If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Colossians 2:20-23 NASB

Paul here is telling us that do’s and don’t’s from man do not solve the problem that the law brought into full focus — that in our flesh is all manner of corruption. Do’s and don’ts no matter from man or from God’s law are not the solution to the sin problem. Jesus is the solution. If I truly want to be free from a sin that plagues me then I can give it to Him, and He will cleanse me from that sin. Being told not to do something does not cleanse me from the desire to do it.

Taking on the mind of Christ is maybe the key to walking in the Spirit. It does not mean knowing everything that Jesus knows. What then does it mean? Jesus states:

49 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

John 12:49-50 NASB

50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12:50 NASB

31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, [d]I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

John 14:31 NASB

The mind of Christ was to do the Father’s will, what He heard from the Father He did. If we are following Him we will walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Our power comes from the Holy Spirit to do what the Father commands. That of necessity means that we no longer follow the flesh, but Christ.

In the Nicolaitan post I told of how a twisted thinking relative to a dead flesh can actually lead to sin in the flesh as was the case of the Nicolaitan. But we are not men and women of the world, but we are in Christ. When the flesh rises up and we sin we have an advocate with the Father. The Holy Spirit is the only one, who can lead us into all truth; and He is the one who can show us the will of the Father for us personally. Are we perfect? — by no means, this is why we are to walk in Him who is perfect.