Contrary to the thinking of many, the fundamental doctrine and faith of Christ are easily taught and understood. When I read the catechism of Roman Catholicism with its many nebulous and often contradictory statements, I understand why their hierarchy desires to keep the Bible out of the hands of its people.
The same goes for the mental gymnastics and contortions marking the false philosophy of Calvinism. Purveyors of such look down their collective noses and smugly declare, “You just don’t understand, because you are not a spiritual man.” Well, they get half of it right, I don’t understand. I don’t understand Calvinism, but not because I am not a spiritual person but because I do understand the Bible.
Paul warns against all such vain and dangerous philosophies by reaffirming their commitment to the simplicity which is found in Christ Jesus: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (2:6). He gave a similar warning to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so our minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Additionally, Paul refers to those deceivers as those who make themselves appear as apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness (2 Cor 11:13-15).
It is also evident that the brethren were being troubled by Judaizing teachers. In verses 11-14, Paul affirms that the Colossians had received Christ through “the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism.”
Being then among those who belonged to Christ, they had been set free from any encumbrances of the Law of Moses. Thus, Paul admonished them not to be bothered or swayed by those who might attempt to control them over matters such as food or drink, festivals, new moons or sabbaths (v 16).
Genuine Christianity is not found in humanly devised rituals or observances. Neither is it found in the ascetic practices of self-denial such as celibacy, or the denial of all pleasures (e.g., monasticism).
Rather, genuine Christianity is found in the diligent pursuit of conformity to the word of God and example of Christ.
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