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Colossians 2 verse 18
18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.
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Key words and phrases:
Let know one who delights – meaning those judaizers who are deceived and those who deceive others. They delight in other things for their salvation and spiritual growth other than Christ alone.
in humity – meaning asceticism, which means they think they and others can help work for their own salvation by continually afflicting themselves, humiliating themselves, and debasing themselves. They think that their own continual suffering is for purification of sins.
And the worship of angles – meaning they think that other beings, even heavenly created beings, such as angles, should be worshipped.
(Alternate interpretation for …..delights in humility and the worship of angels: many commentaries believe that the judaizing false teachers would never ultimately worship Angels, but the phrase is hyperbole to mean they thought angels were needed to mediate between Christ and themselves. They believed themselves so humble that they didn’t think they could have direct access to Christ without the help of angels.)
Pass judgement on you – meaning that the Colossians should not allow such people to judge their justification and standing before God.
That person goes on at great lengths – meaning that these false teachers are sincere, motivated, and will endure much to tell others their false gospel.
About what he has supposedly seen – meaning in these false teachers’ minds they believe they have the truth, but they have deceived even themselves of what they believe they have seen or heard.
But he is puffed up with empty notions – meaning the false teachers are puffed up (prideful), and instead of repenting from their false teachings, they continue to spew their empty notions / ideas to bring others into bondage to them and their ideas.
By his fleshly mind – meaning that the false teacher is not motivated by the Spirit or the regenerated new man from within, but he is motivated by his fleshly mind, what seems to make sense to him, and what serves his selfish motives to bring others into bondage to his doctrines.
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Listening Prayer method – a method where you write what you think God would say to you after meditating and studying a Bible passage.
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Saints, Angels, or Vain Repetitions?
Bob
There is one mediator between God and man, my Son, Christ Jesus. Do not let anyone or any religious system teach you that there is another way or another power that is needed to stand justified before Me. You have access to the throne of grace only by my Son. And you always have access to my Son.
He came as a man, and He was tempted in like manner as yourself – yet without sin.
Yes, He is God, yet He is also man. Though he existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!
He is your friend. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He holds you in His hand.
You do not need a so-called saint or even an angel to have access to Him. He paid the full price for your justification. Do not think that putting yourself through hurtful suffering is somehow purifying yourself from sins. Do not think that vain-repetitive prayers absolve you of your sins. Do not think that any man can absolve you of your sins. They only want you to look up to them for the answers.
It is finished! Jesus secured your salvation on the cross. He alone by faith alone!!
