Colossians 2:16-23

Last time we saw Paul reminding the believers in Colossae that their faith and assurance are found completely in Christ - not in rituals, philosophies, or human traditions.

We talked about how we’re to be rooted and built up in Christ, letting our lives grow from that foundation. Because when Christ saves us, we’re made new—our old sinful nature is cut away, and we’re spiritually alive.

Paul emphasized that in Christ dwells all the fullness of God, and through Him we are complete. There’s nothing we can add to our salvation - no rule, no ceremony, no work. Christ’s victory on the cross canceled the record of our sin and publicly disarmed the powers of darkness.

So the heart of the last message was this: We are alive, forgiven, and fully complete in Christ alone.

Now, in today’s passage, Paul continues that same thought—but shifts from who we are in Christ to how we live in light of that truth.

Since Christ has already done everything needed for our salvation, Paul warns the Colossians not to let anyone judge or disqualify them based on man-made religion, rituals, or rules.

He’s addressing false teachers who were mixing Jewish ceremonial laws, pagan mysticism, and self-made spirituality, trying to add to what Christ already finished.

So in verses 16–23 we’ll see Paul deal with three major traps that still pull people in today:

Legalism – thinking our rule-keeping earns God’s favor.

Mysticism – chasing spiritual experiences apart from Christ.

Asceticism – believing harsh self-denial makes us holy.

All of these take our eyes off Jesus. Paul’s reminder is simple: Christ is enough.

[Don’t Let Anyone Judge You by Outward Rules]

Colossians 2:16–17 NLT

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

→ Warning against legalism

Depending on your translation, yours might start with therefore. And Whenever we see a therefore, we ask what it’s there for. -> vv. 6–15

Explain:

Paul’s connecting what he’s already said in verses 6–15. Which is that we’ve been made alive in Christ, He’s forgiven our sins, and He’s triumphed over every power. In other words, because Christ has done all this and made us complete, there’s nothing left for us to earn.

Transition:

So Paul now says, ‘Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you…’ meaning: Don’t let anyone drag you back under rules Christ already fulfilled.

Let’s look at some of these phrases used:

“Food or drink” – refers to Old Testament dietary laws (clean vs. unclean foods).

“Festival, new moon, or Sabbath” – the Jewish calendar system:

Festivals = annual feasts (Passover, Pentecost, etc.)

New moon = monthly observances for the start of a new month

Sabbaths = weekly rest days

Paul’s covering the whole range of religious rituals that defined Jewish identity. And he’s saying none of those define a Christian’s relationship with God anymore.

Illustration (simple visual):

Imagine trying to pay for your meal after someone’s already picked up the tab. That’s what legalism does, it tries to buy what Christ already paid for.

Theological Truth

Legalism focuses on external observance; Christianity centers on an internal relationship.

Explain:

Legalism says, “If I do these things, God will love me.” The gospel says, “Because God loves me, I want to do what pleases Him.”

It’s the difference between religion and relationship. Between obligation and devotion.

Apply It to Today

Now, most of us aren’t being pressured to celebrate Jewish festivals or dietary laws, but legalism still creeps into Christianity today.

It shows up when people say you’re not a “real Christian” unless you dress a certain way, worship in a certain style, or follow man-made rules Or when we measure our spirituality by what we don’t do instead of by who we know.

Paul’s point:

Don’t let anyone put you back under a spiritual performance trap. Our acceptance before God doesn’t depend on what we eat, drink, or observe. it depends on Christ alone.

Galatians 5:1 NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

6. Transition to the Next Section

So you have the legalists that we just talked about who said, “You’re not spiritual enough unless you keep the rules.” But others were saying, “You’re not spiritual enough unless you have mystical experiences.”

And that’s where Paul goes next in verses 18–19.

II. Don’t Let Anyone Disqualify You by False Spirituality (vv. 18–19)

→ Warning against mysticism

Colossians 2:18–19 NLT

18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

[Key Phrases]

Where it says “don’t let anyone condemn you” or your translation might read: “let no one disqualify you”

The term literally means “to act as an umpire against you”, to call you out of bounds or deny you the prize.

These false teachers were telling believers that unless they had these “deeper” spiritual experiences, they weren’t truly spiritual or mature.

So Paul’s saying Christ already qualified you. If you have a relationship with Christ don’t let someone try and say no that doesn’t count because x, y, and z.

Colossians 1:12 NLT

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

[Insisting on asceticism and worship of angels]

Now where it reads “Insisting on asceticism and worship of angels”

We’ll touch on “Asceticism” more in a little bit. My translation read it as pious self-denial. The definition for Asceticism is a lifestyle of severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence, often for spiritual reasons. It’s another way of trying to be more spiritual. By abstaining things at an extreme level.

Now the worship of angels, that was something going on then and still happens to this day.

Some in Colossae taught that God was too holy to approach, so you needed angelic mediators to bring your prayers before Him. And others likely worshiped angels themselves, seeking mystical experiences through visions and spiritual encounters.

But Scripture is clear, there’s one mediator between God and man: Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).

1 Timothy 2:5 NLT

5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

We do not need go to anyone else to speak with God. And if you try to, you’re just going to be talking to yourself. Jesus wants an 1 on 1 relationship. We go directly to Him.

c. [“Going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind”]

These people loved to boast about spiritual experiences—visions, dreams, revelations.

But Paul says they’re “puffed up” — spiritually arrogant, not truly humble.

Their so-called humility “I’m not worthy to go to God directly” was actually pride by claiming

They had traded a Christ-centered faith for an experience-centered religion.

d. “Not holding fast to the Head…”

Here’s Paul’s diagnosis: the problem isn’t that they’re too spiritual, it’s that they’ve let go of Christ.

The Head represents Christ as the source of life, nourishment, and growth for the Church (His body).

When you disconnect from the Head, the whole body suffers.

True spiritual life and maturity come only by staying connected to Christ, not chasing mystical highs.

John 15:5 NLT

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

4. Draw Out the Key Theological Truth

Spiritual growth doesn’t come through experiences, visions, or feelings. It comes through holding fast to Christ.

Explain:

Let’s be clear here - Paul isn’t against the supernatural — God can and does reveal Himself. People can experience visions, that’s a very positive thing. but Paul is warning against any spirituality that shifts the focus from Christ to the experience itself.

6. Transition to the Next Point

The legalists were enslaved by rules. The mystics were distracted by experiences. But there was another group — those who thought holiness came through harsh self-denial and discipline of the body. And Paul addresses that next in verses 20–23.

III. Don’t Submit to Man-Made Rules That Look Holy but Lack Power (vv. 20–23)

→ Warning against asceticism

IV. The Big Picture – Freedom and Fullness in Christ Alone

Legalism, mysticism, and asceticism all share one lie: Christ isn’t enough.

The gospel says: In Him we are complete.

1. Transition from the Previous Section

So Paul has just warned us to 1. not let anyone judge us by outward rules (legalism) or 2. disqualify us by false spirituality (mysticism). Now he warns us not to enslave ourselves to man-made restrictions, a form of self-imposed religion called asceticism.

Transition idea:

Legalism says, “Earn God’s favor by keeping rules.” Mysticism says, “Find God through special experiences.” Asceticism says, “Please God by denying yourself.” But Paul says again — Christ is enough.

2. Read and Explain the Text

Colossians 2:20–23 NLT

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Let’s look at some oh the phrases used:

a. “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world…”

Paul reminds them: You’ve died with Christ.

“Elemental spirits” (or “principles”) refers to basic worldly systems. The human attempts to reach God through works, rituals, or self-discipline.

The logic is: If you’ve died to that old system, why are you still living like it controls you?

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

b. “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”

This sums up the man-made rules of the ascetics.

They believed holiness came through strict denial — what you eat, what you drink, what you touch.

Some early false teachers even discouraged marriage, enjoyment of food, or comfort.

These rules looked spiritual, but Paul calls them empty because they’re about things that perish — temporary, external, and powerless to change the heart.

The problem of sin isn’t in the hands; it’s in the heart. Changing your diet can’t cleanse your soul.

Fasting can be a big. Very positive to do when done right. But once again it can be done in a look at me kind of way. Jesus criticized the religious leaders when they fasted because they’d make sure that every knew they felt fatigued. They were focusing on the wrong thing.

d. Paul said“They have an appearance of wisdom…”

Self-denial looks wise. Discipline is good. Fasting is good. Simplicity can be good.

But Paul says these have only the appearance of wisdom because they focus on the outside.

The phrase “self-made religion” means literally worship that people invent for themselves.

False humility and harsh treatment of the body may impress others, but they don’t impress God.

e. “…but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

Here’s Paul’s knockout punch.

Asceticism can restrain behavior for a while, but it can’t change desire.

Only the Spirit of Christ working in the heart can produce lasting holiness.

Cross-Reference: Romans 8:13 – “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

4. Theological Summary Self-discipline is useful, but it’s powerless to conquer sin apart from the Spirit of Christ. Real holiness flows from the inside out, not the outside in.

5. Apply It to Today

Today, asceticism might look like trying to prove our devotion by what we give up instead of who we follow.

“I don’t watch this, I don’t eat that, I don’t celebrate this.”

Those can be wise personal choices — but they don’t make us more saved or more loved by God.

Practical application:

Instead of asking, “What can I deny?” ask, “How can I stay close to Christ?” And as you stay close to Christ there may be certain things that you do start to deny through transformation.

So, Paul has now dealt with all three traps:

Legalism: adding rules to the gospel.

Mysticism: adding experiences to the gospel.

Asceticism: adding self-denial to the gospel. All three whisper the same lie. “Christ isn’t enough.” But Paul’s entire message is that Christ is sufficient, supreme, and complete.

Closing

Remember a lot of what we talked about can be good things, just not when they take the focus from Jesus.

Christ himself said he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. We can never fulfill the law so place your faith in Christ and rest in Him.

In one of that first verses we read, it said these things are shadows of the reality yet to come.

Hebrews 10:1 NLT

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

We can receive the perfect cleansing by place our faith in Christ alone.