The Basis of Our New Life in Christ

Colossians 2:6–23

Colossians 2:6–23 NLT

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. 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. 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. 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.

I- THE PROPER FOUNDATION NECESSARY FOR THE NEW LIFE (Colossians 2:6-7)

A- Jesus Christ must be accepted as Savior and Lord. (Colossians 2:6)

Colossians 2:6 NLT

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

(Ὡς οὖν παρελάβετε τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν κύριον, ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε,)

1- It is impossible for a person to become a Christ-follower without making a personal, conscious decision to accept Him.

(John 1:11-12)

John 1:11–12 NLT

11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

(John 3:18)

John 3:18 NLT

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

B- The Christ-Follower must make the conscious choice to pursue the path of spiritual growth. (Colossians 2:6 b-7)

Colossians 2:6b–7 NLT

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

( 6 Ὡς οὖν παρελάβετε τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν κύριον, ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε,

7 ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε, περισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ. )

1- Following Jesus cannot be done accidentally!

a- Just as the decision to accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior was a conscious decision, so is the decision to continue to follow Him.

2- Notice some graphic phrases that describe when we choose to continue to follow hard after Jesus:

a. Your “roots grow down into Him.”

The roots of a plant anchor the plant to the ground.

The roots of a plant draw nourishment from the soil in which it is planted.

b. Your lives are “built on Him.”

Jesus becomes the foundation of your entire life.

Jesus provides the stability to keep the structure of your life solid and together during the storms that inevitably come.

c. Your faith will “grow strong in the truth.”

The nurturing truth of God will not only sustain, but lead to actual spiritual growth.

d. You will “overflow with thankfulness.”

Experiencing the faithfulness of the Lord will produce thankfulness and praise to Him.

This will lead to Joy and peace in the Christ-follower’s life.

II- THE PURPOSEFUL REJECTION OF WORLDLY WAYS NECESSARY FOR WALKING IN THE NEW LIFE (Colossians 2:8-10)

A- Making the choice to adopt the ways and philosophies of men leads to bondage. (Colossians 2:8)

Colossians 2:8 NLT

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

(βλεπετε μη τις υμας εσται ο συλαγωγων δια της φιλοσοφιας και κενης απατης κατα την παραδοσιν των ανθρωπων κατα τα στοιχεια του κοσμου και ου κατα χριστον)

1- We are warned not to allow anyone to bring us into captivity (συλαγωγων).

βλεπετε μη τις υμας- Be careful that you do not allow yourselves...

συλαγωγων= “to carry off as spoil, lead captive”

(a figurative extension of meaning of συλαγωγέω ‘to carry off as booty or as captive in war,’ not occurring in the NT) to take over complete control of a person as one would a captive—‘to control completely, to take control of, to make a captive of.’ The Lord’s desire is to give us freedom in Christ.

2- We are led captive through the godless philosophies (της φιλοσοφιας) of men and their empty, though high-sounding words (κενης απατης) and traditions of this world (τα στοιχεια του κοσμου).

της φιλοσοφιας- Philosophy or system of belief.

κενῆς ἀπάτης κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων- (foolish, useless, empty), (deceitful or misleading) teachings that come from men.

τα στοιχεια του κοσμου- from the elemental spiritual powers of this world.

All of these worldly philosophies, ideas and traditions are not from Christ (και ου κατα χριστον), but lead away from Him.

B- Jesus Christ is the source of spiritual fulfillment and life. (Colossians 2:9-10)

Colossians 2:9–10 NLT

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

( 9 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικεῖ πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς,

10 καὶ ἐστὲ ἐν αὐτῷ πεπληρωμένοι, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας,)

1- Christ is the embodiment of God in Human form. (Colossians 2:9)

Colossians 2:9 NLT

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

(οτι εν αυτω κατοικει παν το πληρωμα της θεοτητος σωματικως)

“For in Him lives (resides) all (the fullness (absolute complete sum of, containing every part of) the person of deity (quality or essence of being God) in a human body.”

Paul here asserts that “all the πληρωμα [plērōma] of the Godhead,” not just certain aspects, dwells in Christ and in bodily form (σωματικως [sōmatikōs], late and rare adverb, in Plutarch, inscription, here only in N. T.), dwells now in Christ in his glorified humanity (Phil. 2:9–11), “the body of his glory” (τῳ σωματι της δοξης [tōi sōmati tēs doxēs]).

The fulness of the God-head was in Christ before the Incarnation (John 1:1, 18; Phil. 2:6), during the Incarnation (John 1:14, 18; 1 John 1:1–3). It was the Son of God who came in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7).

Paul here disposes of the Docetic theory that Jesus had no human body as well as the Cerinthian separation between the man Jesus and the aeon Christ. He asserts plainly the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ in corporeal form.

also see John 1:1.

John 1:1 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.)

John 17:5 NLT

5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

Philippians 2:5–9 NLT

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

As such, He is the embodiment and source of absolute wisdom.

As such He is the embodiment of the very essence of God.

He was literally God in human flesh.

2- The Christ-follower is made complete (whole, without lack) through our relationship with Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

Colossians 2:10 NLT

10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

(καὶ ἐστὲ ἐν αὐτῷ πεπληρωμένοι, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας, )

πεπληρωμένοι- to make something total or complete

κεφαλὴ- one who is of supreme or pre-eminent status, in view of authority to order or command—‘one who is the head of, one who is superior to, one who is supreme over.’

πάσης- each and every, all in totality

ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας - lordship, ruler and authority, power

It is through our relationship with Christ that real fulfillment is found, not trough the empty philosophies, deceitful teachings and useless traditions of humans.

(John 10:10)

John 10:10 NLT

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

(Revelation 19:11-16)

Revelation 19:11–16 NLT

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

(Philippians 2:9-11)

Philippians 2:9–11 NLT

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

III- THE POWERFUL TRANSFORMATION IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRIST-FOLLOWER THAT OCCURS (Colossians 2:11-15)

Colossians 2:11–15 NLT

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

A- The believer is transformed through the surgical work of Christ in our lives. (Colossians 2:11)

Colossians 2:11 NLT

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

(ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,)

1- Christ surgically removed the curse of the flesh that enslaved the believer.

2- Unlike the lost world, believers in Christ can make the choice to “put off the old man and put on the new man.”

(Ephesians 4:21-24)

Ephesians 4:21–24 NLT

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

B- The believer’s life is transformed through the divinely accomplished burial and resurrection producing new life. (Colossians 2:12-13)

Colossians 2:12–13 NLT

12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

(12 συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ βαπτισμῷ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν·

13 καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ· χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα,)

1- Physical baptism presents a picture of the spiritual baptism that buries us with Christ.

2- Only those who are dead are buried. this presents the picture of the fact that in Christ, we die to the old person we once were.

3- Just as Jesus was raised by the power of God, we are raised to “new life” with Christ. We are new creatures in Christ)

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

C- The believer’s standing is transformed through the victory Christ bought on the cross. (Colossians 2:14-15)

Colossians 2:14–15 NLT

14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

14 ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθʼ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον τοῖς δόγμασιν ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν, καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ·

15 ἀπεκδυσάμενος τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας ἐδειγμάτισεν ἐν παρρησίᾳ, θριαμβεύσας αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ.

1- Once we were dead, now we are alive.

(Ephesians 2:1-7)

Ephesians 2:1–7 NLT

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

2- All of our sins are forgiven.

(1 John 1:9)

1 John 1:9 NLT

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

3- The record of charges against us has been “nailed” to the cross. The debt has been paid and our debt cancelled!

Having blotted out (ἐξαλειψας [exaleipsas]). And so “cancelled.” First aorist active participle of old verb ἐξαλειφω [exaleiphō], to rub out, wipe off, erase. In N. T. only in Acts 3:19 (LXX); Rev. 3:5; Col. 2:14. Here the word explains χαρισαμενος [charisamenos] and is simultaneous with it. Plato used it of blotting out a writing. Often MSS. were rubbed or scraped and written over again (palimpsests, like Codex C).

The bond written in ordinances that was against us (το καθʼ ἡμων χειρογραφον τοις δογμασιν [to kath’ hēmōn cheirographon tois dogmasin]). The late compound χειρογραφον [cheirographon] (χειρ [cheir], hand, γραφω [graphō]) is very common in the papyri for a certificate of debt or bond, many of the original χειρογραφα [cheirographa] (handwriting, “chirography”).

The signature made a legal debt or bond as Paul says in Philemon 18f.: “I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it.”

Undoubtedly “the handwriting in decrees” (δογμασιν [dogmasin], the Mosaic law, Eph. 2:15) was against the Jews (Ex. 24:3; Deut. 27:14–26) for they accepted it, but the Gentiles also gave moral assent to God’s law written in their hearts (Rom. 2:14f.).

So Paul says “against us” (καθʼ ἡμων [kath’ hēmōn]) and adds “which was contrary to us” (ὁ ἠν ὑπεναντιον ἡμιν [ho ēn hupenantion hēmin]) because we (neither Jew nor Gentile) could not keep it. ὑπεναντιος [Hupenantios] is an old double compound adjective (ὑπο, ἐν, ἀντιος [hupo, en, antios]) set over against, only here in N. T. except Heb. 10:27 when it is used as a substantive. It is striking that Paul has connected the common word χειρογραφον [cheirographon] for bond or debt with the Cross of Christ (Deissmann, Light, etc., p. 332).

And he hath taken it out of the way (και ἠρκεν ἐκ του μεσου [kai ērken ek tou mesou]). Perfect active indicative of αἰρω [airō], old and common verb, to lift up, to bear, to take away.

The word used by the Baptist of Jesus as “the Lamb of God that bears away (αἰρων [airōn]) the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

John 1:29 NLT

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The perfect tense emphasizes the permanence of the removal of the bond which has been paid and cancelled and cannot be presented again.

God has taken the bond against us “out of the midst” (ἐκ του μεσου [ek tou mesou]).

Nailing it to the cross (προσηλωσας αὐτο τῳ σταυρῳ [prosēlōsas auto tōi staurōi]). First aorist active participle of old and common verb προσηλοω [prosēloō], to fasten with nails to a thing (with dative σταυρῳ [staurōi]).

The victim was nailed to the cross as was Christ. “When Christ was crucified, God nailed the Law to His cross” (Peake). Hence the “bond” is cancelled for us.)

4- He has removed from power the evil powers and authorities that would desire to condemn us for the sin-debt that He cancelled.

He has defeated them and publicly disgraced and shamed them by displaying their defeat through the cross.

(Having put off from himself (ἀπεκδυσαμενος [apekdusamenos]).

Paul simply combines the two for expression of complete removal.

“the principalities and the powers” (τας ἀρχας και τας ἐξουσιας [tas archas kai tas exousias]). On the whole I am inclined to look on God as still the subject and the powers to be angels such as the Gnostics worshipped and the verb to mean “despoil” (American Standard Version) rather than “having put off from himself.” In the Cross of Christ God showed his power openly without aid or help of angels.

He made a show of them (ἐδειγματισεν [edeigmatisen]). First aorist active indicative of δειγματιζω [deigmatizō], an example, and so to make an example of. The publicity is made plain by “openly” (ἐν παρρησιᾳ [en parrēsiāi]).

Triumphing over them on it (θριαμβευσας αὐτους ἐν αὐτῳ [thriambeusas autous en autōi]). On the Cross the triumph was won. This late, though common verb in Koiné writers (ἐκθριαμβευω [ekthriambeuō] in the papyri) occurs only twice in the N. T., once “to lead in triumph” (2 Cor. 2:14), here to celebrate a triumph (the usual sense). It is derived from θριαμβος [thriambos], a hymn sung in festal procession and is kin to the Latin triumphus (our triumph), a triumphal procession of victorious Roman generals. God won a complete triumph over all the angelic agencies (αὐτους [autous], masculine regarded as personal agencies).

IV- THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM THAT MUST BE CONFRONTED (Colossians 2:16-23)

A- The Christ-follower must reject the legalistic condemnation of manmade religions and philosophies. (Colossians 2:16-17)

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.

16 Οὐ γὰρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, δύναμις γὰρ θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι· 17 δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν, καθὼς γέγραπται· Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.

1- Because of what Jesus has done for us (Colossians 2:13-15), we must not allow ourselves to be placed in bondage by accepting unwarranted criticism from false teachings.

2- Notice the warnings:

a. “what you eat or drink”

b. “not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.”

3- Notice the assessment:

a- Such rules and regulations are “only shadows.”

This means they are only empty forms, devoid of any real spiritual substance!

b. A personal walk with the risen Savior is far superior to empty, legalistic religion.

B- The Christ-follower must reject the sinfully-proud assertions of those teaching Christ-abasing false-prophets. (Colossians 2:18-19)

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.

18 μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς καταβραβευέτω θέλων ἐν ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀγγέλων, ἃ ἑόρακεν ἐμβατεύων, εἰκῇ φυσιούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ νοὸς τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ,

19 καὶ οὐ κρατῶν τὴν κεφαλήν, ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμα διὰ τῶν ἁφῶν καὶ συνδέσμων ἐπιχορηγούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον αὔξει τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ θεοῦ.

1- Notice the errors being taught:

a. “pious self-denial”

b. “the worship of angels”

c. Claiming extra-biblical revelations that are more important than scripture.

given by angels

diverting attention from the Gospel of Christ

2- The attitude and end of these teachers:

Operate in sinful pride

causes disconnection from Christ, severing the head from the body.

3- The appeal :

Remember what happened in salvation.

Remember that only Christ can complete his body and hold it together.

(Ephesians 4:11-16)

C- The Christ-follower must reject the worthless practices of legalistic self-denial. (Colossians 2:20-23)

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.

20 Εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε·

21 Μὴ ἅψῃ μηδὲ γεύσῃ μηδὲ θίγῃς,

22 ἅ ἐστιν πάντα εἰς φθορὰν τῇ ἀποχρήσει, κατὰ τὰ ἐντάλματα καὶ διδασκαλίας τῶν ἀνθρώπων;

23 ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος, οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός.

1- Christ died to free us from the empty religious practices of the world. (Colossians 2:20)

Colossians 2:20 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,

2- The acetic practices and rules-based religions prove to be worthless when practiced. (Colossians 2:21-22)

Colossians 2:21–22 NLT

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.

3- This type of religion and philosophy may seem wise, but do nothing to help with conquering our evil desires. (Colossians 2:23)

Colossians 2:23 NLT

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.

4- The real answer is found by living in union with Jesus, allowing Him to transform us.