Jesus is Preeminent over Religion

Colossians 2:16–23 (NKJV)

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

One day a little boy was outside playing and he came running into the house. His mother stopped him and asked him what he was doing and what was on his right hand. He answered “oh its just a little mud”. His mother then asked if he was planning on getting it off his hand. He thought for a moment and said, “sure , mom. “I’ll just wipe it off with the other hand.” There is only one problem with the plan, one dirty hand plus one clean hand equals two dirty hands.

Many people are like that little boy, they see the evil and wrongs in their life and think they can make themselves clean by bringing the good in their life to bear on the problem. But it does not work that way. We all need a way to be made morally and spiritually clean, and we never succeed in doing it ourselves. Religion says you must do something to make your self clean. You must do something to get God’s favor. But religion never works! The only solution is to be found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all of our sins.

Remember Paul has just taught us that we are complete in Jesus Christ. He now turns his attention to the false teachings that were being promoted by religious leaders. False teachers began to teach Gnosticism.

Gnosticism taught that one had to have a special superior knowledge for a soul to break through the physical realm to the spiritual realm. As this false doctrine developed it claimed that salvation could only be obtained through this special knowledge. In this way the Gnostics replaced faith with intellect. Gnosticism followed the Greek philosophy that matter was inherently evil. Only nonphysical, spiritual realities were good. Gnosticism affected a person’s morality in one of two ways: one tendency was indulgence; the other was asceticism. (severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence.) Paul’s opponents were ascetics. They found legalism alluring and the the strict Jewish laws meshed easily with their harsh, self denying rituals. Paul warned his readers that such rituals were useless and had no spiritual value.

All of us at one time or another have been exposed to religion and legalism. Even in our Churches today. Manmade rules have been promoted as proof one is saved. Many have made the rules of man more emphasized than our walk with the Lord.

As a result we have denominationalism. Different denominations teach different things you must do. But Paul argues it’s not what we do for Jesus Christ, but what Jesus Christ has done for you.

Those of us who have believed in Jesus Christ now follow Him through the Word of God. Obedience to God’s word is not legalism. Obedience to God’s Word is what it means to walk by faith, its what it means to follow Jesus. Don’t confuse the two. Religion originates with man and says you must keep these rules. Christianity originates with Jesus and says because you have believed in Him you have the freedom to follow Him.

What does Paul say about Religion?

Don’t let anyone condemn you over religious practices. (Vs16-17)

Colossians 2:16-17 “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

These rules are shadows of the reality to come.

Jesus Christ is the reality.

Shadows are not the real thing. For example lets say Eugene is standing up here and I need to ask him a question, so I walk over to the wall and speak to his shadow. What do you think his shadow will say? Nothing. Shadows cannot speak, they cannot hear or do anything for anyone.

So why do religious people emphasize shadows? Why place the emphasis on the rules of religion which can do nothing for you. The only thing they can do is appease people.

So Pauls says do not let anyone condemn you over these shadows.

Don’t let anyone cheat you of your reward. (Vs 18-19)

Colossians 2:18-19 “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

Quite literally “(an umpire) to give a judgment against. To defraud you from the reward. Those who turn believers from the reality in Christ to the shadow cheats them or disqualifies them from the prize. That means they rob or cheat believers of their spiritual rewards. Just like an judge disqualifies those who turn the wrong way in a race, so believers who turn from faithfully following Christ will be robbed of their rewards from Him.

How do they do this?

False Humility- literally low in mind.

Worship of angels.

Visions.

Arrogance motivated by fleshly mind.

Not holding to Christ Jesus.

This is a problem because Jesus holds the body together as well as grows and nourishes it. Ultimately it is a Christ less religion.

Paul concludes by asking a pointed question. If you died with Christ to the basic principles of the world, WHY do you subject yourselves to the regulations as if you are living in the world? (Vs20)

Colossians 2:20 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—”

Why do you put yourself under the rules of the world? To understand this we have to understand our standing in Christ concerning the principles of the world.

First of all we died with Christ.

Romans 6:2-5 “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,”

Secondly we are set free from the bondage of the world.

Galatians 4:3-9 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?”

Based on these two truths, why would you want to bring yourself back into the bondage of the world?

Paul lists the problems with the religions of the world. (Vs20-23)

Colossians 2:20-23 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

They perish with the using. These human teachings deteriorate as we use them. In other words they are not eternal, they do not last. They cannot get you closer to God.

They are commandments and doctrines of men. They do not come from God, they are fleshly and of this world. They will not help you one bit with your relationship with Christ.

They have an appearance of wisdom. Having the appearance of wisdom and having wisdom are not the same thing.

They have no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. They cannot help you with your relationship with Christ.

Jesus Christ has set us free from the Law, free from sin and the bondage of the World. Why would anyone want to place himself/herself back under that bondage?

Do not allow any man to condemn us or defraud us by trying to emphasize the commandments and doctrines of men in the World. Stay connected to the Head which is Jesus Christ. He will nourish and grow you. Don’t allow anyone to bring you back into bondage. We are free from the law, from sin and the doctrines of men in Christ.

John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”