Athletes, while in training, will take rigorous measures to achieve their performance goals. They give up things an ordinary person might enjoy, such as favorite foods, free time, or sleeping late. Sometimes, we think about our faith the same way. We equate the Christian life with the things we don’t do.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks about self-denial or asceticism. Paul had already warned the Colossians of deceptive philosophy, legalism, and mysticism. Now he turns his attention to those who practice asceticism in order to become more spiritual. Attempting to earn God’s approval this way is vain. Paul asks, “[Why], as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings” (Col. 2:20–22).

Both asceticism and legalism are ways people might try to gain favor with God through works, except that they approach it in different ways. According to Paul, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (v. 23).

For us as believers, the good news is that the flesh, our sinful nature, was crucified on the cross! Paul reminds the Colossians that they have died with Christ, and “your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). We do not have to beat ourselves up with striving because the flesh is already defeated! When Paul says we are “hidden,” it means we are safe in Christ. We no longer submit to religious rules to achieve salvation because our lives have already been saved through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

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