Not Ritual but Christ 唯独基督 而非仪文

[Dexu Xia]

Hollow and deceptive philosophy . . . depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

Today's Scripture  Colossians 2:6-15

Today's Insights

Paul wrote, “[God] has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith . . . and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (1:22-23). The apostle is combatting false teaching here—probably Gnosticism. Among its claims were that Christ didn’t have a physical body. This isn’t a biblical teaching, as it denies the crucifixion and resurrection. Paul warned, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” (2:8). As he said, “You were dead in your sins” but now “God made you alive with Christ” (v. 13). When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for our sin, we become free from sin’s burden.

Today's Devotion

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, thousands gather each year to burn Zozobra—a fifty-foot towering effigy stuffed with their worries, bills, and regrets. They shout, “Burn him!” as they hope the flames will devour their anxieties and troubles and reset their lives. The ritual reflects a deep human longing to be cleansed of fear, shame, and failure. It’s dramatic. But it’s also powerless. Fire can destroy paper but not guilt. It can consume ashes but not shame.

The apostle Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). He reminded his readers that they shouldn’t trade Jesus for empty substitutes, and he explains why: Christ is the visible “image of the invisible God” (1:15), is supreme over creation (1:16), fully God in human flesh (2:9), and victorious over “every power and authority” (v. 10). Because of His death and resurrection, we’re “rooted and built up in him” (v. 7), and fully alive and forgiven by Him (v. 13). Human rituals and cultural ceremonies can mesmerize a crowd, but only Jesus can cancel sin’s debt and break its grip forever.

Instead of yielding our burdens to rituals and traditions, let’s surrender them to Christ. He alone frees us from captivity and fills us with hope.

Reflect & Pray

How can human rituals be dangerous substitutes for Christ? In what ways does He offer us freedom from them?  Dear Jesus, only You can truly set me free when I receive you as my Lord. By Marvin Williams

你们要谨慎，恐怕有人用他的理学，和虚空的妄言，不照着基督，乃照人间的遗传，和世上的小学，就把你们掳去。。（歌罗西书 2:8）

今日经文：歌罗西书 2章6-15 节

今日洞见： 保罗写道：“上帝借着基督的肉身受死，叫你们与自己和好，都成了圣洁，没有瑕疵，无可责备，把你们引到自己面前。只要你们在所信的道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移，不至被引诱离开福音的盼望。”（1:22-23）。使徒在此驳斥错误的教导，很可能是诺斯底主义。该主义声称基督没有肉身。这并非圣经的教导，因为它否定了基督的受死与复活。保罗警告说：“你们要谨慎，恐怕有人用虚空的妄言……把你们掳去”（2:8）。正如他所言，你们“在过犯中死了”，但如今“上帝……叫你们与基督一同活过来”（13节）。当我们接受耶稣的牺牲作为罪的代价时，便从罪的重担中得了释放。

  今日灵修 在新墨西哥州的圣达菲，每年都有成千上万的人聚集在一起焚烧“佐佐布拉”，一座高达五十英尺的巨大塑像，里面塞满了人们的忧虑、账单和遗憾。他们高喊着“烧掉他！”，希望火焰能吞噬他们的焦虑与烦恼，让生活重新开始。这种仪式反映了人类内心深处渴望洗净恐惧、羞愧与失败的愿望。这场景虽极具戏剧性，却无能为力。火能烧毁纸张，却无法消除罪疚感；它能吞噬灰烬，却无法除去羞愧。

  使徒保罗写道：“你们要谨慎，恐怕有人用他的理学，和虚空的妄言，不照着基督，乃照人间的遗传，和世上的小学，就把你们掳去”（歌罗西书 2:8）。他提醒读者，切勿用虚空的替代品来置换耶稣，并阐明了原因：基督是那“不能看见之神”看得见的“像”（1:15），在受造万物之上居首位（1:16），是披戴肉身的真神（2:9），并且战胜了“一切执政掌权的”（10节）。因着祂的死与复活，我们在祂里面“生根建造”（7节），并从祂那里得着丰盛的生命与赦免（13节）。人为的仪文与文化礼俗或许能令人着迷，但唯有耶稣能免除罪债，并永远打破罪的辖制。与其将重担寄托于仪文与传统，不如将其交托给基督。唯有祂能使我们脱离捆绑，并赐予我们充满盼望的生命。

 反思与祷告 人为的仪文如何会成为取代基督的危险之物？上帝又是如何使我们从罪中得释放的？亲爱的耶稣，唯有祢成为我的主，才能真正使我得自由。

作者：马文·威廉姆斯