Dead with Christ

What most people recall about Jesus' earthly ministry were the miracles and the people he healed. Often overlooked are some very important teachings as he went toe-to-toe with the religious leaders of his time. The Pharisees knew Scripture and meticulously followed the law, but they also added their own set of rules and standards to elevate themselves about others. We see in Mark 7:11-13 how they even ignored their own family responsibilities while pointing out how others failed to live up to the law. The apostle Paul even had to deal with this prevailing attitude in the early church: 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 (Colossians 2:20).

Sadly, this notion of adding rituals and responsibilities to God's Word still surfaces in today's churches in the form of legalism. Scripture is very clear that our salvation is a free gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ and not of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8-9). Legalism chokes the life out of believers and drives non-believers away in droves--perhaps depriving them of ever hearing the life-changing message of the Gospel. Since the Gospel frees us from attempting to gain Heaven by self-effort, there is absolutely no reason to subject ourselves--or anyone else--to legalistic ordinances. Colossians 2:8 also warns us be on guard against deceptive philosophy based on human traditions that can distort the truth of God's Word.

Listen to Jesus' response to the Pharisees and their legalistic traditions: He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. 'You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." (Mark 7:6-8).

Being dead with Christ means not only being free from the bondage of sin, but also the entrapment of following legalistic rules---allowing us to victoriously proclaim: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)