Sermons on Colossians 2:20-23
The various sermons below converge forcefully around a few core convictions: Colossians 2:20–23 is read primarily as a warning against legalism and self-atoning asceticism that masquerades as wisdom but cannot transform the heart. Preachers repeatedly invoke the shadow/substance metaphor (the old covenant or rules as a photograph and Christ as the real person), stress the necessity of Spirit‑wrought inward change over externals, and differentiate healthy discipline from prideful self-denial. Several speakers bring helpful linguistic and cultural nuance (notably the Greek terms translated “elemental” or “stoichia” and a sharper sense of “condemn” as a disqualifying umpire), and others enrich the core insight with vivid images—legalism as a cancer, white‑knuckling will‑worship, ascetics perched on columns, or enjoying God’s gifts “running up the beam of light.” A consistent pastoral thread is that both indulgence and extreme abstinence can be flesh‑driven unless rooted in union with Christ, and gratitude/prayer are repeatedly offered as the corrective to rule‑keeping.
Where the sermons diverge is worth noting for sermon design: some frame legalism as a demonic distortion that actively seeks to replace Christ, while others treat the error more psychologically or culturally—as human habit, misunderstandings of cause‑and‑effect, or misplaced piety. Some expositions lean into technical Greek and historical context to redefine “elemental principles” as abstract worldviews or alphabetic “ABCs,” whereas others emphasize arresting pastoral metaphors and practical applications (yielding the will, enjoying gifts with thanksgiving, or insisting on godliness over bodily discipline). The pastoral prescriptions split too: one stream calls for reclaiming freedom in grateful engagement with creation and culture, another presses for vigilant inward transformation and clear boundaries against false teachings, and still another warns that the very posture of self‑denial can exalt the self—so your homiletical choice will shape whether you stress theological diagnosis, linguistic precision, cultural engagement, or a pastoral call to surrender to the Spirit. Some sermons push toward reappropriating ordinary life as worship; others push toward a firmer boundary against externalism and legalistic community practices, and a third set focuses on the danger of "will worship" that attempts to force holiness by human effort rather than—
Colossians 2:20-23 Interpretation:
Breaking Free from the Chains of Legalism (Resurrection Church) offers a vivid and unique interpretation of Colossians 2:20-23 by framing legalism as a disease or cancer that infects the church, ultimately leading to spiritual death if not addressed. The sermon uses the analogy of a soldier returning home to his family, comparing the Old Covenant laws to a photograph (a shadow) and Christ to the real family (the substance), emphasizing that clinging to legalistic rules is like kissing the photo instead of embracing the real person. The preacher also highlights the Greek nuance of the word "condemn" (used as an umpire disqualifying someone from a game), which shapes the understanding that legalists act as unauthorized umpires, disqualifying others from the faith based on man-made standards. The sermon further distinguishes between self-discipline (commended in Scripture) and self-denial as self-atonement (condemned in Colossians), arguing that the latter is a distortion of the gospel and a form of spiritual slavery.
Guarding Against False Teachings: The Supremacy of Christ (David Guzik) provides a detailed linguistic and cultural analysis of the phrase "elemental spiritual forces" (stoichia), explaining its Greek roots as referring to the alphabet, basic elements, or even spiritual forces in ancient mystery religions. Guzik uniquely interprets the "basic principles of the world" as the universal human tendency toward cause-and-effect thinking (karma, you get what you deserve), which he claims is fundamentally shattered by the principle of grace in Christ. He asserts that legalism and all forms of false teaching ultimately fail because they cannot grasp this grace. The sermon also uses the metaphor of the shadow and substance, paralleling the Old Testament laws to a picture of a wife and Christ to the real spouse, urging believers not to focus on the shadow when the substance has come. Guzik further argues that legalism, with its "do not handle, do not taste, do not touch," is a self-focused religion that feeds the flesh through spiritual pride rather than restraining it.
Embracing Truth and Liberty in Christ's Creation (Alistair Begg) interprets Colossians 2:20-23 as a direct refutation of self-induced asceticism and externalism, arguing that such practices have "an appearance of wisdom" but are powerless to restrain sensual indulgence. Begg draws a sharp distinction between Spirit-filled discipline (true Christian growth) and self-imposed external rules, warning that the latter leads to bondage and Pharisaical Christianity. He uses the example of ancient ascetics living atop columns to illustrate the futility and absurdity of extreme self-denial, connecting it to modern tendencies toward disengagement from culture and legalistic withdrawal.
"Guidance for Faithful Ministry and Spiritual Vigilance" (Alistair Begg) closely mirrors the interpretation in "Embracing Truth and Liberty in Christ's Creation," reiterating that Colossians 2:20-23 exposes the lie that abstaining from outward things leads to higher spirituality. Begg again highlights the passage's emphasis on the ineffectiveness of external rules and the need for inward transformation by the Spirit, using both ancient and modern examples of asceticism to illustrate the point.
Prioritizing Godliness: The True Path to Contentment (Desiring God) references Colossians 2:20-23 to draw a contrast between bodily training (ascetic practices) and godliness, suggesting that the false teaching in Colossae (and in 1 Timothy) promoted harsh treatment of the body as a means to holiness. The sermon notes that such practices "have an appearance of wisdom" but are ultimately ineffective in curbing the flesh, emphasizing instead the superior value of godliness and contentment.
Embracing God's Goodness: Gratitude Over Legalism (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 2:20-23 as a direct confrontation of the belief that abstaining from certain foods or marriage leads to a higher holiness, labeling such asceticism as a "teaching of demons." The sermon uniquely frames the passage as a battle between demonic legalism and the true Christian inheritance of God's good gifts, emphasizing that pride is the real danger behind legalistic self-denial. The preacher uses the analogy of "running up the beam of light" (from C.S. Lewis) to describe how enjoying God's gifts with thanksgiving leads us to worship God, not the gifts themselves. The passage is seen as a call to receive all of creation as holy when approached with gratitude and prayer, rather than as a list of things to be denied for spiritual merit.
True Transformation: Freedom Through Union with Christ (Desiring God) offers a detailed linguistic insight into the Greek word "stoichaya," explaining it as the "ABCs" or basic principles of world religions, not necessarily demonic spirits. The sermon distinguishes between "self-made religion" and true Christianity, arguing that the rules of "do not handle, do not taste, do not touch" are merely human inventions that cannot restrain the flesh. The preacher highlights that both gluttony and asceticism can be forms of fleshly indulgence—one through appetite, the other through pride—thus, both are equally powerless without Christ. The passage is interpreted as a warning against replacing Christ with any form of self-religion, whether indulgent or ascetic.
Asceticism: Exalting Christ Over Self-Denial (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 2:20-23 as a critique of ascetic practices that diminish Christ by making self-denial an end in itself. The sermon uniquely frames the issue as not whether one abstains or partakes, but whether Christ is being exalted or self is being exalted. The preacher draws a sharp distinction between legitimate self-denial (as a means to glorify Christ) and asceticism that becomes a source of pride and self-righteousness, thus failing to defeat sin and instead feeding the ego.
Yielding Our Will: The Path to True Surrender (SermonIndex.net) provides a unique interpretation by focusing on the phrase "will worship" in Colossians 2:23, warning against the danger of making one's own willpower or self-discipline the object of worship. The sermon uses the metaphor of "white-knuckling" one's way to heaven and cautions that a focus on what one does not do (touch not, taste not, handle not) is superficial and does not address the deeper need for a surrendered will. The preacher emphasizes that true self-denial is not about external rules but about yielding one's will to God, echoing Jesus' prayer, "not my will, but thine be done."
Colossians 2:20-23 Theological Themes:
Breaking Free from the Chains of Legalism (Resurrection Church) introduces the theme that legalism is not merely a set of extra rules but a demonic distortion of the gospel that appeals to self-righteousness, selfishness, independence, and the desire for self-atonement. The sermon uniquely frames obedience as a response to love and grace, not as a means to earn acceptance, and insists that true Christian repentance includes repenting of self-righteousness and legalism, not just sin.
Guarding Against False Teachings: The Supremacy of Christ (David Guzik) presents the distinct theological theme that the "elemental principles" are not just ancient spiritual forces but the universal human law of cause and effect, which is fundamentally overturned by grace. Guzik's assertion that legalism and all false teaching are united in their failure to understand grace is a fresh angle, as is his claim that legalism actually feeds the flesh through spiritual pride rather than restraining it.
Embracing Truth and Liberty in Christ's Creation (Alistair Begg) and "Guidance for Faithful Ministry and Spiritual Vigilance" (Alistair Begg) both emphasize the theme that externalism and self-imposed asceticism are powerless to produce true godliness, and that only the indwelling Spirit can transform the heart. Begg adds the contemporary application that disengagement from culture and legalistic withdrawal are modern forms of the same error, and that Christian liberty is found in enjoying God's good gifts with gratitude.
Prioritizing Godliness: The True Path to Contentment (Desiring God) adds the nuance that godliness, with its inherent contentment, is of infinitely greater value than bodily discipline or asceticism, and that the pursuit of external holiness through self-denial is ultimately futile compared to the inward transformation of the heart.
Embracing God's Goodness: Gratitude Over Legalism (Desiring God) introduces the theme that all of creation is intended to be received as holy by God's children when approached with thanksgiving and prayer, and that legalistic abstinence is a demonic distortion that leads to pride rather than holiness. The sermon adds the nuanced idea that God's gifts (food, sex, etc.) are "emblems of the worth of God," and that their proper use leads to worship, not idolatry.
True Transformation: Freedom Through Union with Christ (Desiring God) presents the theme that both indulgence and asceticism can be equally fleshly if they are not rooted in Christ, highlighting the subtlety of pride as a form of fleshly indulgence. The sermon adds the fresh angle that "self-made religion" is ultimately powerless because it is a product of human effort, not divine transformation, and that only union with Christ can truly restrain the flesh.
Asceticism: Exalting Christ Over Self-Denial (Desiring God) develops the theme that the true test of any practice (ascetic or otherwise) is whether it exalts Christ or self. The sermon adds the distinct facet that asceticism, when used as a means of self-exaltation, is just as spiritually dangerous as gluttony, and that the real issue is the orientation of the heart—toward Christ or toward self.
Yielding Our Will: The Path to True Surrender (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme of "will worship" as a spiritual danger, where the focus on self-discipline and external rules becomes a substitute for genuine surrender to God's will. The sermon adds the nuanced point that true Christian conviction is not about being "wishy-washy" but about standing firm in God's will, and that the power to yield the will comes from the Holy Spirit, not from human effort.
Colossians 2:20-23 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Breaking Free from the Chains of Legalism (Resurrection Church) provides historical context by explaining the Jewish background of dietary and festival laws, noting that many early Christians brought their Judaistic tendencies into the church, leading to legalistic conflicts. The sermon also references Leviticus 11 and Mark 7 to show the transition from Old Covenant dietary laws to the freedom declared by Jesus.
Guarding Against False Teachings: The Supremacy of Christ (David Guzik) offers extensive historical and cultural background, detailing the mix of early Gnosticism, Greek philosophy, local mystery religions, and Jewish mysticism that threatened the Colossian church. Guzik explains the Greek term "stoichia" and its use in ancient thought, as well as the cultural significance of circumcision and baptism in the Greco-Roman world. He also describes the Roman practice of posting a "titulus" (crime sheet) above crucified criminals, using this to illustrate Paul's metaphor of the "handwriting of requirements" nailed to the cross.
Embracing Truth and Liberty in Christ's Creation (Alistair Begg) and "Guidance for Faithful Ministry and Spiritual Vigilance" (Alistair Begg) both provide historical context by referencing the rise of Gnosticism in the second century, the combination of Jewish ritualism and pagan superstition in the first century, and the ascetic practices of early Christian monks such as Simeon Stylites, who lived atop columns as a form of extreme self-denial.
Asceticism: Exalting Christ Over Self-Denial (Desiring God) provides historical context by referencing the false teaching in Colossae, which included asceticism, worship of angels, and the imposition of basic rules (elemental principles) as requirements for being a true Christian. The sermon explains that these practices were replacing Christ as the center of faith and were likely influenced by both Jewish and pagan religious traditions that emphasized ritual purity and self-denial as paths to holiness.
Colossians 2:20-23 Cross-References in the Bible:
Breaking Free from the Chains of Legalism (Resurrection Church) references Leviticus 11 (dietary laws), Mark 7:18-19 (Jesus declaring all foods clean), and 1 Corinthians 9 (Paul's analogy of self-discipline and the athlete) to support the argument that Old Testament regulations were shadows fulfilled in Christ and that true discipline is Spirit-empowered, not self-imposed.
Guarding Against False Teachings: The Supremacy of Christ (David Guzik) cross-references Galatians (elemental principles), 1 Timothy 4 (all foods are pure), 1 Corinthians 2:8 (rulers of this age and the cross), Romans 14 (Christian liberty), Ephesians 6 (spiritual warfare), and the Gospels (Jesus' teaching on the Sabbath and food laws). Guzik also references Revelation (overcoming by the blood of the Lamb) and the Book of Acts (baptism as a sign of spiritual transformation).
Embracing Truth and Liberty in Christ's Creation (Alistair Begg) and "Guidance for Faithful Ministry and Spiritual Vigilance" (Alistair Begg) both reference Ephesians 6 (spiritual warfare), Hebrews 1 (last days), 2 Timothy 3 (last days), and the Gospels (Jesus' teaching on what defiles a person) to reinforce the argument that external rules cannot produce true holiness and that spiritual transformation is the work of the Spirit.
Embracing God's Goodness: Gratitude Over Legalism (Desiring God) references Mark 7, where Jesus declares all foods clean, to support the idea that Mosaic dietary laws are set aside for believers. The sermon also cites 1 Timothy 4:4-5, emphasizing that everything created by God is good and to be received with thanksgiving, and that food and sex are made holy by the word of God and prayer. These cross-references are used to reinforce the argument that legalistic abstinence is contrary to the gospel and that gratitude and prayer sanctify God's gifts.
Asceticism: Exalting Christ Over Self-Denial (Desiring God) references 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, where Paul speaks of disciplining his body to avoid disqualification, and 1 Corinthians 6:12, where he refuses to be dominated by anything. The sermon also cites Jesus' teaching in Luke 9:23 about denying oneself and taking up the cross, and 1 Timothy 4:4 about receiving God's gifts with thanksgiving. These passages are used to show that self-denial has a legitimate place in the Christian life, but only when it serves to glorify Christ and not self.
Yielding Our Will: The Path to True Surrender (SermonIndex.net) references Romans 9:16-18 to emphasize God's sovereignty over human will, and Colossians 2:20-23 to warn against "will worship." The sermon also cites Romans 7 and 8 to illustrate the struggle of the will and the need for the Holy Spirit's power, and Luke 9:23-24 to highlight the call to deny oneself and follow Christ. Additionally, 2 Timothy 2:24-26 is used to warn that Satan can "pirate" the will if given a foothold, and Proverbs 1:29 and 17:16 are referenced to illustrate the consequences of refusing God's counsel and wisdom.
Colossians 2:20-23 Christian References outside the Bible:
Breaking Free from the Chains of Legalism (Resurrection Church) explicitly cites Richard Foster, quoting, "Nothing can choke the heart and soul out of walking with God like legalism." The sermon also recounts Foster's illustration of Hans the tailor, where a man contorts himself to fit into a poorly made suit, paralleling how legalism forces believers to deform themselves (and the church) to fit man-made rules, rather than being clothed in Christ's righteousness.
Embracing God's Goodness: Gratitude Over Legalism (Desiring God) explicitly references C.S. Lewis, quoting his idea of "running up the beam of light to the original" to illustrate how enjoying God's gifts should lead to worship of the Giver, not the gifts themselves. This metaphor is used to reinforce the sermon's argument that gratitude and worship, not legalism, are the proper Christian response to God's creation.
Colossians 2:20-23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Breaking Free from the Chains of Legalism (Resurrection Church) uses several secular illustrations: a meme about vegetarians and vegans competing by jumping off a cliff, highlighting the absurdity of judging others over dietary choices; the analogy of a soldier returning home and choosing to kiss a photo of his family instead of embracing them, illustrating the folly of clinging to shadows (Old Covenant laws) when the substance (Christ) is present; and the recurring character in TV and movies who is outwardly strict and self-punishing, eventually breaking down, to depict the destructive nature of legalism. The sermon also shares the story of Hans the tailor (from Richard Foster), where a man contorts himself to fit a suit, symbolizing how legalism deforms believers and the church.
Embracing Truth and Liberty in Christ's Creation (Alistair Begg) and "Guidance for Faithful Ministry and Spiritual Vigilance" (Alistair Begg) both reference the historical example of Simeon Stylites, the ascetic who lived atop a column for decades, as a metaphor for extreme and ultimately futile self-denial. Begg also uses the modern example of disengagement from culture, likening it to all the salt being in the cellar and none in the potatoes, and all the pepper in the shaker and none on the pork, to illustrate the ineffectiveness of legalistic withdrawal from the world. Additionally, Begg references the Heaven's Gate cult and its leader Marshall Applewhite, who promoted extreme asceticism and detachment from normal life, as a modern example of the dangers of legalistic and ascetic false teaching.
Yielding Our Will: The Path to True Surrender (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate Colossians 2:20-23. The preacher tells the story of a high school student named Raymond whose car keys are taken by a security officer, serving as a metaphor for surrendering one's will to God. The sermon also describes the "Judas goat" at a sheep slaughterhouse, which leads sheep to slaughter in exchange for rewards, as an analogy for how Satan can deceive and "pirate" the human will if given a foothold. Additionally, the preacher references the "fast-draw champion" of California to encourage quick recourse to Scripture in spiritual battle, and recounts the use of hypnosis and addictive media as modern examples of how the will can be overtaken or manipulated, paralleling the dangers of "will worship" and external rule-keeping.