Faith Working Through Love: Redeemed

Sunday we considered Paul’s argument that we are united in Christ regardless of our social standing, by faith alone, in Christ alone, through grace alone. Paul ends that paragraph that we are “heirs according to promise.” He’s going to build on this in the next section, which we’ll consider.

His argument is that everyone is enslaved to what he calls the “elementary principles of the world.” Here he seems to refer to the law, particularly the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament and the ceremonial laws of other religions. He clarifies in verse 10 saying, “You observe days and months and seasons and years.” He goes further in Colossians when he says, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” (Col. 2:16)

Under Christ, the ceremonial regulations are cast off. This is freedom that propels the gospel and the church in every culture around the world. So, come Sunday and consider what it means to be free in Christ.