What is Paul REALLY addressing, pagan practices or God’s times and seasons with Sabbaths made by Him for us?
“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:7) Emphasis on “His own power.” Satan is a copycat.
Colossians 2:8-18
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
*16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
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,** (not in any way God's doctrines)
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using,) **after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
verse 8 Beware (must recognize) of the deceitful philosophy of mixing paganism as it was practiced before salvation, with the truth in Christ Jesus.
Verse 9-10 nothing can be added to the work of Christ. He is in control and rules, referring to the “beware” in verse 8. Just because it looks and feels good doesn't mean it’s right.
Verse 11 refers to law in Deuteronomy. “Circumcise the foreskin of your heart” (Deuteronomy 10:16)
Verse 12 Die to your own personal desires, and the carnal mind that can easily be duped with deceit. Again, referring to “beware” verse 8
Verse 13 There is a stark difference between learned pagan practices and real Biblical truths recorded in scripture. There is no compromising paganism with truth. The first place Satan will attack is the church. Compromise is the “Doctrine of Balaam” and the systematic removal of the God’s original truth is doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing Jesus hates. (Revelation 2:6 and 15)
Verse 14 is a man made list of rights and wrongs that are not comparable to God’s truth. It is, for all intents and purposes, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” that lead to self deification.
Verse 15 These demonic influences have been conquered by Christ, exposing these pagan practices referred to in verse 14.
*Verse 16 Just because you are following the directions of God Almighty, don’t be intimidated by those who are still participating in pagan practices or their sabbat observances of times. Here is what the church of Colossia was facing in their own community.
Wiccan holidays are based on the major solar and lunar events on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.
Wiccan rituals for the Sabbats, for instance, celebrate the Sun's influence on the Earth — that is, the seasonal growing cycle.
Wiccan Esbats honour the phases of the Moon, particularly the Full Moon.
Isaiah 1:13-15 (refering to verse 15, is not abortion the serving of Molech?)
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Verse 17 “Things to come” is likened unto, but not exclusive to, practicing or rehearsing for the millennial period according to Zechariah 14:16-19. I urge all to read these 4 verses.
Verse 18 “voluntary humility” is in reference to the man made indebted list of rights and wrongs referred to in verse 14. This indebted list is instigated by the pagan “worshipping of Angels” and when the debts are gone on paper, this practice causes a mindset of being better than others.
Verse 19 is the outcome of practicing what verse 18 says. The outcome actually being a denial of Jesus Christ.
Verse 20 If we have died to ourselves through Christ, why would we want to incorporate pagan practices into the church and try to sanction paganism as acceptable to God?
Verse 21 Come out of it and be separate from it all! “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Verse 22 will send you away from the kingdom of heaven, just like the fallen angels that are worshiped by the pagan doctrines of men.
Verse 23. It looks appealing, on the surface it looks good, when rectifying the man made list of rights and wrongs referred to in verse 14, but in the end it will never accomplish the appeasing of fleshly desires we all have a tendency to be sucked into, by the thinking of the carnal mind.
So many have misunderstood this scripture, saying that Paul is referring to the law of God rather than the pagan practices of Satan worship. Are we calling “good” bad? Do we really want the bad that is revealed in scripture to be deemed as good?
“Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (Isaiah 29:16)
