I had a friend that God saved from a very troubled background – as bad as you can imagine (worse than you can imagine). We started studying Scripture together, and God was doing some amazing things in his life. Then he listened to a false teacher on the internet – a teacher that was adding the Law to faith in Christ. My friend was taken captive by this false teacher and now is outside the church. The Book of Colossians is so relevant for us today as we make it to the end of chapter 2! The first two chapters are basically doctrine (what you need to know), and the last two chapters will basically be application (what you need to do). So, what doctrine have we learned? — Jesus Christ is supreme …that He is God in the flesh …that the Spirit of Christ is in us as believers …that His power is our power …His wisdom is our wisdom, etc. We also learned some things we don’t need — legalism and fake spirituality. Now, Paul addresses one more thing we don’t need beginning in verse 20:
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, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 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)
The word “if” (in Greek) in verse 20 is known as a 1st class conditional clause which means that it is assumed to be true. So, Paul is telling the believers in Colossae – you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world (past tense). Because they have died to the elementary principles of the world, Paul says do not submit yourself to the “false teachers” decrees of “do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.” Notice again, the false teachers are adding something to Christ. Religion loves to say Christ + something. Paul says it may look like wisdom, but it is not! It is man-made religion! It is a fake self-humility! It is doing something to your body that is not of Christ! It is portraying something on the outside that is not equal to the inside! Jesus said it like this in Matthew 23:28 “In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (NIV).
Remember the first two warnings from Paul: 1) legalism in respect to the Jewish Law and 2) Fake spiritualism (referring to mysticism). Now, Paul’s third warning is about asceticism (severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence – Google definition). Real change in the Christian life doesn’t come from the outside abuse of your body. Real change comes from the very Spirit that indwells you. Even today, people let themselves be crucified on a cross to imitate Jesus’ death on Good Friday – that is foolish – that is being taking captive by the elementary principles of the world. Who or what are you following – False teachers or the Spirit of Christ inside of you? Don’t be taken captive like my friend! Next week, we will begin looking at chapter 3. I have been eagerly waiting for this chapter for almost three months. I hope you will be back next week!