
If you are dead with Christ from the rudiments of this world and are risen with Christ, you shall seek those things which are above and set your affection on things above and not on things on the earth. You shall feed and renew your mind with the words of God and let the wisdom of God fill you, so that you shall walk by faith in the fulness of the Spirit according to His Word after His will and keep His commandments.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
