Col. 2:16-23; Heb. 10:1-4, Colossians Bible Study (12)

18)          In Col. 2:16-23, how does “religion” keep us from living the Christian life?

Before we answer this question, let’s lay a foundation.  First, we have come to see that “in Christ,” through the “spiritual circumcision and baptism,” we have all we need for “life and godliness” (as Peter put it, 2 Pt. 1:3-4).  Christ has taken away that which arouses sin in our lives (the law) and we have been raised in “resurrection power” to live the new life.

What do we mean by “religion”?  We are talking about religious systems or approaches to “godliness” that add obligations that are not given to us in Scripture.  In other words, systems that tell us we need more than what Christ Himself is to us.  This is the issue being addressed in this passage.

·       Briefly, the answer to the question is that it “cheats us” (2:8, as we said, it means to take us as spoil, to make us slaves to someone or something other than Christ), it “judges us” (2:16, judges us by something not prescribed by Christ), “cheats us” (2:18, a different word than 2:8, referring to an umpire that calls “balls and strikes” but not according to Christ), and religion is of  “no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (2:23).

·       Now, let’s consider the danger of “religion” in more detail.  The basic question is, “how does religion deny us of Christ and what He has provided for us?”

i)      In Col. 2:16-17: This “religion” might sound like the Jewish religion, since Heb. 8:5; 10:1 refer to the Old Testament system as a “shadow of things to come.”  But we also know that every religion has dietary rules, special festivals and holy days and so forth.  Since Christ has come and finished His work our focus needs to be on Him (Col. 3:1: “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.”

ii)   In Col. 2:18-19: This might refer to some Greek religions.  But again, every religion takes great delight in solemn and “holy” rituals that bring special blessings on the participants.  But what this does is satisfy my pride, that I am doing something worthy of God’s blessing.  I faithfully do these things rather than “holding fast to the Head” through Whom comes spiritual growth.

iii)     In Col. 2:20-22: Because religion is a system that emphasizes worldly principles (remember Col. 2:8, “according to the traditions of men … the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”), it calls me to things that have no lasting value.  Every religion has these “don’t do this, don’t do that” rules that work against our death with Christ (spiritual baptism).

iv) In Col. 2:23: Religion is all about appearance, about externals.  Thus it is useless in dealing with our issues which are fundamentally spiritual, not physical.

Thus, religion not only adds things that we don’t need and that do not help; it also takes away our focus on Christ.  Look ahead to 3:1-4 and see what we mean!