In Bondage to the Law

In Bondage to the Law

“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—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle . . . .’” Col. 2:20-21.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col. 3:2.

What are you going to do with these laws—Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle—if your mind is set on things above? When you feel that your liberty to act is limited by such laws, what do you seek then? All those who are not born again seek the things that are on this earth. They need such laws as protection so they don’t drift out too far. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Tim. 6:9. However, those whose minds are set on things above, what should they not handle or taste?

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . . .” Phil. 3:12.

When a person is apprehended of being perfected, how can he then feel that the commandments about loving your enemies, being generous, requiting evil with good, etc. are a burden or a: “You shall!”?

It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. Gal. 4:22. So there are also two kinds of listeners at the meetings. There are those whose minds are set on earthly things, but they want to keep the commandments in order to get God’s blessing over everything they do. Their desires and plans and interests are in earthly things. When they hear God’s Word, they hear mostly: Touch not, taste not, handle not; you shall do this, and you must do this! They feel that their desires and their plans are being limited, and this business of doing God’s will is just going too far. They are children of the bondwoman, and this is how they think. They are either not born again, or they are babes in Christ. “The heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave . . . .”

The children of the freewoman are born according to promise. They have no earthly plans. Their minds are set on things above; they pursue perfection. When they hear God’s Word, they hear only words of encouragement to lay hold of what they are apprehended, and they are urged to flee what they consider dung.

The children of the bondwoman strive to get God’s blessing over earthly things. They think of temporal things, and they have a hard time bearing their tribulations. On the other hand, the children of the freewoman think of eternal things. They seek God’s kingdom—the virtues of Christ—and the earthly things which they need are added to them. To them their tribulations seem temporary and light, working in them a fullness of God’s kingdom—the virtues of Christ. 2 Cor. 4:17-18. Such souls are not in bondage to commandments and regulations; they live in glorious liberty, being exhorted and encouraged to lay hold of what they are pursuing and what they are apprehended of.