“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”
Colossians 2:16-23 NLT
Now we turn to the crux of the Christian faith. Relationship with Jesus is more important than any other form of salvation that men have offered. This is because salvation is a by product and not the end goal. The machine of salvation that men manufacture never actually produces the salvation it promises. Instead it enslaves the population into an ever present need to be deserving of meaningful relationship. This can never fulfill its promises because it’s source is to small. Christ is not small. His presence encompasses the whole of creation and his scope, by nature creates in all things. Thusly, relationship with him doesn’t merely produce salvation, it is epistemologically and ontologically salvific. In it, there is no need to produce anything. It is all supplied. Men must only give in to the process and give up their own notions of producing. This is one of the most difficult aspect of Christian living. Many coming to faith in Christ want actively work against him by trying to assume, not just his role, but his function. Ultimately what frees us is relenting to both.
JOSH McGARY. COM 