Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 60

March 1;    Colossians 2:20;   180/260(II);   ‘We Died With Jesus’

Colossians 2:20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations — 

When someone first becomes Born Again, scriptures like this seen unrealistic.  Depending on when you accept the Lord Jesus, you may have lived in the world and its system for a long period of time.  If you are a serious Christian, maturing and growing spiritually, verses like this one not only begin to make sense, but actually reflect how you desire to live.  The Bible teaches that God the Father saw us ‘die’ with Jesus on the cross.  Galatians 2:20 tells us that it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us.  That means that the Lord Jesus, by the help and power of the Holy Spirit will use us to minister to a lost and dying world.  The love of God in our spirit helps us to minister to everyone, including those who are not very nice.  The fruit of the Spirit enable us to reflect the character of Jesus, kindly and willingly helping whoever we can.  The empowerment of the Holy Spirit enables us to share the Word powerfully to others and not be afraid to ask those who need prayer if we can lay hands on them.  The ‘basic principles of the world’ refers to the counterfeit, anti-God system of life a God rejecting world embraces.  It includes Christ-less religions and the innumerable philosophies and made up truths that those who do not know Jesus live by.  Christian’s spiritual eyes are now opened and we realize the fallacy of the world system and completely reject it.  I Peter 4 teaches that unsaved friends and relatives cannot fathom that you are no longer impressed with the lies the world offers.  Never go back, live Christianity in front of the lost.  Your love and the Holy Spirit in you will win them.