Let No One Disqualify You
Introduction
Paul addresses the dangers of legalism and false teachings that were threatening the Colossian church.
False teachers were telling the people that they weren’t good enough. Teachers were telling the people that they were not spiritually qualified. You are not really a Christian. (It would be like someone telling you that you are not qualified to teach at The Redeemer Day School.) If you truly want to be righteous you need to follow “these” teachers.
This passage helps to equip believers to discern and reject false teachings that can lead them astray.
Colossians 2:16-23 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. 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.
Examine the Scriptures:
Let No One Disqualify You
Paul addresses the dangers of legalism and false teachings that were threatening the Colossian church.
Colossians 2:16-23 NLT
Introduction/review
The false teachings in Colossae, which Paul addressed in his letter to the Colossians, were a mix of several philosophical and religious ideas.
False teachers emphasized strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. (Colossians 2:16-17)
False teachers were promoting harsh treatment of the body, such as fasting and self-denial, as a way to attain spiritual purity. (Colossians 2:20-23)
False teachers were encouraging the worship of angels, possibly as intermediaries between God and humanity. (Colossians 2:18)
The Colossian heresy included early Gnostic elements. Gnosticism claimed that salvation could be gained through a special form of secret knowledge.
False teachers were promoting hollow and deceptive philosophy based on human traditions rather than Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
Paul is addressing all of these philosophical and religious ideas in today’s passage.
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.
The false teachers at Colossae were advocating obedience to the Law of Moses by imposing some sort of dietary regulations on the people for justification and sanctification.
The Israelites had celebrated the first day of each month, which was indicated by the new moon.
The New Moon was one of the regular occasions for worship alongside Sabbaths and feasts.
Special sacrifices were offered at the start of each month.
Paul warns against allowing anyone to judge them based on dietary laws, religious festivals, new moon celebrations, or Sabbath observances.
- Faith is not measured by external religious practices such as dietary laws, religious festivals, new moon celebrations, or Sabbath observances.
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come.
- The old system under the Law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. (Hebrews 10:1)
Hebrews 10:1 NLT
10:1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
Romans 6:14-15 NLT
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!
- Observing Old Testament rituals is not necessary for salvation or spiritual growth.
The dietary restrictions, festivals, and Sabbaths were part of the Mosaic covenant, which served as a shadow pointing to Christ.
And Christ himself is that reality.
Christ is Sufficient.
Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law and the source of true spiritual life.
- Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law, and now righteousness comes through faith in Him, not through works.
Matthew 5:17 NIV
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Christ’s perfect obedience satisfied the requirements of the Law that no human could achieve (Romans 8:3-4).
Romans 8:3-4 NLT
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Christ’s life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the Law’s foreshadowing of salvation. For instance, the sacrificial system, which temporarily covered sins, found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Through Christ’s fulfillment, believers are no longer under the Law as a system of righteousness. Instead, they live under the new covenant of grace, guided by the Spirit and the law of Christ—love for God and neighbor.
Romans 6:14 NLT
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
- The Old Testament rituals and laws pointed to Christ, and now that He has come, they have fulfilled their purpose.
- True spirituality is found in Christ alone.
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.
This likely refers to a form of mysticism that emphasized intermediary spiritual beings between God and humanity.
False teachers were teaching “access to God through angels”.
False teachers were trying to “disqualify” (much like the actions of an umpire or referee) believers through false humility and the worship of angels.
- Don’t allow false teachers to deny the reality of your salvation.
False teachers were saying “You are not qualified” unless ……
Look to scripture. Test all teachings with Scriptures. What does scripture say?
Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body.
- True spiritual life comes from being connected to Christ, the “head” of the body, the church.
These false teachers were not connected to Christ.
For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
Christ alone holds the body together.
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!”?
“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!” are rules of the world. These rules don’t come from God. These are human commands and teachings, and not the core of true Christian faith.
- “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!” are rules of the world.
Don’t taste!
Mark 7:18-19 NLT (Jesus talking to the disciples.)
18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)
Proverbs 25:16 NLT
16 Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
Don’t touch!”?
1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT
12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
The “rules” discussed here were developed by false teachers. They were not from God.
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.
These rules may seem wise.
These self-imposed rules, although appearing to be spiritual, do not have the power to deal with the sin nature.
Including self-mutilation.
Ascetic (as·cet·ic) (severe self-denial) practices, while appearing wise and disciplined, don’t transform the heart or overcome sinful desires. Only Christ can change the heart.
True transformation comes from life in Christ, not external restrictions.
True spiritual growth comes from abiding in Christ.
John 15:5 NLT
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
- Ascetic practices, while appearing wise and disciplined, don’t transform the heart or overcome sinful desires. Only Christ can change the heart.
- True spiritual growth comes from abiding in Christ.
