Introduction
Over four centuries ago a young monk named Martin Luther was zealously seeking peace with God. He followed every rule of his monastery, and turned to punishing his body through starvation, beatings, and hard labor, seeking to kill his sin nature and earn God’s favor. Sometimes in his zeal, he brought himself very near death. Others were concerned for him, and yet he was willing to lose his life if somehow he could find peace for his soul. His superiors tried to distract him with education and responsibility hoping he would mellow with age, but still he could find nothing to satisfy his soul or free him from the chains of sin. Nothing, that is, until he read in Romans that, “the just shall live by faith.” All of his knowledge of Scripture came rushing back as the Holy Spirit gave him understanding. Finally he grasped the reality that he could never pay for his own sins or remove their power through any works of his own. All the rules and regulations he could impose on himself could not make him acceptable to God. By faith he must believe that Jesus Christ in His death had paid for Luther’s sins – and would completely erase their record. Through His resurrection, Christ had conquered the power of sin and the Law. Now there was freedom! When he saw this, the light of heaven burst upon his troubled soul. Suddenly he understood that we only “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And it is His perfect life, death, and resurrection that frees us from sin and the Law to live in loving obedience to God because He gives those who trust Him His Spirit to help them live rightly. Colossians 2:16-23 speaks of this freedom in Christ. The rules and regulations cannot free us from sin or its power. Instead, through the death of Christ a Christian is free from them to live for God and be at peace with Him.
Observation
Pray
Before reading this passage, pray that God will help you understand what it means and help you reject anything false you have been taught that disagrees with what Scripture says.
Read Focus Verses
As you read Colossians 2:16-23 notice all the things a Christian is free from.
Therefore
You probably noticed that this passage starts off with a phrase beginning “Therefore” which means the truths of this passage are based on the truths of the last one. Read Colossians 2:8-23 to get up to speed on the present passage.
Foundation
How would you summarize the truths in the passage leading up to today’s verses? (You can refer to the study “The 4 Ways Christians have Victory over Sin” which explores those verses.)
Judge
What is a Christian not supposed to allow in verse 16?
Why?
Why is a Christian not to allow others to judge what they do or don’t do about certain things according to verse 17?
Tricked
What does verse 18 warn a believer that they can be tricked by such that they lose?
Worship
Who is a Christian never to worship in verse 18?
Holding Fast
What is a Christian to do instead of these other things from which he or she is free according to verse 19?
Reality
What reality is mentioned in verse 20 which gives another reason a believer is free?
Freed
When a person dies with Christ, what do verses 20-21 say they are freed from?
Perish
What are these worldly principles based on according to verse 22?
A Show
In your own words, how would you summarize what verse 23 says about these false rules?
Keyword – Christ
Christ is the center of this passage – the reason for a Christian’s freedom and the one to whom they turn to be free.
Jesus Christ
The Head
Mark all of the words naming or referring to Jesus Christ in today’s passage.
Interpretation
Passing Judgment
Look at the meaning of the word translated ‘judge’ in verse 16.
Strong's G2919
Greek,krino [kree'-no]
--Verb
Origin: perhaps a primitive word
Definition:
- to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose
- to approve, esteem, to prefer
- to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion
- to determine, resolve, decree
- to judge
- to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong
- to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it
- to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure
- of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others
- to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong
- to rule, govern
- to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment
- to contend together, of warriors and combatants
- to dispute
- in a forensic sense
- to go to law, have suit at law
Setting the Standard
Notice that in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 Paul goes further to say that not only can another person not set the standard of what is right for a Christian, they can’t set it for themselves.
Who?
If a Christian cannot be judged by themselves or by others, who judges them according to these verses?
The Law
In verse 16 the things listed are parts of the Mosaic Law given in Exodus through Deuteronomy. In verse 17 Paul explains why a Christian is free from observing those rules of the Law by describing them as shadows. Hebrews speaks extensively of the way the Law is a shadow of the reality of things in Christ. Notice what Hebrews 10:1 says about the Law.
A Shadow
What are some of the reasons you can think of that the Law would be called a shadow of the reality of Christ – something that indicated vaguely the reality it was representing?
Set Free
Galatians 5:1 concludes a long section explaining how Christians are free from the Mosaic Law.
Reward
Hebrews 11:6 speaks of the reward mentioned in Colossians 2:18.
To Whom?
To whom does Hebrews 11:6 say that God will give reward?
Why?
By tying these two passages together, how would you explain why a believer who is distracted by false rules will lose reward?
Humility
Verses 18 and 23 in today’s passage both speak of a false humility. Compare this humility with the true humility described in 1 Peter 5:6.
Difference
How can you tell the difference between true and false humility?
Victory
Verses 20-23 speak of regulations which verse 23 says punish the body but do not protect from temptation. In these quotes, Thomas Chalmers explains what actually will overcome temptation to sin: “The best way to overcome the world is not with morality or self-discipline. Christians overcome the world by seeing the beauty and excellence of Christ. They overcome the world by seeing something more attractive than the world: Christ “The only way to dispossess [the heart] of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one.”
The Answer
Since rules and morality are not the answer to overcoming temptation, what is? How would you explain the answer to a friend?
Not a Cover for Sin
Colossians has clearly shown that a Christian is free from the Law. Read the warning in Galatians 5:13 about this freedom.
Under Grace
This warning is further explained by Romans 6:12-18.
Freedom
Based on these three passages in Galatians, Romans, and Colossians, what does it mean that a Christian is free, or, in other words, what will that freedom look like and not look like?
Celebration
Conclude with the joyful exclamation in 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 which explains how freedom from sin and the law allows His people to love and live for Jesus Christ.
Application
Set Free
Have you been set free by putting your faith in Jesus Christ’s death to pay for your sins? How do you know?
Living Free
In what ways are you living the kind of fake freedom that imposes worldly regulations on you and robs you of eternal reward? Instead, how can you live truly free in Christ to love and obey God?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you understand how a Christian is truly free from the Law to live for Christ.
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