Christ Above Religion: Colossians 2:16-23

Introduction

Hook:

There is a Christian group who puts a strong emphasis on speaking in tongues, and they emphasize signs, wonders, and miracles and they make some extraordinary claims of the miracles they have done.

They claim that their prophetic utterances are the words of the Holy Spirit and that they have been given new revelation that Christians should follow.

They teach that the end is near and Jesus’ return will happen before their own deaths.

And they believe that their movement is a clear sign that Jesus will bring the end soon and they will be honored above other Christians who do not align with them,

that their movement is the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit before the Great Tribulation comes.

They have central prophets who lead them and give them new revelation to follow, and they’re very good at encouraging people to follow them.

Even some of the most influential Christian writers and teachers of the generation openly joined them.

Now, I’m sure we’re all on the same page here in recognizing that I’m talking about the Montanists from the 100s AD.

I see some surprised expressions!

Was that not who you were thinking about?

Were you thinking about a different group? Something more recent than nearly 2000 years ago?

I’m assuming you thought about a Pentecostal or Charismatic group because the similarities are truly shocking.

Now I use this as an example to show to you that there is nothing new under the sun. The same problematic teachings from the beginning of the church are still present in the church today.

They come in different forms and are thought to be new, but really they’re just ancient issues being recycled.

Humans are humans whether they’re from the first century or the twenty-first century.

And as Paul was warning the Colossian believers about false teachings and false understandings of what it meant to be a Christ-follower they are also warnings that we should pay attention to and follow even today because they’re still here.

Humans will always want more. Either more freedom to do whatever they want to do, or more rules so they can know exactly what they are able to do and what they are not. And for those who are religious, we have a far greater tendency to fall into the second category of wanting more rules and regulations.

We want clear answers in how to act, what to do to inherit eternal life, we want more supernatural knowledge and experiences, and we want to know exactly what is required of us in our Christian walk. We ultimately want more clarity in all of our lives than what Christ has offered to us and so we tend to fall into wanting to add to what is clearly outlined in the Scripture so that we can have the assurance of clarity.

The problem with that? We begin to view the made up laws of man as the laws of Christ. And this happens in a sneaky way. We are taught throughout our lives by our parents, schools, churches, and culture that certain things are true and we believe them.

And again, this is not a new thing. People have been doing this for nearly as long as there have been people. In our religion we want an overabundance of clarity. It just makes everything easier.

We are in our 5th week of our study through the letter of Colossians and we are finishing up the second chapter.

Throughout this book there is one central idea, Christ is above all things and Paul then expands on this through teaching why Christ should be above the things of our lives. He began by showing how Christ is above our suffering and above our human wisdom.

This morning we see Paul’s instruction to the Colossian church and to all Christians in chapter 2 verses 16-23 that we should also keep Christ above our religion as well. Not that true religion is a bad thing, but Jesus stands above all of our religious ideals and actions.

In this section, Paul specifically targets three false teachings that we know from his other writings he had to deal with regularly and I’ll explain each of them this morning.

Legalism (16-17)

Mysticism (18-19)

Asceticism (20-23)

They are all connected in different ways and following one sets you up to fall victim to the others. And variations of these three falsehoods have been present all throughout the life of the church.

These false teachings seek to add to the gospel, making rules and traditions necessary for salvation.

Paul continues his emphasis from the previous verses that it is only through union with Christ that Christians may see true life. All the man-made wisdom and rules we have will do nothing to help us. (Colossians 2:6-15)

Our identity and salvation are secured in Christ, following man made religious rules is not a requirement to do so.

1. Reject Legalism: Choose the Substance over Shadow (v. 16-17)

Colossians 2:16–17 ESV

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Legalism = the adding of rules to follow in order to be considered holy or righteous.

Paul continues building on the previous passage by going into detail about some of the human traditions that he was trying to combat.

He begins in verse 16, telling the Colossians to reject the legalism of the Judaizers. (Describe the Judaizers)

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Explanation:

Paul commands believers to resist those who judge them based on adherence to Jewish dietary laws, festivals, or Sabbaths. These were part of the old covenant law, meant to point forward to Christ.

What does Paul say that these things are?

These things are shadows—temporary pointers toward the substance, which is Christ.

Once Christ has come and fulfilled these shadows, they no longer hold power over his people.

Theological Emphasis:

Paul, once more, is pleading with his readers to remember that Christ is sufficient.

The moral, ceremonial, and civil laws find their fulfillment in Him.

Salvation is by grace through faith alone, not through works.

Application:

Legalism in the church today:

Now, there are a few ways this is showing today.

Just a few months ago while we were at the First Fridays on Fourth Festival, I was approached by a man looking to take us up on the offer we had on our sign that said “Ask a Baptist anything.”

And he started off by asking why we don’t use the right name for God. Why do we say “God” or “Lord” and not YHWH. So, I gave him some of the historical reasons, while also saying that I will, when appropriate, say the covenant name that our God gave to Moses. Now, just by the nature of a question like that I knew I was talking with someone who held to a legalism similar to the Judaizers.

And sure enough, he quickly turned the discussion to asking why we don’t follow the feasts and sabbath that God has ordained in the Old Testament.

“Do you believe the New Testament is the inspired work of the Holy Spirit?” He said, “yes”

“So then, do you just not believe Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote his letters?” And he said “no, I do believe the Holy Spirit wrote through Paul”

“Why do you stand against so many of his teachings then? You sound like a Judaizer, holding Gentile Christians to laws that God does not hold them to according to the New Testament.”

But it is not simply in Modern-Day Judaizers that we see the pit of legalism. In our own governing documents we have an article that states who can and cannot be a member of our church. In Bylaw 1, section 5, we have only one explicitly stated limitation as to why someone cannot be a member of our church. Now, we have other statements that are more vague as to who can be a member, but only one explicit limitation. Do you know what it is?

“No person who is a member of a Communist Party… shall be a member of the corporation.” Now, I really do understand the sentiment, but I missed in the Scriptures where in order to be a member of Christ’s church you can’t be a communist. If we add anything to the requirements that Christ set forth, we are acting in legalistic ways.

Now, when it comes to church membership, if I heard that someone was a member of a communist party we would sit down and have a talk and determine if they are buying into an anti-Christian worldview or if they simply are being plagued by their past and looking to disaffiliate or needing to do more research and prayer on the topic. But I would do that with whole lot of other affiliations too.

This was the biggest section of our bylaws, aside from the lack of protection policies, that the credentials committee of our local association had major problems with.

Legalism also is quick to build in our hearts. We expect ourselves or others to do or not do specific things to show that they have been saved enough. I know there are people here who remember a time when “true Christians” were the people who didn’t dance or go to movies.

It’s still a running joke in theological circles that Baptists are proud that they don’t dance, don’t drink, don’t smoke, or chew and we that we condemn the people who do. And listen, substance abuse and addiction is a terrible problem that is outsized in our community,

But that doesn’t change the fact that if we just tsk tsk and judge and not pray or get our hands dirty in fighting the problems, we are making a terribly legalistic and anti-Christian response to the problems of the world.

So, in regards to legalism, ask yourself, “Is there anything I am trying to do to ensure my membership of Jesus’ people?

Is there anything more than true belief in Christ that I am expecting of others to do before they can be true Christians?

Are we adding to the gospel by demanding external observances or traditions?

Christ's fulfillment of the law brings us freedom.

No religious performance adds to our standing before God.

2. Reject Mysticism: Hold Fast to Christ (v. 18-19)

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.

Mysticism = a focus on individual spiritual experiences of visions and supernatural encounters. Tend to over-emphasize and misunderstand spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy, supernatural knowledge, among other things.

Explanation:

Paul warns against mysticism that seeks deeper spiritual experiences apart from Christ.

Asceticism (an extreme form of self-denial) and false humility, coupled with the worship of angels and visions, were practices being promoted. Paul says that this focus on internal supernatural encounters is nothing except a gimmick to make ourselves feel more important and

And in mysticism

These practices led people away from Christ.

Modern mysticism

Paul writes extensively on the negative effects of mysticism in 1 Corinthians 12-14. And far too often, people will say that those chapters are a defense for their mysticism when in reality, they’re missing the whole point of those chapters.

The main point of those chapters (AND THIS PASSAGE) is that we should be united in Christ and our spirituality, our religion, must bring us into joyful obedience to him and unity with his people. If our religion does not do so, then it is not true religion.

Key issue: They are not holding fast to the Head—Christ. True spiritual growth comes only from being connected to Christ.

Application:

It is possible to get a lust for supernatural experiences and so you start to believe hucksters who are just good showmen. From gold dust and feathers to growing legs and apparent healings, these are all forms of this mysticism that Paul is warning about.

And while I would argue that most of it is based in showmanship,

working a crowd and understanding how human physiology works in a similar way to illusionists (if I do this thing they’ll react like this)

there are potentials for engaging with spiritual forces that we do not understand.

I’ve heard some mystical churches say that when they are prophesying it’s like they’re using a radio to try to communicate, but they’re not sure the exact frequency they’re looking for so sometimes they’re just sending the signal out, waiting for a response.

How is that different from using a Ouija board? If you’re just sending out spiritual messages waiting for something to catch it and respond, how can you tell that it’s the Holy Spirit who is speaking to you and not something with more nefarious intentions?

One of the most popular mystical churches Bethel Church of Redding, CA, the same Bethel who put out songs like “Reckless Love” and “Goodness of God” teaches their students to prophesy like this. Their prominent leaders encourage the students into practices that look a lot more like New Age Paganism than they look like Biblical Christianity.

“Born-Again Witch” Bethel prophecy story.

It’s scary stuff, and we can and should seek to call people out of this kind of mysticism and to cling to Christ alone. However, it’s not just the crazy charismatics who base their

Modern forms of mysticism:

chasing after experiences, dreams, visions, or supernatural phenomena that distract from Christ.

Are we tempted to seek spiritual experiences outside of the gospel, or are we satisfied in Christ alone?

Theological Emphasis: (19) Christ is the Head of the Church, and all spiritual growth flows from being united to Him. There is no higher spirituality than being in Christ.

3. Reject Asceticism: No Value in Self-Made Religion (v. 20-23)

Colossians 2:20–23 ESV

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Explanation:

Paul addresses the futility of asceticism.

Asceticism = self denial as a means of attaining holiness. This goes a lot further than simply recognizing that you need to cut out things that entice you into sin. It is an underlying belief that everyone should remove themselves from the same things that you struggle with and if they do not refrain in the same ways you do, they are not as good of Christians as you are.

These man-made rules and regulations have an outward appearance of wisdom and piety but lack the power to change the heart. The believer has died with Christ to the world’s ways of attaining righteousness, and must not return to these empty practices.

And yet, throughout Christian history, we humans have been obsessed with working to make ourselves acceptable to ourselves, our friends and family, and our God.

But our actions are never going to be enough to make us clean and acceptable. The prophet Isaiah says that “all our works are filthy rags” and Paul emphasizes over and over again that it is only by by grace of God through faith in Christ that we are saved. We are not saved through cleaning ourselves up!

Application:

Asceticism in today’s context: self-denial, religious rules, or harsh treatment of the body as a way to earn God's favor.

True transformation comes through Christ’s work, not our self-discipline.

How do we focus on heart transformation through the Spirit instead of outward rules?

Theological Emphasis: The gospel sets us free from self-made religion. Sanctification is a work of grace in the life of the believer, not something achieved through external practices.

Main Theme:

In Christ, believers are set free from legalism and man-made regulations. We are called to live in the freedom of the gospel, rejecting any system that undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s work for our salvation.

And this is how all these pits are connected. They all think that we can possibly get ourselves into a better position than what Christ offers us through our good deeds. Where Paul says in v. 23 that these “have no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” he’s getting to the heart of the matter.

When we do things that appear religious because we think it will help us be “super-saved” then we’re indulging our flesh in the same way as an alcoholic does. We are doing the things that seem right in our own eyes and we have taken our eyes off of Christ above all, even our religion.

But it is the deeds of Christ that save us, not our deeds! We can clean ourselves up enough to get to the perfection that God demands, but Christ can. And we do not have to be bound by man-made religion. In any religious practices, we have to ask, who is our focus? Us or Christ?

Conclusion: Living in the Freedom of Christ

Reiterate: In Christ, we have been set free from the tyranny of legalism, mysticism, and asceticism. Nothing needs to be added to the gospel. CHRIST IS ENOUGH.

Key Points to Remember:

Christ is the substance of all the old covenant shadows.

True spiritual growth comes from holding fast to Christ, the Head.

Legalism and asceticism have no power to bring true holiness; only the gospel does.

Call to Action:

Rest in the finished work of Christ. Let the gospel shape your identity and freedom in Him.

Reject any teaching or practice that diminishes the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross.

Live in the joy of the freedom you have in Christ, and let that freedom fuel your obedience, not to earn salvation, but as a response to His grace.

Closing Prayer: Ask for grace to stand firm in the freedom of the gospel and for hearts that rest in the sufficiency of Christ alone.

Assurance

Colossians 1:21–23 (ESV)

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard...