Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. [Colossians 2:16-17 NASB]
The Law was all about the commandments. Of course, we are all familiar with the Ten Commandments, but in all there were 613 commandments in the Law.
Somehow, religion always breaks down into rules.
During Paul's time, the eating of meat was a major controversy in the Christian community. It was a well established custom throughout the Roman world to sacrifice an animal to an idol, then sell the meat in the market. The legalists taught that believers should never eat meat that has been sacrificed to an animal. Others, with a greater understanding of God's grace were free to eat. Paul defended the freedom to eat meat;
Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake...I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [1 Corinthians 10:25,29-31 NASB]
Although we must be careful not to injure the conscience of another believer for the sake of our freedom;
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. [1 Corinthians 8:9-12 NASB]
It was already the practice to meet on the first day of the week for Christian fellowship. The legalists insisted that the Sabbath be celebrated on seventh day, according to the Law of Moses. But we are no longer under the old covenant Law, but are under a new covenant;
When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. [Hebrews 8:13 NASB]
Don't let the legalists in church take away your freedom. They make their rules and expect you to follow them. Their rules give the appearance of righteousness, according to man's wisdom, but they deny the true righteousness that only comes as a gift from God.
Religion makes rules about how to worship, and how to behave. An entire religion was built around the idea that they must worship on the seventh day of the week and keep the Ten Commandments.
Before we came to Christ, we were in bondage to sin. When Jesus saved us, he set us free from bondage. There are many who would put you in bondage again to religion, with its rules and rituals.
Don't let anyone drag you back into bondage, but walk free in Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank You for your atonement on the cross. Thank You for creating a new covenant. Thank You for setting me free.
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