"If ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world,
are ye subject to ordinances?" (Col. 2:20).

"Why, as though living in the world," is a most remarkable expression. It shows that we are not
true to our standing, as well as to Christ, if we are as men alive in the world. We have a new life,
which is the life of Him who is dead and risen; and this had now brought us into the condition of
death to all that is of the world. Hence as to the religion of the world, the Christian has in
principle as really done with it as Christ Himself had after His death. What had our Lord from
His cross to do with the fasts and feasts of the Jews? Absolutely nothing, neither ought we; and
by "we" I mean every real Christian.

I admit that the great mass of Christians will not hear of such a breach with the world; and thus
comes one severe trial of those who see it thus a foundation truth of Christ… The taking up the
rudiments of the world, is then a fiat practical contradiction to our death with Christ.

The Colossians wanted to hold on to the truth of Christ, but to keep up, or adopt along with it,
religious forms which had been observed in olden times. No, says the apostle, it is Christ who is
all our good, and nothing but Christ:we need nothing else. Christ is all. Nothing was so
exclusive as Christ and the cross; as yet what was so large? "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily." But He was rejected."