Colossians: More Jesus

Sunday, October 5th 2025

Colossians 2:16-23

Introduction

Jesus Alone: Freedom from Empty Religion

1. Shadows or Substance

"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."

“therefore,” connecting back to verses 13–15 where he proclaimed that Christ canceled our debt and disarmed the powers.

Because of Christ’s victory, believers are not to be judged by dietary restrictions or calendar observances. These likely reflect Jewish ceremonial laws—kosher rules, holy days, Sabbaths—that pointed forward to Christ.

“Religion is the shadow; the gospel is the substance. Religion says, ‘Do this, and maybe you’ll be accepted.’ The gospel says, ‘You are accepted in Christ; therefore live in light of that.’” Tim Keller

Paul is not denigrating the Old Testament. He is affirming its fulfillment in Christ.

1. False Humility and False Worship

"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, and not holding fast to the Head…"

Here Paul warns against mystical elitism. Some false teachers claimed access to special visions, ecstatic experiences, and angelic encounters.

“Paul unmasks false humility for what it is—pride in religious clothing. The supposed humility that bows before angels is in reality pride that refuses to bow before Christ alone.” Kent Hughes

A body disconnected from its head is lifeless. A church that abandons Christ for rituals, angels, or visions forfeits true spiritual vitality.

• Dead to the World’s Regulations

"If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why…do you submit to regulations—‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’?"

Paul continues his argument: union with Christ means death to the old order of religious regulations. Returning to rules about food and touch is a contradiction.

“Legalism always feels safer because it’s measurable: do not touch, do not taste. But the gospel calls us to live by faith in Christ’s sufficiency, which feels riskier because it’s relational, not rule-based. That’s why we drift back to rules—they give us control. But Paul says, Christ has already given you freedom.” Tim Keller

These rules may appear wise—they look strict, disciplined, “serious about God.” But Paul unmasks them: they perish with use and are human commands, not divine. Asceticism impresses people but does not impress God.

1. The Futility of False Religion

"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."

This is the climax: man-made religion looks wise but is powerless. Legalism cannot restrain sin; it only covers it. Asceticism may suppress desires for a while, but it cannot transform the heart. Flesh cannot tame flesh! Only the gospel can.

“Religion can inform the conscience but cannot cleanse the heart. Only the gospel changes us from the inside out. The irony is that religion—whether legalism or mysticism—still feeds the flesh by making us proud of our efforts. Only grace kills pride.” Tim Keller

Paul dismantles every rival to Christ—ritualism, mysticism, asceticism—and points back to Christ as the only source of true growth and freedom.

Conclusion

Cling to Christ. Resist false religion. Live in gospel freedom. For only in Christ do we find the fullness of God and the power to truly change.