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Introduction

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. 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.

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.

Cross Country

Trenton ran cross country this year. Trenton along with the other junior high kids would run several miles every day and then the races were between 1.5 and 2.5 miles long. That’s a pretty long way for a jr higher to run! I went to most of his races this year and on race day I observed 3 things:

  1. About 50 kids ran in a race. Prizes were awarded to the top 10 runners. Most of the runners there were trying to win those prizes
  2. The race took considerable effort. It was intense and intentional just to finish the race.
  3. If a student was careless and got off track, he was disqualified.

Christian Race

Paul often compares to the Christian life to the racecourse. In Philippians 3:14 Paul says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the prize. “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” is the prize. Colossians 2:18 says, “let no one disqualify you” that whole phrase is just 1 word in the Greek, katabrabeuō (ka-ta-brrra-buo). It means to be disqualified or lured away from the prize of victory.

Christ is the prize of victory, so in order to stay on course and win the prize, Paul presses on. He holds Fast to the Head. In other passages Paul says that he:

  • Runs
  • Strives
  • Wrestles
  • Contends
  • Agonizes

Why does Paul do those things? So that the church would be nourished, knit together and would grow. Paul makes it clear that the Christian growth is intense and intentional. Carelessness and thoughtlessness in spiritual matters can lead to disqualification. The way to Hell is neglect, but the way to heaven is very intentional. Jesus says:

Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:24

Today we will be looking at some ancient beliefs that sought to derail the early church, but are still present today. The first error is a gnostic belief called asceticism.

Asceticism – vs 16, 20-21

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink…

18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism

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?

Asceticism is a word we don’t use very often. It is the opposite extreme of the prosperity gospel and just as dangerous. It can lead to being lured away from Jesus as the head. Asceticism is the term used for a teaching that promised spiritual enlightenment through abstinence from a whole host of “worldly pleasures” including (but not limited to) certain foods. Some ascetics were vegetarian, some were kosher, Some never cut or washed their hair, some never bathed, some beat themselves or paid penance in a variety of different ways. To put it simply, asceticism is an outward display of sacrificial, religious sounding works.

Let me make this relevant to our culture. There are always people who want to judge other peoples relationship with Christ by what they do externally: how they eat…what they drink…how many church meetings they attend.

It’s true that Christians living in obedience to Jesus as Lord adopt certain lifestyles and make certain choices. However, a non-Christian can make those outward choices too while their hearts are rebelling on the inside against God. A person could be following all the outward Christian “rules” and still be disqualified for the upward call in Christ Jesus.

Willis: I was shocked a few weeks ago at our baptismal service in PV. There was a man there who grew up in a Christian home, went to a Christian college, had Christian parents, served with me at the church and knew exactly how to act. I would have sworn he was saved, and I’m not easily fooled. However, he confessed that it was all a charade. He had not actually accepted Jesus as Lord until a few months ago and a few weeks ago he was being baptized because now it was for real – not fake.

The outward display of religion is not a good way of determining whether or not a person is walking with the Lord. Ascetic beliefs comes as a result of thinking that Christ is part of our salvation but not all… It’s a belief that we have to contribute to our salvation by some sacrificial activity. Paul is sets the record straight.

  • It’s not Christ plus ritual
  • It’s not Christ plus diet
  • It’s not Christ plus self-denial

It is Christ plus nothing. He’s calling the Colossians to hold fast to Christ and their dependence on Christ alone will bring about spiritual nourishment, spiritual growth and spiritual strength. Everything we need for salvation lies within Christ… and in Christ alone.

Here’s what happened the day you submitted to Jesus as Lord…

  • You died to this world.
    I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
  • You are a new creation. All that is old is gone
    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Cor. 5:17
  • You have redemption and forgiveness through Christ alone
     13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Christ paid the penalty for the sins of his disciples. The transaction is complete. Don’t add anything to it. …Let’s read on in verse 16…

Observation of days – vs 16

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.

Both the Jews and the Gnostics in Colossae had special days that were assigned to certain ceremonies. They identified religion with rituals. Paul makes it very clear that observing a ceremony, feast, holiday or other ritual will not make you and I more spiritual or more right with God. (Col. 2:16, Gal 4:7) We are sons and daughters of the King! We are heirs of the Kingdom of God!

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Gal 4:7

Paul is asking here, “Why would you want to go back to Jewish legalism and abandon all the freedom you have in Christ?” Christ is the prize of victory! Don’t get lured away by rule-following. All the Jewish rules and rituals were a shadow that point to Christ.

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Last year at this time I took my family to Disneyland. There is a pretty great sign when you first arrive at Disneyland. SHOW SIGN What if we had stopped and spent time at the sign. “OK kids here we are….We’re at the sign…we’re at Disneyland…” It would be ridiculous. The sign points to Disneyland, but the reality of Disneyland is far greater than the sign

The Jewish ceremonies and laws pointed to Christ, but the reality of Christ is now here.

Do you want to grow spiritually? Do you want to be part of a church closely knit together? Do you want to drink deeply of the things of God and have your soul nourished?

Then forget about rule-following. Christ is all you need. Hold fast to Christ. Hold fast to the Head, and He alone nourishes the body. Spiritual growth has nothing to do with rituals or with super-secret special visions. Let’s read on…

Special Visions – vs 18

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,

Angel worship in the Bible is always forbidden. (Rev 19:10; 22:8) In Revelation, for example, the Apostle John tried to worship an angel on 2 different occasions, just for the angel to remind him that he was just a creature. God alone is worthy of worship. That’s not what I want to focus on tonight.

The phrase “going on in detail about visions” was difficult for me to understand, so I turned to a few experts to help me out:

  • William Barclay translates the passage like this: “making a parade of the things which he has seen.” And then goes on to explain that the Gnostic prided themselves on seeing special visions and knowing secret things that the ordinary person was unable to perceive.
  • FF Bruce agrees that Paul is referring to a special insight they claimed to have into an alternative spiritual reality. The Gnostics pridefully paraded this super-spiritual-wisdom around while calling themselves humble.
  • MacArthur goes to great length to explain that the gnostics were using a form of spiritual intimidation – meaning that they were holding it over the head of Christians that they had access to extra-Biblical spiritual wisdom that Christians were not spiritual enough to obtain.

The exact same thing happening here every single day in the Verde Valley. This is totally relevant to the culture we live in. The worship of angels and the rambling narration of special visions is summed up in the term, mysticism.

You here people around town say things like, “I’m very spiritual.” Have you ever heard someone say that? They’ll say things like, “I’m really working on my spiritual side.” With all the new age confusion in this area, do you know what they are talking about?

CULT LADY: One lady told me that she had been studying metaphysics with a local cult for 20 years and that Jesus was very important in her metaphysical thought. I invited her to come to church. I told her that she would learn a lot about Jesus from people who are really passionate about Him and his Word alone.

Modern day mystics are intent on showing you how:

  • some elevation of your mind,
  • some intuitive experience,
  • some feeling of the earths magnetic field and
  • some emotional response to nature

…all come together to lift you up to connect you to God.

It’s not true. The only way to Spiritual growth is by holding fast to Christ and Christ alone.

Don’t be fooled by these frauds! Verse 18 says, “Let no one disqualify you.” Carelessness and thoughtlessness in spiritual matters can lead to disqualification. The cults around here are not benign. They are dangerous. People want to attack the truth and replace the simplicity of Christ with the convoluted wisdom and philosophy of man. They want to attack Christian liberty with legalism. They want to tear Biblical truth apart with mysticism.

Verse 23 says, 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.

Here’s the main issue with all these man-made religions: They let go of Jesus as the head. They lure us away from Christ. They lead to spiritual malnutrition.   They are a waste of time and dangerous to your soul.

Conclusion

“…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.” Colossians 2:19

  • According to that verse, who do you really need?
  • What else do you need besides Jesus? Nothing!

#1 Hold fast to Jesus. Col. 2:19 Jesus is the head of this church and the center of all of our teaching. You are going to get Jesus here and nothing else. You are going to get Bible-saturated teaching here and not man’s opinion or gurus going on and on about extra-Biblical experiences they’ve had.

You don’t need conversations with angels, special visions or a computer printout of your aura. All you need is Christ. Christ is the head. He nourishes the body. Christ is all and Christ is enough.

Commercial: Are you meeting with the living Christ in His Word on a regular basis? If not, pick up a reading plan today so that you are anchored to the truths of God’s Holy Word! #2 Meet with Jesus regularly in His living Word

You don’t need to be intimidated by those who claim to have higher spiritual sensitivities from extra-biblical sources. The disciple of Christ has the source, the substance, the creator and access to the most powerful power in the universe.

Hold fast to Christ. He is all you need!

Life Application

#1 Hold fast to Jesus. Col. 2:19

#2 Meet with Jesus regularly in His living Word

Truth:  The disciple of Christ has the source, the substance, the creator and access to the most powerful power in the universe.

 

Teaching Outline

#1 Asceticism – vs 16, 20-21

Asceticism is the term used for a teaching that promised spiritual enlightenment through abstinence from a whole host of “worldly pleasures” including (but not limited to) certain foods.

What happened the day you submitted to Jesus as Lord…

–        You died to this world.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20

–        You are a new creation.  All that is old is gone
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Cor. 5:17

–        You have redemption and forgiveness through Christ alone
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:13-14

#2 Observation of days – vs 16

Observing a ceremony, feast, holiday or other ritual will not make you and I more spiritual or more right with God. (Col. 2:16, Gal 4:7)

#3 Special Visions – vs 18

Angel worship in the Bible is always forbidden. (Rev 19:10; 22:8)

Gnostic Errors

–        Gnostic prided themselves on seeing special visions and knowing secret things that the ordinary person was unable to perceive. 

–        Paul is referring to a special insight they claimed to have into an alternative spiritual reality. 

People want to attack the truth and replace the simplicity of Christ with the convoluted wisdom and philosophy of man.