Tag: Legalism and Ascetisim Cannot Stop Sin - Colossians 1-2

Colossians 2:20-23

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.

Tag: Legalism Cannot Stop Sin

In the Church at Colosse, there were a number of false doctrines being spoken. Paul wrote this little letter to correct those bad doctrines.   Note one commentators brief picture of this passage:

“In 2:8-23, Paul mounts a frontal attack on the Colossian heresy. He has already dealt with philosophy (2:8-10) and presented Christ’s sufficiency (2:11-15). He continues his refutation of the Colossian heresy by dealing with legalism (2:16-17), mysticism (2:18-19), and asceticism (2:20-23).”

Excerpt From: John F. MacArthur. “Colossians and Philemon MacArthur New Testament Commentary.” Moody Publishers, 1992. iBooks. 

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In the above passage Paul is attacking “asceticism” - a demanding form of legalism.   The false teachers were trying to convince the Colossian church that if they refrained from certain things and beat their body into submission, they would be holy.   Paul refutes this thinking and teaching.  Paul flat out tells them that this type of teaching will have NO power to prevent the “indulgence” of the flesh.   The flesh wants what the flesh wants.   Working “in the flesh” to beat the flesh will not conquer the desires of the flesh.  To beat the flesh we have to live in the Spirit.   Paul’s entire point of the book is to get the members of this church to stop submitting to the wickedness of this teaching (which is a teaching of works based living) and to get them to live in the Spirit and by the Spirit.   We can’t beat the desires of the flesh by “beating” the flesh - denying it things.  We can only beat the flesh by the Power of the Spirit - which will change our desire.