Colossians abounds with Jesus, as we’ve already seen in the very rich Colossians 1.15 – 20. But what’s the “so what?” It turns out that getting a firm fix on Jesus delivers us from legalism, which I write about often, most recently a few days ago. (I write about it because Paul wrote about it!)

Anyway, here’s the setup in Colossians:

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. THEREFORE…(Colossians 2.8 – 15, ESV)

Therefore, what? We are complete in Jesus. We are spiritually circumcised in Jesus. We are baptized in Jesus. We are made alive in Jesus. Our sin debt has been canceled in Jesus. And what’s the first so what? The “therefore”?

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. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
• Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
• If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2.16 – 23, ESV, bulleted for clarity)

How did we or any so-called Christians read Colossians and then come up with a list of do’s and don’t’s? Rules about food and drink – Jewish or otherwise. Demanding people have certain experiences. “Don’t handle; don’t taste; don’t touch.” As with any “religious” observance, this stuff looks good on the outside without doing anything in “stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” Hence, some of the strictest, rule-keeping denominational leaders have been caught in precisely that – indulgence of the flesh.

Tomorrow we’ll start looking at the kinds of things we do need to avoid, followed by the kinds of things we need to “put on.”

Paul’s message is consistent: understanding Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins should protect us from a works-based, legalistic way of life. Here’s what he said to the Galatians:

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3.1 – 3, ESV)