11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Vs. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
In several N.T. passages the Apostle Paul makes it clear that the circumcision of the flesh which certain Jews often held as often incumbent upon those Gentiles who believed by grace has no place in the New Covenant (see Acts 15:1-29 for a history of this issue, then see Rom 2:27; Gal 5:6; 6:15; Phil 3:3). That said Paul was not opposed to the circumcision of the flesh for those Jews who believe in Jesus Christ (see Acts 21:17-25). Yet if that is all that it is, a circumcision of the flesh, (and thus just a mere ceremonial act) then it is utterly useless because it does not affect or change ones heart (see Rom 2:25-29). And so what the Apostle Paul is declaring here is that all who believe in Jesus Christ are "circumcised" with a circumcision made without hands, a circumcision that entails putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, a circumcision of Christ. And so a circumcision that is in the Spirit, not in the Letter, a circumcision that changes the heart, and thus changes the life and the deeds of it (Consider Deut. 30:6 then see Rom 2:28-29). The circumcision of Christ (as a metaphor) then is the new nature that God has implanted in everyone who believes in His Son whether Jew or Gentile. And having become a new creation by Holy Spirit regeneration we are to live in accordance with that new nature, and not by the old natures deeds of the flesh (Gal 5:24). That is what the Apostle Paul is essentially saying here that we through the circumcision of Christ have been fundamentally changed, that our hearts have been circumcised, by the circumcision of Christ, and thus we are to live according to our new nature, i.e. the new creation that God has created us to be In Christ (2 Cor 5:17).
Vs. 12 "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
Having first declared our being circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, the Apostle Paul now reiterates that we also have been buried with Christ in baptism and were raised with Him through faith in the working of God (see Rom 6:1-13). For in commanding that we put of the deeds of the flesh, we must realize that our baptism with Christ means that we not only died with Him, but we have been raised with Him to new and everlasting life. In essence then what Paul is doing in stating all these things is not only building us up in our faith In Christ, but he also denouncing all that the false teachers might expound as being necessary or incumbent upon believers. Whether this is circumcision of the flesh or whether this is trying to attain too some sort of spiritually "elite" status, or Spirit gifting, or anything else in order to become a complete or victorious Christian. For by faith in Jesus Christ's Person we have everything we need. For through Christ we have been given victory over sin, Satan and death (1 Cor 15:57) and thus as we journey homeward we are continually being refined by God's Spirit and our circumstances for His purposes, both here and now, and for eternity. And so whenever someone says (or tries to infer) that your faith in Jesus Christ is not enough, then you need to take that as a clear warning to steer clear of whatever their trying to tell you. For you and I are complete by faith in Him.
Vs. 13-15 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Now in verse thirteen the Apostle Paul makes it clear that though we were once dead in our sins and transgressions, that is Spiritually dead and thus separated from a covenant relationship with God because of our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh (see Eph. 2:11-13); Jesus Christ has now made us who believe in Him Spiritually alive together with Himself, having forgiven us all our transgressions. For that is what happens when one is born again the moment they believe in Jesus Christ's Person, the Holy Spirit comes into them and makes them Spiritually alive with Christ. And thus through Jesus Christ we are brought into a covenant relationship with God, a grace based relationship through the New Covenant and not the Old (consider 2 Cor 3:5-6, 9; Heb 7:22; 8:6-13; 9:15; 10:16-18 etc.). And so we are to live out our faith by the Spirit of God, not the letter of the law, and so a relationship which requires no circumcision of our flesh. For it is Jesus Christ and Him alone who has fulfilled all of God's righteous requirements for our redemption from sin and death through His own righteousness and death on the cross. And so Jesus has not only forgiven us all of our transgressions, but He has also wiped out the hand writing of requirements that was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross (vs. 14). Now Jesus' having nailed the handwriting of requirements that was against us and contrary to us, to the cross, is saying that Jesus Christ has finished it all! No one who trusts in Jesus will ever again be charged with either their sins or the impossible demands of trying to keep all the Law. Therefore Jesus having done all that God required for our salvation has effectively disarmed all principalities and powers; for when Jesus was crucified He not only paid for all our sins, He also disarmed all principalities and powers, who could (and would) use our failures to keep all of God's Law as a means of bringing condemning charges against us before God (consider Gal 3:10-14). And so in a wonderful twist worked by God. Satan and all the powers of darkness, (even the earthly principalities and powers) though thinking that they had brought about their own desires and "victory" through Jesus' crucifixion death, only became agents of forwarding God's redemption plans for us all who believe in Him. For with Jesus' resurrection from the dead and His ascension back to God the Father He can forever point to the cross where both He, and the handwriting of requirements having been nailed to cross, so that the debt could be paid in full, as well as to indicate that the debt has been paid in full, and so with our ransom fully paid He can forever justify us all simply by faith in His Person (Rom 5:1), and in so doing Jesus Christ has made a public spectacle of them all, triumphing over them all in it (vs. 15).
Vs. 16-17 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
With the debt paid and the handwriting of requirements now effectively annulled, why then should we let anyone judge us regarding whatever types of foods we eat or things we drink, or regarding any sort of religious festival, sacred day or even a Sabbath (see Rom 14). For as the Apostle makes clear all are a mere shadow of things to come, but the substance (the true spiritual meat) is of Christ.
Vs. 18-19 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
From "Let no one judge you" (vs. 16) and now "Let no one cheat you" (vs. 18), the Apostle Paul carries on a continuum of thought from verse sixteen to verse eighteen in regards too not letting ourselves be judged. For the word used in verse eighteen translated cheat carries with it a strong sense of judicial judgment against someone or something. Therefore the Apostle Paul here is commanding us not to let the false teachers either judge us as to our standing with Christ, (because we do not submit to either them or their false doctrines, consider Gal 2:4-5), or cheat us of our reward with Him by our willfully engaging in any of their unsound or non-Scriptural practices. In regards too this they seem to be particular fond of a false humility, a self imposed and defined piety which here also involved (or invoked) the worship of angels, possibly as mediators to God on behalf of a believer as the Believers Bible Commentary notes, and which later took the form of praying through or to "canonized" saints and or Mary's intercession in the post Biblical Apostles era that became Roman Catholicism. Now we know that there is only one Mediator between God and mankind and that is the Man Christ Jesus (see 1 Tim 2:15). Yet down through the centuries false teachers have always sought to undermine the Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ and or His availability to each and every person who comes exclusively to Him by faith (consider Heb 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2).
Now what form this angelic "worship" took we do not know, and it is basically irrelevant. For what we do know is that mankind is never to worship any angelic beings (see Rev 19:9-10; 22:8-9). For though they appear many times in the Scriptures, (in both spirit and bodily form) and are often employed as God's heralds or messengers, or even as His agents sent to accomplish His purposes. Angels who are sent by God always seek God's and God's Son Glorification and Will, never their own. Therefore their worship, adoration, or exaltation is utterly contrary to the Scriptures, and is only according the fleshly "wisdom" of man who thinks such things are actually being "spiritual." When in fact those who do so are only deceived. For God has committed nothing to the angels, but has bestowed all power, authority, prestige, glory, and honor on His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all should honor, worship and glorify Him alone (see John 5:23-24; Heb 1:1-14). And thus their worship is only a downgrading of the Lord Jesus Christ's Preeminence in the church, which no angel sent from God would ever do. Therefore the Apostle Paul is adamant that we are not to follow their ways or heed their doctrines, rather we must all hold fast to the Head of the Body which is Jesus Christ and Him alone. And not worship Jesus plus angels, or canonized saints, or Marry, or anyone or anything else. For it is by Jesus Christ alone that mankind comes into a personal and saving relationship with God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:15). And thus it is from Jesus Christ alone, through whom the whole body (that is the believing church) is both spiritually nourished and knit together, by joints and ligaments and grows with the increase that comes from God alone.
Vs. 20-23 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Vs. 20-23 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Previously the Apostle Paul warned us all saying: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (vs. 8). And now the Apostle Paul uses the same phrase as he declares that we having died with Christ to the "basic principals of the world" should not be subjecting ourselves to mans self decreed regulations (vs.20). Now the "basic principals of the world" are those elementary things that "the world" (I.e. unregenerate mankind) in context of religion believes by observing and keeping will approve them to God. And thus those things which people mistakenly apply religious efficacy or value too in effecting our standing with God, or as the Apostle says in verse 22 as empowering us against the indulgence of the flesh (i.e. our sin nature).
Therefore the Apostle Paul now rather poignantly asks: ..."why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
And so the Colossians having begun with the grace of God had sadly fallen back under the bondage of man (consider 1 Cor 7:23; Gal 4:9-11). And so rather than holding fast to the Head, who is Jesus Christ, they had begun too, or better had been beguiled into thinking that somehow Jesus Christ (and their faith in Him) wasn't enough. And so they began obeying the doctrines and commandments of men. Doctrines and commandments that said they needed to abstain from certain foods, or touching certain things, or refraining from certain activities etc. Not that any of the things that they were being commanded to steer clear of were inherently evil or sinful, rather they were merely perishable things, (i.e. natural things), things which have no eternal significance or continuance, things which are morally neutral in effect, and so as the Apostle says here, things which perish with the using (vs. 22). Yet somehow (likely through their own observance of those things) these decrees began to take on great significance in the hearts and minds of the Colossian believers. And so the Apostle Paul in refuting and exposing the uselessness of observing those kinds of things, says of them in verse twenty three that: "These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
Notice then what the Apostle calls what they were doing and observing, saying that they were only following a "self-imposed religion", a "false humility", and thus they were not following Jesus Christ when they were observing such things. Instead they were only following the doctrines and commandments of men. Which have an "appearance of wisdom", but are as Paul says no value against the indulgences of the flesh. Yet throughout church history these sorts of ascetic rules and lifestyles always seem to find traction amongst some, who maybe started off in a honest pursuit of holiness, but somewhere along the way they get turned aside into making much of the temporal and perishable things of this life, rather than the eternal, and so in time they eventually lose the Gospel's life giving Message and or transforming power in their own lives; which goes to the heart of legalism and the danger it presents to us all who want to live by faith and be justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Rom 5:1; 14:23). For a self imposed external religion and piety seen and observed by all is hardly the "religion" and internal piety that God desires of us all, and which comes to us all when we see our own need for the Lord Jesus Christ and in repentance and faith call upon Him, who then changes us. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor 5:7 Thus we walk with and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, not an "ism", thus not Asceticism, Gnosticism, Stoicism, Catholicism, Calvinism, Arminianism, Ana-Baptism, Pacifism, Pentecostalism, Hedonism, or any other theological stripe or school of thought that puts itself before or alongside of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Either as a means to Him, or as a means of obeying Him. For obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to us all through the Scriptures, but in particular the New Testament which governs us all in the New Covenant. I don't know where your at today but I hope in some way this has helped you and blessed you by keeping your faith and focus on Christ Jesus and Him alone, for it is by faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,
Vs. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
In several N.T. passages the Apostle Paul makes it clear that the circumcision of the flesh which certain Jews often held as often incumbent upon those Gentiles who believed by grace has no place in the New Covenant (see Acts 15:1-29 for a history of this issue, then see Rom 2:27; Gal 5:6; 6:15; Phil 3:3). That said Paul was not opposed to the circumcision of the flesh for those Jews who believe in Jesus Christ (see Acts 21:17-25). Yet if that is all that it is, a circumcision of the flesh, (and thus just a mere ceremonial act) then it is utterly useless because it does not affect or change ones heart (see Rom 2:25-29). And so what the Apostle Paul is declaring here is that all who believe in Jesus Christ are "circumcised" with a circumcision made without hands, a circumcision that entails putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, a circumcision of Christ. And so a circumcision that is in the Spirit, not in the Letter, a circumcision that changes the heart, and thus changes the life and the deeds of it (Consider Deut. 30:6 then see Rom 2:28-29). The circumcision of Christ (as a metaphor) then is the new nature that God has implanted in everyone who believes in His Son whether Jew or Gentile. And having become a new creation by Holy Spirit regeneration we are to live in accordance with that new nature, and not by the old natures deeds of the flesh (Gal 5:24). That is what the Apostle Paul is essentially saying here that we through the circumcision of Christ have been fundamentally changed, that our hearts have been circumcised, by the circumcision of Christ, and thus we are to live according to our new nature, i.e. the new creation that God has created us to be In Christ (2 Cor 5:17).
Vs. 12 "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
Having first declared our being circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, the Apostle Paul now reiterates that we also have been buried with Christ in baptism and were raised with Him through faith in the working of God (see Rom 6:1-13). For in commanding that we put of the deeds of the flesh, we must realize that our baptism with Christ means that we not only died with Him, but we have been raised with Him to new and everlasting life. In essence then what Paul is doing in stating all these things is not only building us up in our faith In Christ, but he also denouncing all that the false teachers might expound as being necessary or incumbent upon believers. Whether this is circumcision of the flesh or whether this is trying to attain too some sort of spiritually "elite" status, or Spirit gifting, or anything else in order to become a complete or victorious Christian. For by faith in Jesus Christ's Person we have everything we need. For through Christ we have been given victory over sin, Satan and death (1 Cor 15:57) and thus as we journey homeward we are continually being refined by God's Spirit and our circumstances for His purposes, both here and now, and for eternity. And so whenever someone says (or tries to infer) that your faith in Jesus Christ is not enough, then you need to take that as a clear warning to steer clear of whatever their trying to tell you. For you and I are complete by faith in Him.
Vs. 13-15 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Now in verse thirteen the Apostle Paul makes it clear that though we were once dead in our sins and transgressions, that is Spiritually dead and thus separated from a covenant relationship with God because of our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh (see Eph. 2:11-13); Jesus Christ has now made us who believe in Him Spiritually alive together with Himself, having forgiven us all our transgressions. For that is what happens when one is born again the moment they believe in Jesus Christ's Person, the Holy Spirit comes into them and makes them Spiritually alive with Christ. And thus through Jesus Christ we are brought into a covenant relationship with God, a grace based relationship through the New Covenant and not the Old (consider 2 Cor 3:5-6, 9; Heb 7:22; 8:6-13; 9:15; 10:16-18 etc.). And so we are to live out our faith by the Spirit of God, not the letter of the law, and so a relationship which requires no circumcision of our flesh. For it is Jesus Christ and Him alone who has fulfilled all of God's righteous requirements for our redemption from sin and death through His own righteousness and death on the cross. And so Jesus has not only forgiven us all of our transgressions, but He has also wiped out the hand writing of requirements that was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross (vs. 14). Now Jesus' having nailed the handwriting of requirements that was against us and contrary to us, to the cross, is saying that Jesus Christ has finished it all! No one who trusts in Jesus will ever again be charged with either their sins or the impossible demands of trying to keep all the Law. Therefore Jesus having done all that God required for our salvation has effectively disarmed all principalities and powers; for when Jesus was crucified He not only paid for all our sins, He also disarmed all principalities and powers, who could (and would) use our failures to keep all of God's Law as a means of bringing condemning charges against us before God (consider Gal 3:10-14). And so in a wonderful twist worked by God. Satan and all the powers of darkness, (even the earthly principalities and powers) though thinking that they had brought about their own desires and "victory" through Jesus' crucifixion death, only became agents of forwarding God's redemption plans for us all who believe in Him. For with Jesus' resurrection from the dead and His ascension back to God the Father He can forever point to the cross where both He, and the handwriting of requirements having been nailed to cross, so that the debt could be paid in full, as well as to indicate that the debt has been paid in full, and so with our ransom fully paid He can forever justify us all simply by faith in His Person (Rom 5:1), and in so doing Jesus Christ has made a public spectacle of them all, triumphing over them all in it (vs. 15).
Vs. 16-17 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
With the debt paid and the handwriting of requirements now effectively annulled, why then should we let anyone judge us regarding whatever types of foods we eat or things we drink, or regarding any sort of religious festival, sacred day or even a Sabbath (see Rom 14). For as the Apostle makes clear all are a mere shadow of things to come, but the substance (the true spiritual meat) is of Christ.
Vs. 18-19 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
From "Let no one judge you" (vs. 16) and now "Let no one cheat you" (vs. 18), the Apostle Paul carries on a continuum of thought from verse sixteen to verse eighteen in regards too not letting ourselves be judged. For the word used in verse eighteen translated cheat carries with it a strong sense of judicial judgment against someone or something. Therefore the Apostle Paul here is commanding us not to let the false teachers either judge us as to our standing with Christ, (because we do not submit to either them or their false doctrines, consider Gal 2:4-5), or cheat us of our reward with Him by our willfully engaging in any of their unsound or non-Scriptural practices. In regards too this they seem to be particular fond of a false humility, a self imposed and defined piety which here also involved (or invoked) the worship of angels, possibly as mediators to God on behalf of a believer as the Believers Bible Commentary notes, and which later took the form of praying through or to "canonized" saints and or Mary's intercession in the post Biblical Apostles era that became Roman Catholicism. Now we know that there is only one Mediator between God and mankind and that is the Man Christ Jesus (see 1 Tim 2:15). Yet down through the centuries false teachers have always sought to undermine the Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ and or His availability to each and every person who comes exclusively to Him by faith (consider Heb 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2).
Now what form this angelic "worship" took we do not know, and it is basically irrelevant. For what we do know is that mankind is never to worship any angelic beings (see Rev 19:9-10; 22:8-9). For though they appear many times in the Scriptures, (in both spirit and bodily form) and are often employed as God's heralds or messengers, or even as His agents sent to accomplish His purposes. Angels who are sent by God always seek God's and God's Son Glorification and Will, never their own. Therefore their worship, adoration, or exaltation is utterly contrary to the Scriptures, and is only according the fleshly "wisdom" of man who thinks such things are actually being "spiritual." When in fact those who do so are only deceived. For God has committed nothing to the angels, but has bestowed all power, authority, prestige, glory, and honor on His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all should honor, worship and glorify Him alone (see John 5:23-24; Heb 1:1-14). And thus their worship is only a downgrading of the Lord Jesus Christ's Preeminence in the church, which no angel sent from God would ever do. Therefore the Apostle Paul is adamant that we are not to follow their ways or heed their doctrines, rather we must all hold fast to the Head of the Body which is Jesus Christ and Him alone. And not worship Jesus plus angels, or canonized saints, or Marry, or anyone or anything else. For it is by Jesus Christ alone that mankind comes into a personal and saving relationship with God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:15). And thus it is from Jesus Christ alone, through whom the whole body (that is the believing church) is both spiritually nourished and knit together, by joints and ligaments and grows with the increase that comes from God alone.
Vs. 20-23 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Vs. 20-23 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Previously the Apostle Paul warned us all saying: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (vs. 8). And now the Apostle Paul uses the same phrase as he declares that we having died with Christ to the "basic principals of the world" should not be subjecting ourselves to mans self decreed regulations (vs.20). Now the "basic principals of the world" are those elementary things that "the world" (I.e. unregenerate mankind) in context of religion believes by observing and keeping will approve them to God. And thus those things which people mistakenly apply religious efficacy or value too in effecting our standing with God, or as the Apostle says in verse 22 as empowering us against the indulgence of the flesh (i.e. our sin nature).
Therefore the Apostle Paul now rather poignantly asks: ..."why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
And so the Colossians having begun with the grace of God had sadly fallen back under the bondage of man (consider 1 Cor 7:23; Gal 4:9-11). And so rather than holding fast to the Head, who is Jesus Christ, they had begun too, or better had been beguiled into thinking that somehow Jesus Christ (and their faith in Him) wasn't enough. And so they began obeying the doctrines and commandments of men. Doctrines and commandments that said they needed to abstain from certain foods, or touching certain things, or refraining from certain activities etc. Not that any of the things that they were being commanded to steer clear of were inherently evil or sinful, rather they were merely perishable things, (i.e. natural things), things which have no eternal significance or continuance, things which are morally neutral in effect, and so as the Apostle says here, things which perish with the using (vs. 22). Yet somehow (likely through their own observance of those things) these decrees began to take on great significance in the hearts and minds of the Colossian believers. And so the Apostle Paul in refuting and exposing the uselessness of observing those kinds of things, says of them in verse twenty three that: "These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
Notice then what the Apostle calls what they were doing and observing, saying that they were only following a "self-imposed religion", a "false humility", and thus they were not following Jesus Christ when they were observing such things. Instead they were only following the doctrines and commandments of men. Which have an "appearance of wisdom", but are as Paul says no value against the indulgences of the flesh. Yet throughout church history these sorts of ascetic rules and lifestyles always seem to find traction amongst some, who maybe started off in a honest pursuit of holiness, but somewhere along the way they get turned aside into making much of the temporal and perishable things of this life, rather than the eternal, and so in time they eventually lose the Gospel's life giving Message and or transforming power in their own lives; which goes to the heart of legalism and the danger it presents to us all who want to live by faith and be justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Rom 5:1; 14:23). For a self imposed external religion and piety seen and observed by all is hardly the "religion" and internal piety that God desires of us all, and which comes to us all when we see our own need for the Lord Jesus Christ and in repentance and faith call upon Him, who then changes us. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor 5:7 Thus we walk with and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, not an "ism", thus not Asceticism, Gnosticism, Stoicism, Catholicism, Calvinism, Arminianism, Ana-Baptism, Pacifism, Pentecostalism, Hedonism, or any other theological stripe or school of thought that puts itself before or alongside of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Either as a means to Him, or as a means of obeying Him. For obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to us all through the Scriptures, but in particular the New Testament which governs us all in the New Covenant. I don't know where your at today but I hope in some way this has helped you and blessed you by keeping your faith and focus on Christ Jesus and Him alone, for it is by faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,
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