Welcome back to our study of Colossians! In the last section, Paul commanded the believers in Colossae not to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deception. Then he gave some reasons why we can trust Christ. Now, we begin reading in verse 16 of Colossians 2:
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
Notice, this section begins with the word “therefore”. Anytime, you see the word “therefore” you should ask “why is it there for?” Because of the previous section (what we discussed the last two times in Colossians), no one is to act as your judge to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. When you read the underlined words, what do you think of? My first thought is the Jewish Law. Now, how does the Jewish Law connect with the previous section? Look at verse 15, “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Jesus’ death on the cross abolished the Law. The Law’s purpose was to lead people to Christ (see Galatians 3:24). You see, the false teachers were coming in and saying you need Christ plus the law. The false teachers were trying to take away the believers freedom in Christ. Paul said it like this in Galatians, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1 NASB). So, Paul is telling the believers don’t let those false teachers judge you with their law. Don’t let legalism reign in your life! Let Jesus reign!
In verse 18 Paul warned, “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.” False teachers were also trying to disqualify the believers in Colossae of their future prize in two ways: 1) Self–abasement (fake self-humility). Not only does Paul warn about this fake self-humility from the false teachers, but Paul also warns about the worship of angels that were basically made up in visions in their fleshly minds. He was basically warning them of a fake spiritualism. You don’t need Jesus plus the law or Jesus plus a fake spirituality. So, what do we need?
Paul concludes this section with verse 19, “and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” Who is the head? Jesus! Again, Paul tells us that Jesus is enough! The contemporary Biblical scholar, F.F. Bruce, explained the section like this: “Sad to say, there are many Christians who actually believe that some person, religious system, or discipline can add something to their spiritual experience. But they already have everything they ever will need in the person and work of Jesus Christ.” I know I have said this about 20 times already, but Colossians teaches us that we have Christ in us, the hope of glory. He is, indeed, all we need!