“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 NKJV)

 

Although Lazarus was quickened and raised from the dead by the voice of the Lord Jesus, yet he came forth from the tomb still bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face wrapped with a cloth.

 

John 11:43-44 – NKJV

 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

 

Until Lazarus was loose, he could not walk in the newness of life the Lord had given him. Likewise, many people today who are saved are still stuck in religion, Mosaic laws, vain traditions of men, religious rites, and regulations.

 

Although many people have responded positively to the Gospel of Christ and have been saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, yet they are still holding steadfastly unto the Old Testament laws and traditions and thus could not walk in the newness of life they have received at the New Birth.

 

When you became born again through faith in Christ, the power or dominion of Sin and Satan was broken over your life, and you were quickened by the Spirit of God.

 

Ephesians 2:4-5 – NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

 

However, God does not just want you to be saved; He also wants you to come into full knowledge of the truth.

 

Paul attests to this truth.

 

1 Timothy 2:3-4 – MNT

3 For this is good and pleasing in the eyes of our Saviour God,

4 whose will it is that all men should be saved, and come into full knowledge of the truth.

 

Peter also encouraged us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ after our new birth experience.

 

2 Peter 3:17-18 – NKJV

 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

 

The Lord Jesus also revealed that the mission of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all truth.

 

John 16:12-14 – NKJV

 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

 13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

 

Regrettably, many people who are saved today have no earnest desire to be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth or grow in the grace and revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ. Consequently, though saved, yet they are still stuck in religious bondage.

 

Although Satan could not hold back or keep Lazarus in the tomb when the Lord Jesus called him to come forth, yet Lazarus was held down and bound by the custom of his days (the wrapping and binding of the dead tightly with grave clothes) from enjoying the new life he had received.

 

“This custom still exists in western Asia. No coffins being used, the body is stretched out, and the arms laid straight by the sides, after which the whole body, from head to foot, is wrapped round tightly in many folds of linen or cotton cloth; or, to be more precise, a great length of cloth is taken and rolled around the body until the whole is enveloped, and every part is covered with several folds of the cloth. The ends are then sewed, to keep the whole firm and compact; or else a narrow bandage is wound over the whole, forming, ultimately, the exterior surface” (Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary).

 

Lazarus remained stuck until Jesus commanded, “Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:44 NKJV).

 

Like Lazarus, many believers today are still held down and bound from enjoying the exceeding riches of God’s grace, not by Sin or Satan but by religious laws, rules and regulations, human philosophies, customs, or traditions which they still subject themselves to.

 

Paul rebuked the Christians at Colossae for subjecting themselves to vain regulations.

 

Colossians 2:20-22 – NKJV

 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations–

 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”

 22 which all concern things which perish with the using–according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

 

Nothing frustrates or nullifies the grace of God in a believer’s life as his subjection to religious laws, rites, and regulations, vain philosophies, traditions, or customs of men.

 

The Lord Jesus rebuked the religious Jews not for their sins, but for “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:13 NKJV).

 

A believer who still exalts, esteems, or holds firmly to any human tradition, custom, philosophy, law, or regulation above the teaching of Christ (the gospel truths) though saved is still stuck, thereby missing out on the blessings of salvation.

 

Paul warns the Galatians Church of the danger of subjecting themselves to the Mosaic laws.

 

Galatians 5:1-4 – NKJV

 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.

 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

 

Christ will profit you nothing if you still hold onto your long allegiance to the Mosaic Law or any human tradition.

 

Seeking to be justified or to earn God’s love, acceptance, favor, or blessing through your self-righteousness, performance, or adherence to any religious laws, rites or regulations will cut you off from the constant supply of God’s grace.

 

Paul confronted the foolish Galatians’ Christians who though saved, were still stuck in the law, saying, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” (Gal. 5:4 NKJV).

 

Beloved, are you saved but still stuck in any religious law, rule and regulation, human philosophy, tradition, or custom?

 

It is time to disentangle yourself and begin to walk in the liberty Christ purchased for you by His precious blood. Allow no one to bind or subject you to any vain religious tradition or regulation!

 

Why?

 

Because you have become dead to the law through the body of Christ!

 

Paul aptly states and explains this truth in his epistle to the Romans.

 

Romans 7:1-4 – NKJV

 1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.

 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another–to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

 

Therefore, begin to spend quality time daily to prayerfully study God’s Word so that you may grow in the grace and revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ and thus enjoy the benefits or blessings of His finished work increasingly.

 

Beloved, be careful to heed Paul’s warning today!

 

Colossians 2:8 – NKJV

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

 

Galatians 5:1, 13 – NKJV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

 

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

Don’t be saved and stuck!

 

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me into perfect liberty through Christ Jesus. I refuse to be saved and still be stuck in any vain religious law, regulation, tradition, or custom, in Jesus’ name.
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Amen.