Title: The Covenants, Grace and Law (Part 23) 

Subject: Colossians (D)
Summary: In this twenty-third installment of the Covenants, Law and Grace series, John Ritenbaugh focuses upon two sets of verses (Colossians 2:16-18 and Galatians 4:9-10) which certain Protestant theologians have blasphemously charged that Paul was referring to God's Law, Sabbath, and Holy Days as weak and beggarly elements of the world. In both instances Paul was not referring to keeping the Holy Days at all, but instead an attempt by some in those congregations to syncretize Gnostic asceticism with the keeping of Holy Days, perverting their right use, in addition to bringing in superstitious lucky days, months, and seasons from Pagan customs involving rank and perverted demon worship. In both contexts, Paul admonishes these congregations that the object of our faith must be Christ (including keeping His Commandments) rather than demons or human tradition.

Keywords: Asceticism Auguries Bacchus Black eye Bondage to Satan Broad way Charity Children of wrath Chrisosthanes Deny self Discipline Divination Elements of the world Express personality Galatians Gentiles Halloween Humility Judaizers Justice Justification Law of flesh sin Lent Love Lucky days Mercy Micah Months Narrow way Observing times Personality Putting on Self discipline Strive according to rules Superstition Syncretism Taking off Tutelage Weak and beggarly elements Work Zeus