What we have seen in the first two chapters are in preparation for some very amazing and practical aspects of spiritual understanding that will help make us useful to the Kingdom of Christ.

But, let’s see the concluding verses of Colossians 2:20-23—

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.

Most rules can be kept by the flesh. But, they don’t get inside and change the person. This means that when the person keeping the rules grows tired, or becomes discouraged, the old man who has lived inside them will inevitably rise back up and take over. Then, what do we have? A backslider? This kind of person can never function acceptably in the Kingdom of God. When they succeed in something, they become proud. When they fail, they think they’re of no use at all and just go away.

But, when we come under the Government of Christ as our Head, everything becomes different. Our life, our strength, our direction, our ability to walk in the paths of difficulty and impossibility become His to do in us. It really does become ...Christ in you, the hope of Glory.

LIVING AND GRACIOUS LORD, all that I am is Yours. I confess that in the redemption I became Yours. I confess that you have reconciled me to our heavenly Father. I rejoice in the propitiation for my sins that You accomplished for me. Thank You for salvaging my life from the junk heap of sin.

Having been reconciled to God by Christ’s death,
we are now being saved by His Life—Romans 5:10,11