16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Colossians 2:16-23 (KJV)
Understanding Legalism (Colossians 2:16-17)
What legalism is NOT
Having a standard of morality or separated living is not legalism.
What legalism IS
The practice of someone depending on good works to save them. An unbeliever trying to conform to a certain set of rules and religious observances to find favor with God.
Fact: All true legalists are unbelievers.
Just the term “legalist” implies the use of the law in its belief system. It is depending on the keeping of rules and laws to get them to heaven.
Examples:
- Cain
- The Pharisees
Legalism’s Misuse of the Law at Colosse (2:16-17)
- They judged according to dietary laws (verse 16)
Paul said in Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” - They judged according to feast day holidays (verse 16)
Special Feast Day Celebrations:- Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:4-8) is the commemoration of God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
- Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-22) is the celebration of the harvest season which occurred 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits.
- Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44) is the celebration God’s provisions for Israel during the wilderness wanderings.
- Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16; 23:26-32) is the observation the day when the high priest would offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people in the holy of holies.
In fact, verse says they are just a shadow of things to come but the body Christ offered was the real thing.He was not just a shadow picturing the real, He was the real incarnate God coming to earth to offer salvation to man.
Understanding Mysticism (Colossians 2:18-19)
- Mysticism is the attempt to connect with spirit world apart from the Holy Spirit and the Bible.
- The false humility of the mystics. (verse 18)
- The true source of spirituality is Jesus Christ, “The Head” (verse 19)
Understanding Asceticism (Colossians 2:20-23)
- Asceticism is the pursuit of securing righteousness through self-denial. The Ephrata cloisters are a visual reminder of those who practiced asceticism.
- The ineffective practice of the ascetics (2:21)
All the rules of self-denial, false humility, and neglect of the body worthy worthless in overcoming the flesh. Trying to overcome the flesh with the flesh is a futile or meaningless pursuit. Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:17,
… nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.