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"Holiness in the World II"

“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
- Colossians 2:20-23


Please pay attention to the text. The first phrase, in very strong terms, says, “since you are saved from the world,” then “you should not obey the world’s rules as if you were still unsaved.” Paul gives three examples of the world’s rules that saved people should not submit to:

1. Do not handle!
2. Do not taste!
3. Do not touch!

They are of human origin and they do not work to cause holiness.

Where do you find such rules? In churches that are attempting to be separated from the world. These churches, instead of being separated from the world, are following the basic principles of the world. They are worldly churches.


(Taken from Day & Night, 2005)

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