Chad Coley
Series in Colossians
Common Dangers Facing the Church, Part 3/ Asceticism
Colossians 2:20 - 23
6 October 2019
The false teachers in Colossae were leading people astray by teaching them to measure spiritual maturity by a standard other than the Word of God. Their teaching advocated the dangers of Legalism and Mysticism, and in the text before us today, Paul warns about the dangers of Asceticism because of the following reasons.
1. Ascetic practices assume that Christ is insufficient.
Paul reasons that if we have died with Christ (and we have), we don't need to submit to other rules and regulations. If we are new creations (which we are), then we do not need to submit to all these extraneous rules and regulations. Jesus Christ is sufficient not only for salvation, but also for sanctification. We do not need to gain the favour of God with our actions because Christ has done everything that needs to be done on our behalf. The moment we reject God's plan and His word, we will end up in idolatry.
2. Ascetic practices focus on temporal things
By prohibiting the handling and touching and tasting of things, the false teachers were focused on the physical. And Paul reminds his readers that these things are only temporary, because they perish with use. Thus if we occupy our minds with these prohibitions that are based in the traditions of men, we will be distracted from the things that have actual and eternal value.
3. Asceticism is of no value
God has no love to give us and bestow upon us other than the love he has already shown us in Christ. If our mind is telling us to do something in order to blessed by God, we have failed to understand the Gospel. We have also failed to understand the person and work of Christ. There is no other means for us to be loved by God other than Christ because Christ is the love of God made manifest to us. This is why Paul says that Asceticism has the appearance of wisdom but actually has no value at all. Because it focuses on the things that have no value instead of focusing on Christ.
Clearly then, there is no value in following manmade commands for spiritual growth. They seem wise, but are self-focused. When we follow rules to obtain the favour of God, we reverse the order of salvation: which is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, with scripture alone as the sole standard of truth. After all, it is only the word of God that can enable us to tell the difference between truth and tradition.