QT 17/10/2025 Fri. Colossians 2:18–23 “Hold Fast to the Head” “与头紧密相连”

QT 17/10/2025 Fri. Colossians 2:18–23 “Hold Fast to the Head”
READ http://www.esv.org/col2:18-23

📖 Scripture focus: Colossians 2:18–19 (ESV)
[18] Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, [19] and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

🔍 Reflection: Paul is sounding the alarm: not all “spirituality” is truly spiritual. Some in the Colossian church were being distracted — not by sin in the usual sense, but by spiritual-sounding substitutes:

• Extreme self-denial (asceticism),
• Mystical experiences (visions),
• Even angel worship.

🚩 What’s Wrong with Extreme Self-Denial (Asceticism)?
Legalistic and works-based: Asceticism often focuses on harsh discipline of the body to earn God’s favour or prove spirituality (Colossians 2:20-23). But the Gospel teaches salvation and sanctification are by grace through faith, not by self-imposed rules or suffering.

Distracts from Christ: Excessive focus on denying physical needs can become an idol, pulling attention from dependence on Jesus who sustains us spiritually and physically.

Ignores God’s good gifts: God created the body and the world as good (Genesis 1:31). Extreme denial sometimes treats creation as evil, which distorts God’s design.

🚩 What’s Wrong with Mystical Experiences (Visions) as a Focus?
Can lead to pride and confusion: Paul calls those obsessed with visions “puffed up without reason” (Colossians 2:18). Spiritual experiences can inflate the ego and cause believers to rely on feelings rather than God’s truth.

Not a guarantee of true faith: The Bible warns that false teachers and even demons can produce deceptive spiritual phenomena (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Christ-centred faith is primary: The Christian life is rooted in knowing Jesus through His Word and Spirit, not chasing experiences.

🚩 What’s Wrong with Angel Worship?
Idolatry: Worship belongs to God alone. The Bible is clear that angels are created beings meant to serve God’s purposes, not receive worship (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9).

Distraction from Christ: Worshipping angels detracts from worshiping the Savior who alone redeems and sustains us.

Potential gateway to spiritual deception: Excessive focus on angels can open believers to false teachings or spiritual manipulation (Colossians 2:18).

✝️ Summary:
The problem isn’t the elements themselves — fasting, spiritual encounters, awareness of angels — but when they: (a) Replace or distract from Christ as Head, (b) Become legalistic or prideful, (c) Lead to idolatry or deception.

The true mark of spiritual maturity isn't how many visions you've had — it's whether you're holding fast to Jesus, the Head of the Church. Just like a body can’t survive without its head, a believer cannot grow without daily connection to Christ. Real growth doesn’t come from spiritual hype — it comes from being nourished by Jesus, moment by moment.

✝️ Gospel Connection:
Jesus is not just the starting point of faith — He is the source of all true spiritual life. He alone connects us to the Father. He alone nourishes, unites, and grows the body of Christ. Any spirituality that sidesteps Christ — even if it looks impressive — will eventually wither.

But when we hold fast to the Head, we experience a growth that is from God, not manufactured by human effort.

🙏 Application:
(1) Watch out for distractions in disguise. Not everything “spiritual” is Christ-centred.

(2) Ask: Am I pursuing Christ or just spiritual experiences?

(3) Hold fast to Jesus — through His Word, prayer, obedience, and fellowship with His people.

🙌 Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are the Head of the Church — and the Head of my life. Forgive me for the times I’ve been drawn to things that look spiritual but lead me away from You. Help me to hold fast to You, to stay rooted in Your Word, and to grow with the kind of growth that only You can give. Keep me connected to You and to Your people, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

QT 17/10/2025 星期五. 歌罗西书 2:18–23 “与头紧密相连”
阅读 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians 2%3A18-23&version=CNVS

📖 经文焦点：歌罗西书 2:18–19
18 不要让人夺去你们的奖赏，他们以故意谦卑，敬拜天使为乐；迷于自己所见过的；凭着肉体的意念，无故地自高自大；19 不与头紧密相连。其实全身都是借着关节和筋络从头得着供应和联系，就照着　神所要求的，生长起来。

🔍 反思：保罗正在敲响警钟：并非所有“属灵”都是真正属灵的。歌罗西教会中有些人正被分散注意力——不是被通常意义上的罪所吸引，而是被那些听起来属灵的替代品所迷惑：

• 极端的自我克制（禁欲主义），
• 神秘体验（异象），
• 甚至天使崇拜。

🚩 极端自我克制（禁欲主义）的弊端何在？
律法主义与行为救赎：禁欲主义常通过严苛肉体折磨来换取神恩或证明属灵（歌罗西书2:20-23）。但福音教导救赎与成圣乃因信称义，而非靠自我设限或苦修。

转移对基督的关注：过度否认肉体需求可能成为偶像，使人忽视对耶稣的倚靠——祂才是我们灵性与肉体真正的供应者。

忽视神的良善恩赐：神创造的身体与世界本是美好的（创世记1:31）。极端禁欲有时将受造物视为邪恶，扭曲了神的创造本意。

🚩 为何将神秘体验（异象）作为焦点有问题？
可能导致骄傲与迷惑：保罗称沉迷异象者为“无故地自高自大”（歌罗西书2:18）。属灵体验可能膨胀自我，使信徒依赖感受而非神的真理。

非真信心的保证：圣经警示假教师甚至邪灵能制造欺骗性属灵现象（哥林多后书11:13-15）。

以基督为中心的信仰至关重要：基督徒的生命根基在于通过祂的话语和圣灵认识耶稣，而非追逐属灵体验。

🚩 敬拜天使有何问题？
偶像崇拜：敬拜唯独属于上帝。圣经明确指出天使是受造之物，旨在服侍上帝的旨意，而非接受敬拜（启示录19:10；22:8-9）。

偏离基督：崇拜天使会削弱对救主的敬拜，唯独祂能救赎并扶持我们。

可能导致属灵迷惑：过度关注天使会使信徒陷入异端教导或属灵操控（歌罗西书2:18）。

✝️ 总结：
问题不在于禁食、属灵经历、感知天使等元素本身，而在于它们： (a) 取代或转移对基督这位元首的关注，(b) 沦为律法主义或滋生骄傲，(c) 导致偶像崇拜或陷入迷惑。

属灵成熟的真正标志不在于你经历过多少异象——而在于你是否紧握教会元首耶稣。正如身体离了头不能存活，信徒若不每日与基督相连便无法成长。真实的成长不源于属灵炒作——而是源于时刻被耶稣滋养。

✝️ 福音关联：
耶稣不仅是信心的起点——更是所有真实属灵生命的源头。唯独祂能将我们与天父相连，唯独祂能滋养、合一并成长基督的身体。任何绕开基督的属灵追求——纵然看似惊人——终将枯萎。

🙏 应用：

(1) 警惕伪装的干扰。并非所有看似属灵的事物都真正属灵。但当我们紧紧抓住元首时，便经历来自神的成长，而非人力所能造就。

(2) 自省：我追求的是基督，还是仅仅追求属灵体验？

(3) 持定耶稣——通过祂的话语、祷告、顺服，以及与祂子民的团契。

🙌 祷告：
主耶稣，祢是教会的元首——也是我生命的元首。求祢赦免我曾被看似属灵却引离祢的事物吸引。求祢帮助我紧紧抓住祢，扎根于祢的话语，经历唯有祢能赐予的成长。求祢保守我与祢及祢子民的联结，为要彰显祢的荣耀。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。