COLOSSIANS 2:18-23
BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS WHO WANT TO DECAPITATE YOU
Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
SUSAN: Paul warned the Colossians not to let anyone rob them of blessings and heavenly rewards.
SUSIE: These false teachers claimed to have seen visions and promoted a self-imposed humility and the worship of angels.
SUSAN: The Bible clearly rejects and prohibits the worship of angels.
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:3-6 (BSB)
And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Revelation 22:8-9 (BSB)
SUSIE: A good article on biblical reasons we should not worship angels can be found here:
Colossians 2:19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
SUSIE: Let’s take a look at this verse in another translation:
They are detached from the very head that nourishes and connects the whole body with all of its nerves and ligaments, a body that grows by the kind of growth that can only come from God.
Colossians 2:19 (VOICE)
SUSAN: If a person is decapitated, he/she cannot possibly grow. Jesus is the Head of the body of believers. If people deny and reject Jesus, they are not connected to the head and therefore are destined for death—eternal separation from God.
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
Hebrews 9:27-28 (BSB)
SUSAN: All people will die here on earth unless they are blessed to be a part of the Rapture (we won’t chase that rabbit right now), but after the earth-suit expires, the Righteous Judge, Jesus, determines where each person will spend eternity. Those who by faith have surrendered their lives to Jesus will live eternally with the Lord. Those who have rejected His gift of salvation will live forever in torment.
SUSIE: We can only be saved by connecting to the Head; and in order to grow in the Lord, we must be sure our instruction comes from the Head, Jesus, and not false teachers. Spiritual growth can only come from a relationship that stays plugged into God through His word and the indwelling Holy Spirit—NOT by self-imposed nor externally demanded restrictions.
PONDER THIS: We are instructed to obey the commands of God. How is this different from legalistically imposing certain rules on others or even ourselves? Is it the motivation for obedience? Is it whether or not we are trusting those “works” for our salvation? Which comes first: obedience to God or relationship with Jesus?
Colossians 2:20-22 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
SUSIE: When we come to Jesus by faith by the grace of God, our old way of life is crucified; and we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are dead to the ways of the world, and Jesus empowers us to live for Him:
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (BSB)
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20 (BSB)
SUSIE: Following rules without having a relationship with Jesus cannot help us. We cannot be good enough, humble enough, self-denying enough on our own to please God.
SUSAN: The only way to the Father is in and through Jesus, His Son.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 (BSB)
SUSIE: These false teachers were trying to impose an extreme legalism on the believers at Colossae. Paul reminds them that Jesus already did everything necessary for their redemption.
SUSAN: They did not need to put themselves through empty, self-imposed, religious calisthenics.
Colossian 2:23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
SUSAN: These ascetic false teachers were abusing their bodies (the temple of God) and claiming it to be an act of worship. God incarnate, Jesus, valued humanity so much that He gave all of Himself upon the cross to pay the price of our sin, to erase our debt of sin. He did everything necessary for us to have a right relationship with the Father.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 1:3 (BSB)
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:18-23 (BSB)
SUSIE: There is no need for us to deprive or even injure our bodies since Jesus suffered the abuse for us. If we think there is something more we must do, we are acting as if Jesus’ sacrifice meant nothing! We would be denying the power of His death and resurrection. After Jesus was raised from the dead, the Father seated Him at His right side. He sat down because He had finished all the work necessary for us to inherit eternal life. When we trust in Jesus through the faith given to us by the grace of God, we are saved. The works or good deeds that follow are not done to earn our place in Heaven but are evidence that Jesus has already secured that place for us.
PONDER THIS: The old hymn says, “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe.” Do you believe that? Are you still striving in your own power to be “good enough?” or are you rejoicing that Jesus took your sin upon Himself, and it has been crucified. Think about this truth today, and enjoy the freedom found in Jesus— freedom to live for Him rather than in slavery to sin. Freedom from endless self-effort. Freedom to rest in the Everlasting Arms of the One who loves you unconditionally.
EXTRA CREDIT: Look up “asceticism” focusing especially on references to it in the Bible to have a better understanding of what Paul was teaching against. Summarize or outline the information you find.