Colossians Chapter 2

Colossians 2:1 "For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;"

“Great conflict”: The word means “striving” and comes from the same root as in 1:29. Both the Colossians and Laodiceans were among those for whom Paul struggled so hard in order to bring them to maturity.

“Laodicea”: The chief city of Phrygia in the Roman province of Asia, located just South of Hierapolis in the Lycus River valley.

We see in this verse, that Paul had sent some of his people who actually did the founding of the church. It was at Paul's direction, so in a sense Paul did start this church. Paul had not actually been with them in person, because we see that they had not seen Paul's face.

In the first lesson, we had discussed that Paul started the church, and he did, because he had sent men that he had trained here.

The persons who worked with Paul had been trained by him, and they were actually working under his supervision. Paul's concern for them was the same as for the churches he physically started, because he felt responsible for what had been taught them at the first.

Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;"

“Full assurance of understanding”: “Understanding” of the fullness of the gospel, along with inner encouragement and shared love, mark mature believers who, thereby, enjoy the “assurance” of salvation (see notes on 2 Peter 1:5-8).

This verse could also be translated: “That their minds may be strengthened by being lovingly instructed, and so obtain all the wealth of assurance that comes from (proper spiritual) understanding, more precisely, to obtain a mature knowledge of God’s mystery about Christ.” The Colossians’ “minds” need to be “instructed” in the truth to safeguard them against the circulating heresy.

“Mystery … Christ”: See note on 1:26. The mystery Paul referred to here is that the Messiah Christ is God incarnate Himself (1 Tim. 3:16).

Paul is trying to do what he can to put them at ease. Paul is trying to emphasize the bond that should be between all believers in Christ. The heart of man is what he really is. Whatever we believe in our heart determines what we really are. The following Scriptures have a great deal toward the explanation of the mystery.

Matthew 11:25-27 "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him]."

One of the most important parts of our salvation is found in Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

We may not fully understand how salvation is accomplished. We must believe that Jesus paid the price for our salvation, and that He rose from the dead. This must not be a surface confession of this, we must truly believe in our heart.

Colossians 2:3 "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

“Hid” does not mean unknown. For not all these “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are unknown to man, as 1:26 clearly shows. “Hid” signifies “laid up,” “stored away,” or “reserved.” Christ, then, is the source from which all wisdom and knowledge come.

“All the treasures”: Verses 9, 10, 1:19. The false teachers threatening the Colossians claimed to possess a secret wisdom and transcendent knowledge available only to the spiritual elite.

In sharp contrast, Paul declared that all the richness of truth necessary for salvation, sanctification, and glorification is found in Jesus Christ, who Himself is God revealed. (John 1:14; Rom 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 1:24, 30; 2:6-8; Eph. 1:8-9; 3:8-9).

All wisdom and knowledge are of God. Wisdom, that we have, is a gift from God. The treasure of knowledge can be ours by the study of the Bible. The Holy Spirit reveals to us exactly what it is saying.

Colossians 2:4 "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words."

“Beguile” means “deceive.” Paul did not want the Colossians to be deceived by the persuasive rhetoric of the false teachers which assaulted the person of Christ. That is why throughout chapters 1 and 2, he stressed Christ’s deity and His sufficiency both to save believers and bring them to spiritual maturity.

Man's knowledge and wisdom gotten from the world are not truth. God is Truth. From the very beginning, there had been false teachers who were there to try to separate the new converts from the realities of God. One thing that should have triggered them, and should trigger us, that something is false, is if it appeals to the flesh.

Colossians 2:5 "For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ."

“Absent in the flesh … with you in the spirit”: Because he was a prisoner, Paul was unable to be present with the Colossians. That did not mean, however, that his love and concern for them was any less (1 Cor. 5:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:17). Their “good discipline and “stability” of faith; (both military terms depicting a solid rank of soldiers drawn up for battle) brought great joy to the apostle’s heart.

This appears, to me, to be very much like many of the churches of our day. They really are Christians, and really do want to do the will of God. They have just listened to some teachers who have confused them in certain areas. They were caught up in knowledge and the power of the mind. Unknowingly, they had been deceived. They had great faith in Christ.

Paul had discerned their problem in his spirit, since he was not there in person. He rejoiced over their faith in Christ being firm, but wanted them to be careful not to get into mind control.

Colossians 2:6 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:"

“Walk ye in him”: “Walk” is the familiar New Testament term denoting the believer’s daily conduct (1:10; 4:5; Rom. 6:4; 8:1, 4; 13:13; 1 Cor. 7:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; 10:3; 12:18; Gal. 5:16, 25; 6:16; Eph. 2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15; Phil. 3:16-18; 1 Thess. 2:12; 4:1, 12; 2 Thess. 3:11; 1 John 1:6-7; 2:6; 2 John 6; 3 John 3-4). To walk in Christ is to live a life patterned after His.

The verse may be paraphrased thus: “Therefore, just as you accepted the teaching that presents Jesus as both Messiah and Lord, so continue to maintain this relationship with Him.” The recipients had been taught that Jesus is (1) Messiah (the One divinely anointed to secure man’s salvation), and (2) Lord (the divine person to whom man submits in obedience).

The heretics denied Jesus’ atoning death and lordship. So the Colossians is urged to keep Him just as they were initially taught – as Messiah and Lord. They are to continue to look to Him for salvation and continue in submission to His authority.

This is just saying; walk every day with Christ in you making your decisions. Depend on His power within you, and not on your own power.

Colossians 2:7 "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

“The faith”: The sense here is objective, referring to the truth of Christian doctrine. Spiritual maturity develops upward from the foundation of biblical truth as taught and recorded by the apostles. 3:16. this rooting, building, and establishing is in sound doctrine (1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Titus 2:1.

Paul is saying; let your roots be in Jesus Christ. Base everything on Jesus, your rock of foundation. Keep the faith in Jesus Christ.

Be like an old oak tree that wind cannot easily move. When winds of false doctrine come, you will not be shaken, because you have your roots in Jesus. Have faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Think back on the teaching that brought you to the Lord in the first place. Be thankful to God for all things.

Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

“Spoil you”: Here is the term for robbery. False teachers, who are successful in getting people to believe lies, rob them of truth, salvation, and blessing. “Spoil” could also be rendered, “carry you away from the truth by false teaching.”

“Philosophy and vain deceit”: “Philosophy” (literally “love of wisdom”) appears only here in the New Testament. The word referred to more than merely the academic discipline, but described any theory about God, the world, or the meaning of life.

Those embracing the Colossian heresy used it to describe the supposed higher knowledge they claimed to have attained. Paul, however, equates the false teachers’ philosophy with “empty” or worthless “deception” (1 Tim. 6:20; see note on 2 Cor. 10:5).

“Rudiments of the world” are elementary religious teachings coming from the world system. The Greek grammar suggests that the particular “philosophy” in view here is “vain deceit.” Not all philosophy, then, is bad; when presented in a God-centered way, it can be helpful to believers.

Far from being advanced, profound knowledge, the false teachers’ beliefs were simplistic and immature like all the rest of the speculations, ideologies, philosophies, and psychologies the fallen satanic and human system invents.

Paul is trying to remind them that it was not their great knowledge that brought them to Christ, but simple faith. The worldly education of man builds up the man. This brings vanity and pride, which God is opposed to.

The Jews had followed the traditions of men, and they had missed God. Paul is saying; fix your thoughts and faith in Christ. Philosophy, many times, questions God. Have faith; do not question God's purposes.

Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

“For” verifies the assertion in verse 8 that the heretics’ “philosophy” is in accord with the tradition of men and not with Christ or in line with Christian doctrine. This is done by stating that the whole of the divine nature (“all fullness of the Godhead”) dwells in Jesus in bodily form.

“Fullness of the Godhead”: Christ possesses the fullness of the divine nature and attributes (see note on 1:19; John 1:14-16).

“Bodily”: In Greek philosophical thought, matter was evil; spirit was good. Thus, it was unthinkable that God would ever take on a human body. Paul refutes that false teaching by stressing the reality of Christ’s incarnation. Jesus was not only fully God, but fully human as well. (See notes on Phil. 2:5-11)

This refutes the Colossians heresy denying the Son’s full deity and that He possessed a body that could die and make atonement for sin.

When Jesus came to this earth to minister and save the lost, it was the will, of not only Himself, but the Father and the Holy Ghost, as well.

John 14:10 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

The fullness of the Godhead bodily means that God the Father, God the Word (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit, all are Spirit, and the fullness of the Spirit of God dwelled in the body of Jesus on this earth.

The fullness of the Power, goodness, wisdom, etc. was in the flesh of Jesus. The power in the body of Jesus was without measure. He was actually God with us "Emmanuel". He was the Spirit of God made real in the flesh.

Colossians 2:10 "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

“Ye are complete in him” (or, “you are filled by Him”): Believers have been filled by Jesus with all the spiritual blessings they need; hence, they are “complete” and lacking nothing. This, too, refutes the heresy that denied the sufficiency of Christ and encouraged Christians to look to other spiritual beings for help.

Believers are complete in Christ, both positionally by the imputed perfect righteousness of Christ (see note on 1:22), and the complete sufficiency of all heavenly resources for spiritual maturity (see notes on 2 Pet. 1:3-4).

Five of these blessings, with which believers have been filled, are listed in verses 11-15. They are: (1) spiritual circumcision, verse 11; (2) being raised from the old life, verse 12; (3) new life, verse 13; (4) the removal of the curse of the law, verse 14; and (5) the conquering of Satan and his demonic forces, verse 15.

“The head of all principality and power:": Jesus Christ is the creator and ruler of the universe and all its spiritual beings (see note on 1:16), not a lesser being emanating from God as the Colossian errorists maintained.

The key words in this Scripture are (in Him). We are hid in Christ, if we are Christians. It is actually the shed blood of Jesus covering the Christian which hides us from the enemy. Even the principalities and powers are all subject unto Him.

Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"

Verses 11-12: Circumcision made without hands”: Circumcision symbolized mans’ need for cleansing of the heart (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; 9:26; Acts 7:51; Rom. 2:29) and was the outward sign of that cleansing of sin that comes by faith in God (Rom. 4:11; Phil. 3:3).

At salvation, believers undergo a spiritual “circumcision” by putting off the sins of the flesh (Rom. 6:6; 2 Cor. 5:17; Phil. 3:3; Titus 3:5). This is the new birth, the new creation in conversion. The outward affirmation of the already accomplished inner transformation is now the believer’s baptism by water (Acts. 2:38).

Colossians 2:11 "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:"

Circumcision denotes a cutting off or removal. The “circumcision” in view here is not physical but spiritual, whereby the ruling power of the believer’s “flesh” or sinful nature is broken or removed by Christ.

This is speaking of the circumcision of the heart which occurs when we receive Jesus as our Savior. Jesus spiritually cuts away all the flesh away from the heart, and gives us a heart stayed upon Him.

Romans 2:29 "But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God."

This heart is what makes us a new creature in Christ. This new body desires to please God. We are no longer a flesh man, but a spiritual man. Our sins were nailed to the cross. We have now been quickened by the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:12 "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

“Buried with him in baptism”: This is not water baptism, but Spirit baptism, by which Christ brings the believer into an intimate relation with Himself and with His people (the church) through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).

“Ye are raised” signifies that God has raised the Colossians from the sins, habits, values, and guilt of their unconverted life, not allowing them to remain in their old ways and iniquities.

Romans 6:3-5 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:"

Colossians 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

“You … hath he quickened”: God gave them new (spiritual) life.

“Dead in your sins”: See notes on Eph. 2:1, 5. so bound in the sphere of sin, the world (Eph. 2:12), the flesh (Rom. 8:8), and the devil (1 John 5:19) as to be unable to respond to spiritual stimuli; totally devoid of spiritual life. Paul further defines this condition of the unsaved in 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 4:17-19; Titus 3:3.

“He quickened together with Him”: See notes on Eph. 2:1, 5. only through union with Jesus Christ (verses 10-12) can those hopelessly dead in their sins receive eternal life (Eph. 2:5). Note that God takes the initiative and exerts the life-giving power to awaken and unite sinners with His Son; the spiritually dead have no ability to make themselves alive (Rom. 4:17; 2 Cor. 1:9).

“Forgiven you all trespasses” 1:14. God’s free (Rom. 3:24) and complete (Rom. 5:20; Eph. 1:7) forgiveness of guilty sinners who put their faith in Jesus Christ is the most important reality in Scripture (Psalms 32:1; 130:3-4; Isa. 1:18; 55:7; Mica 7:18; Matt. 26:28; Acts 10:43; 13:38-39; Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 8:12).

The penalty for sin is death. We were condemned to eternal death before we received life in Jesus Christ. I love the word "all" in the verse above. When He took our sin on His body on the cross, it abolished all of our sin. When He rose on the third day, it gave all believers in Christ the hope that they would rise, also.

Jesus is the quickening Spirit. He is life. When we receive Him, we receive Life. We are justified (just as if we had never sinned), because Jesus destroyed our sin.

Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances”: This refers to the handwritten certificate of debt by which a debtor acknowledged his indebtedness. All people (Rom. 3:23) owe God an un-payable debt for violating His law (Gal. 3:10; James 2:10; Matt. 18:23-27), and are thus under sentence of death (Rom. 6:23).

Paul graphically compares God’s forgiveness of believers’ sins to wiping ink off a parchment. Through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, God has totally erased our certificate of indebtedness and made our forgiveness complete.

Nailing it to his cross”: This is another metaphor for forgiveness. The list of the crimes of a crucified criminal was nailed to the cross with that criminal to declare the violations he was being punished for (as in the case of Jesus, as noted in Matt. 27:37).

Believer’s sins were all put to Christ’s account, nailed to His cross as He paid the penalty in their place for them all, thus satisfying the just wrath of God against crimes requiring punishment in full.

“The handwriting of ordinances”: In secular literature this “handwriting” was an IOU signed by the debtor. Here it might be paraphrased, “a certificate of debt consisting of decrees.” This refers to the Mosaic Law, which the Jews had contracted to obey, and to which Gentiles by conscience were obligated.

Owing to man’s inability to fulfill this obligation of obedience, he was therefore indebted to God. But through Christ this debt was graciously blotted out.

The word "blotting" means that they were done away with forever. Our sin was not covered, it was blotted out. Our sin is gone. Our sin died on the body of Jesus on the cross.

Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"

Jesus fulfilled the law, when He was our perfect sacrifice on the cross. He was, in fact, our Substitute.

Colossians 2:15 "[And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

“Having spoiled”: In yet another element of the cross work, Paul tells that the cross spelled the ultimate doom of Satan and his evil host of fallen angels (Genesis 3:15; John 12:31; 16:11; Hebrews 2:14).

“Having spoiled principalities and powers”: By the Cross God disarmed or deprived Satan and all his demonic horde of the power and sway with which they formerly gripped the Colossians. By this statement Paul might well have asked the Colossians, How can you give ear to any doctrine advocating angel worship (verse 18), when they are all subject to God?

See note on 1:16. While His body was dead, His living, divine spirit actually went to the abode of demons and announced His triumph over sin, Satan, death, and hell.
See notes on 1 Peter 3:18-19.

“Made a shew of them openly”: The picture is that of a victorious Roman general parading his defeated enemies through the streets of Rome. (see notes on 2 Cor. 2:14-16). Christ won the victory over the demon forces on the cross, where their efforts to halt God’s redemptive plan were ultimately defeated. For more on that triumphant imagery, see notes on 2 Cor. 2:14-16.

Sin was a terrible power over all of us, before we were saved. The penalty of sin (death) was a constant threat. Usually principalities and powers are speaking of the power of darkness.

It was Satan, who Jesus destroyed on the cross. Satan was defeated. He even lost the keys to hell. Jesus took them away from him. Jesus went into hell, and took the keys, and brought out many captives with Him.

Verses 16-17: Paul warns the Colossians against trading their freedom in Christ for a set of useless, man-made, legalistic rules (Gal. 5:1). Legalism is powerless to save or to restrain sin.

Colossians 2:16 "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]:"

“Therefore” draws on 2:14: Since God has annulled the law, the Colossians are to “Let no man … judge you” regarding dietary matters (“meat … drink”) or regarding religious calendar observations.

The false teachers sought to impose some sort of dietary regulations, probably based on those of the Mosaic Law (Lev. 11). Since they were under the New Covenant, the Colossians (like all Christians) were not obligated to observe the Old Testament dietary restrictions (Mark 7:14-19; Acts 10:9-15; Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 8:8; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; Heb. 9:9-10).

“Holyday”: The annual religious celebrations of the Jewish calendar (e.g. Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles (Booths); Lev. 23).

New moon”: The monthly sacrifice offered on the first day of each month (Num. 10:10; 28:11-14; Psalm 81:3).

“Sabbath days”: The weekly celebration of the seventh day, which pictured God’s rest from creation. The New Testament clearly teaches that Christians are not required to keep it (see notes of Acts 20:7; Rom. 14:5-6).

The only Judge that Christians should be concerned with is Jesus. Jesus has placed His law in the heart of the Christian. We call it conscience. If you do not feel guilty for not keeping these specified days, it is because you have a clear conscience. The men spoken of, here, are those who would put you back under the law. You cannot please men. Stop trying. Just please God.

Colossians 2:17 "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ."

“Shadow … body”: The ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament law (dietary regulations, festivals, sacrifices) were mere shadows pointing to Christ. Since Christ, the reality has come, the shadows have no value. Hebrews 8:5; 10:1.

This verse could be translated: “For these were a shadow of future things, but the substance belongs to Christ.” The Mosaic dietary restrictions and calendar celebrations (verse 16) were a “shadow of things to come” in that they foreshadowed or foretold of coming spiritual blessings.

But the substance of these blessings or divine benefits themselves come; not from the law, but from Christ. The Colossians, then, should not allow heretics to tie them up with legalistic rules and regulations. They should instead occupy themselves with all the blessings granted them through Christ.

If we are the body of Christ and He is the Head, we should do as the Head instructs us. He controls us.

Colossians 2:18 "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,"

“Beguile you of your reward” (or “rob you of your prize”): The heretics, if their doctrine were accepted, would rob the Colossians of their spiritual blessings. These false teachers displayed false “humility” and advocated a gospel of “worshiping of angels,” that is, paying homage to angelic beings.

Paul warns the Colossians not to allow the false teachers to cheat or defraud them of their temporal blessings or eternal reward (2 John 8) by luring them into irrational mysticism.

“Voluntary humility”: Since the false teachers took great delight in it, their ‘self-abasement” was actually pride, which God hates (Prov. 6:16-17).

“Worshipping of angels”: The beginning of a heresy that was to plague the region around Colossae for several centuries and far beyond – a practice the Bible clearly prohibits (Matt. 4:10; Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9).

“Things that he has not seen”: Like virtually all cults and false religions, the Colossian false teachers based their teaching on visions and revelations they had supposedly received. Their claims were false; since Jesus Christ is God’s final and complete (see notes on verses 3-4) revelation to mankind (Heb. 1:1-2).

“Fleshly mind”: See note on Rom. 8:6. This describes the unregenerate and is further defined in Eph. 4:17-19.

“Intruding into those things which he hath not seen”: The heretics claimed to have witnessed numerous revelations and visions.

Angels are part of the creation. They are not the Creator. We should worship and serve only God. This is the mistake that a third of the angels made when they followed the archangel Lucifer. The best advice is worship the Creator and not any of His creation.

Colossians 2:19 "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."

There is no spiritual growth for the body (the church) apart from union with the Head, Christ (John 15:4-5; 2 Pet. 1:3).

The Greek word “holding” means to hold fast to someone so as to remain united with him. The “Head” is Christ Thus, “not holding the Head” reveals that the local heretics possessed no relationship with Christ; they were not therefore true Christians. As the “Head” is Christ, so the “body” is figuratively represented to be the church, and the “joints” and “bands” are by implication the individual believers within the church.

“Having nourishment ministered, and knit together” means being supported and united. From Christ (the “Head”), then, the church (“body”) derives spiritual growth as it is supported and united by the various ministering believers (“joints,” “bands”) in the assembly.

All Christians, who make up the body of Christ, should grow by letting the Head (Jesus Christ) direct them in all they do. The body can only function properly when the head gives the signals to each part of the body.

In a human, the brain sends impulses to the arms and legs and other parts of the body for them to function properly. If the signals are not received from the brain, the other parts of the body do not function properly. It is the same thing in the spiritual sense. Let the Head control the body, or else the body will not function properly.

Colossians 2:20 "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,"

“If ye be dead” (or, “since you died”): Paul’s expression, “to die,” figuratively means to be free from something. That from which the Colossians had been freed is “the rudiments of the world,” that is, from the elementary religious teachings espousing salvation by merit and good works.

“Dead with Christ”: Refers to the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection (see notes on Rom. 6:1-11 by which he has been transformed to new life from all worldly folly.

“Rudiments of the world”: See note on verse 8. These are the same as “the commandments and teachings of men” (verse 22).

Since the gospel has freed the believer from attempting to gain heaven by self-effort, he should never “submit” himself again to such legalistic “ordinances.”

When you are dead, you do not have to follow ordinances. You do not have to pay taxes when you are dead. This is just saying, that to be dead in Christ took care of the entire fulfillment of ordinances.

When you are in Christ, He makes the decisions. It is no longer necessary to have a set of rules to go by. Christ breaks no spiritual laws. The verse above is showing that true Christianity makes you one with Christ. There is no law against the activities of Christ.

 

Verses 21-23: These verses point out the futility of asceticism, which is the attempt to achieve holiness by rigorous self-neglect (verse 23), self-denial (verse 21), and even self-infliction. Since it focuses on temporal “things destined to perish with us,” asceticism is powerless to restrain sin or bring one to God.

While reasonable care and discipline of one’s body is of temporal value (1 Tim. 4:8), it has no eternal value, and the extremes of asceticism serve only to gratify the flesh. All too often, ascetics seek only to put on a public show of their supposed holiness (Matt. 6:16-18).

Colossians 2:21 "(Touch not; taste not; handle not;"

These three prohibitions are examples of the heretical teaching to which the Colossians were about to submit. They were to abstain from certain foods and drinks. Legalism is largely negative in nature; Christianity is nicely balanced, containing both negative and positive aspects.

This was one of the things that made the Pharisees so angry with Jesus. He did all of the above. We know that the Jews were very careful to keep all of the ordinances. Jesus fulfilled these ordinances on the cross.

Colossians 2:22 "Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?"

Inasmuch as all these foods “are to perish with the using,’ it is foolish to base one’s eternal salvation on abstinence from temporary things like food.

What you touch, or put into the mouth, does not defile you. The two following Scriptures say it best.

Matthew 15:20 "These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

Mark 7:15 "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man."

Colossians 2:23 "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."

This verse is better translated, “Which things do indeed have an appearance of wisdom consisting in self-imposed worship and false humility and in severe treatment of the body; but this is of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

The apostle concedes that legalism is outwardly impressive, but he denies asceticism’s ability to harness the sensual appetite of man’s sinful nature (“flesh”).

In this, Paul is still reminding them that many things that appear to be wise to the flesh of man are not necessarily wise in God's sight. It is good to crucify your flesh, but if it is done to prove something to the world, it is wrong. Our salvation lies in Christ alone, not in any will worship on our part.