Colossians 2: 8; 16-23

Recurrent Thought

Any teaching or practice that purport that what Jesus did through His Work of Salvation (Death, Burial, Resurrection) is inadequate, inevitably sets limitations against believers. That additional teaching and practice becomes a vexation of the heart and a yoke of slavery.

The Christian Faith despite being a Religion is first and foremost a relationship with a Deity.  Religion is a system of beliefs, practices and Worship. Unfortunately, Religion by use of time and complexity of human beings, has the capacity and tendency to restrict and limit people’s God given desire to flourish. As a religion, Christianity is a set of rules and practices that tend to inhibit people’s ability to dream greatness. Religion cages people and slows their capacity to dream and maximize their ability to be fruitful, to dominate and subdue in the earth.

But Christianity as a relationship thrives on the fact that one has a living connection with the Lord and is continuously nourished . . . grows with the growth that is from God (Col. 2: 19). In the church of Colosse, a new wave of heretic teachings entered which unfortunately, tended to cut people from a relationship with Jesus. The multifaceted ingredients of these heresies instead of invigorating the lives of believers limited, enslaved and hindered them from pursuing the higher calling of Christ.

The Colosse Heresy

The Heresy that infiltrated the Church of Colosse was known but the text does not inform the reader of how it entered this Church. It is a hodgepodge a syncretistic combination of several religious systems. It included elements of Jewish legalism (Col. 2:16-17), Oriental mysticism (Col. 2:18-19), and Greek asceticism (Col. 2:20-23). Although the heresy claimed to be teaching Christ (2:3-10), it actually implied that Christ alone was not enough. Its teachers taught that Christ and his teaching was inadequate but they, claimed they had come with secret knowledge that made them superior believers. It undermined the sufficiency of Christ.

Without any sense of contradiction, be aware that any teaching that claims Jesus is not enough, inevitably limits and enslaves believers.

Four Teachings and Practice that Puts Limitations to the life-flow of the Spirit of Christ in believer (Col. 2: 19) All these teachings and practices stand on the understanding that “I have to do much more to be accepted by God, for what he did is not adequate.” Notice the words of limitation the Scripture states in each of these: Captures, Judges and Disqualifies (2: 8, 16 & 18)

1. Limitations Happen when you are Captured by False Philosophy (2:8)
   Christ-Devoted Followers must Ensure they are not enslaved by False Philosophies
   • Note that in Ch. 2:8. the main emphasis is Philosophy and the rest of the verse speaks only in relation to that Philosophy.
   • What does the word Philosophy mean? It is a study or a reflection on the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. It is the quest for truth
   • In the light of the perverting philosophies of Gnosticism: that taught that Jesus was not lord but a demigod, Paul states clearly that People should not fall for such False Philosophies. He further underscores how a False Philosophy looks like.
   • A false philosophy is known by its profitless speculations.
   • A false philosophy is one that is speculative is full of vain deceit
   • A false philosophy is known by its purely human origin.—“After the tradition of men.” It stands on human mind which is limited. We must also state clearly that All human knowledge is imperfect. 
   • A False Philosophy is known by its emphasis of empty elementary principles. The Word used as elemental is same as alphabet and it is emphasis a philosophy or wisdom that celebrates letters or mere education. But Paul constantly stated the letter kills but the spirit gives life.
   • A false philosophy is known by its Christlessness.—“And not after Christ.” Christ is neither the author nor the substance of such teaching of peril.
   • A false philosophy is known by its destructive influence.—“Lest any man spoil you.” 
   • Philosophies that demand to add to Jesus, actually enslaves believers and limits them.
2.   Limitations Happen when you are Judged by Legalism (Mosaic Law)
   Col 2:16  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. 
   • The Mosaic law enforced certain injunctions concerning eating and drinking which are not demanded to be followed in the NT dispensation
   • Let no on take you to tasks on the issues of ceremonial rituals and observations on Foods and Days
   • Note that the ceremonial rituals from the Old Testament religion (Judaism) cannot form a just basis for individual condemnation.
   • In this text Paul deals with issues of Diet, Religious holidays (Festivals) some monthly or annual.
   • Then Paul handles the issue of Sabbath Regulations and he states clearly that no man should take you to tasks on this account. 
   • Clarity is accessed when we come to know that the Sign of Covenant keeping by Israel. You do not find apostles demanding the observance of the Sabbath. You remember even during the important Jerusalem council, Sabbath keeping is not regarded as one essential for observance. In fact, we told most NT assemblies met on Sunday. Lastly, Paul does not mention about sinning against keeping the Sabbath
   • Legalism leads to limitations: clothes, hair cut etc. The only principle that remains is the act of dressing appropriate and modesty? 1Cor. 12:23; 1Tim. 2:9  
   • Legalism leads to a joyless Christian life. You do things you don’t like.
   • Legalism demands uniformity and not unity. It does not respect and appreciate diversity
   • Note that the ceremonial rituals from the Old Testament religion are Shadows of the real, which is Jesus Christ the substance: “Which are a shadow of things to come” (Col_2:17). 
   • Legalism limits the progress of the believer believing the Lord in any breather.
   • The Answer to Legalism is accepting and operating under the Grace of Christ.
3. Limitations Happen When you are Disqualified by Mysticism 
   • The Word used to “Disqualify” is the act the umpire or referee does when you have infringed a rule or standard. 
   • Now this text demands that no one disqualify you by imposing on you demands of mysticism.  c. It is when you are rob of the prize Jesus.
   • Mysticism is religious experiences that seeks reality through subjective experience. This form of life relies mainly on Special vision, visitation of angels, New Revelation. 
   • We are not against spiritual and supernatural encounters; But let us ensure that the experiences are  based and verified on the objective word of God
   • We tend to love following after new and novel teachings: If it is new, be careful it may not be true. Any new gospel is an anathema (Gal)
   • By nature, Mysticism elevates and promotes man and usually demotes Christ (2:18-19)
   • Those caught up in mysticism do not depend on the life of Jesus; they are disconnected (2:19)
   • Remember we are all complete in Christ: No one should be revealing or channeling God for You. Always open the bible when others are preaching.
   • The Answer to Mysticism is my Completeness in Christ
4. Limitations Happen When You are Disqualified by Asceticism
   • Spiritual experiences that replace Christ and His Grace actually bring limitation in life. Instead empowering you they enslave you. 
   • Asceticism is religious experiences that promote extreme self-denial such as deliberate refusal of comfort to promote Spirituality. 
   • Eastern Asceticism inflict the body to show that the body is unholy. 
   • What is unholy is not the human body. Sinful flesh, is a principle at work in your life
   • Don’t punish to be more spiritual; Your body is the temple of God
   • Monasteries were the reason for this. Some practiced celibacy as a means of remaining Spiritual. 
   • Some would limit sexual intimacy and restrict it only for bearing Children, 
   • Tendency to deny themselves of comfort; uncomfortable clothes, sacks etc. 
   • Penitence found in some religions such as whipping one’s body, craw on grass

What are elemental spirits in the Bible (2:20)

The same Greek word is also used by Paul in Gal. 4: 3 and 9.  One view is that the word signifies the astral spirits of their former religion; or perhaps the basic elements that comprise a whole, such as the letters of the alphabet; thus it may mean elementary principles of a religious system.

Further Explanation of Asceticism & Legalism

• Asceticism is due to ignorance that You died with Christ (2:20)
• Asceticism is usually through negatives. What You don’t do (2:21)
• Asceticism is a man-made teaching and it is weak (2:23)
• Asceticism is hypocritical, it appears to be spiritual by its appearances (2:23)
• Our contemporary insistence to go through Papas and Guru is also asceticism
• Asceticism is powerless against the flesh. It can’t fight the carnal nature (2:23)  I have died with Christ and risen in Him.

Salvation is by Grace through Faith  Grace is beyond Human Limitations

Grace is operating by the Spirit of Christ

Grace brings Me in His Presence

Grace is traveling at the Speed of the Spirit

Travailing is by Grace through Faith