If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?
Into the Text
After dealing with legalism and empty spiritualism, Paul warns the Colossians of another false teaching that could lead them astray: asceticism. Asceticism is when people deny themselves earthly pleasures, such as certain foods, clothes, or getting married, with the idea that this will make them more holy.
However, these practices do not advance us in our Christian life. That’s because they only deal with the external realities, with things that are all “destined to perish with use” anyway. Keeping external rules or forcing the body to abstain from certain things may look very good to others, but these practices can’t change our hearts. In fact, they will actually accomplish the very opposite of what we hoped for. They will quickly result in “fleshly indulgence” by making us proud and self-centered.
Paul wants his readers to understand that living a God-pleasing life is only possible if we have died to this world. Our spiritual condition apart from Jesus is so bad that we are enslaved to sin. No amount of asceticism or self-discipline will be able to break sin’s mastery over our lives.
That’s why, once again, Paul reminds us that we have “died with Christ” to these external things. Our old sinful nature has died, and sin no longer has mastery over us. We have been “raised with Christ.” We have a new identity. We have been freed to serve a new master.
By faith, you need to count yourself dead to all the worldly ways of “self-improvement” and alive to Jesus. He wants you to pray: “Lord Jesus, I can’t overcome the sin inside of me. But, you can, and you did. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, for He alone can empower me to live a life of obedience.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, by faith I am united to your death and resurrection. Thank you for giving me a new life. Amen.