Colossians 2:20

“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?”

Context:The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christian community in Colossae. In this particular verse, Paul addresses the believers’ relationship with Christ and their freedom from the worldly practices and regulations.

“Dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world”:Here, Paul is reminding the Colossian Christians that they have died with Christ and have been set free from the elemental spiritual forces or principles of the world. By placing their faith in Christ, they have become participants in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4), and their old sinful nature has been crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20).

“Why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?” Paul questions why the Colossian believers, who have been set free from the bondage of worldly regulations and ordinances through their union with Christ, would subject themselves to such rules. The “ordinances” referred to here could include religious legalism, self-imposed ascetic practices, or human traditions that sought to enforce spiritual growth and salvation through external regulations rather than through faith in Christ.

The broader message:Paul’s intention is to remind the Colossian believers of the sufficiency of Christ and to discourage them from returning to legalistic practices. He encourages them to live in the freedom that Christ has provided, rather than being bound by human-imposed regulations.

Application:This verse holds relevance for Christians today. It reminds us that our salvation and spiritual growth are not achieved through adherence to external rules or rituals but through a personal relationship with Christ. It calls us to examine any legalistic tendencies in our lives and instead embrace the freedom we have in Christ, relying on His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us.

• Colossians 2:20 emphasizes the freedom that believers have in Christ and urges them to reject legalistic practices and human-imposed regulations.
• It encourages us to live in the fullness of our union with Christ, relying on Him rather than external ordinances for our salvation and spiritual growth.