Freedom From Empty Religion (Sermon Blog)
Have you ever felt like following Jesus was mostly about keeping a list of rules?
In Colossians 2:6–23, Paul warns believers about empty religion—ideas, traditions, and human rules that may sound spiritual but can actually pull us away from Christ. Instead, Paul calls us to let our roots grow deep into Jesus, build our lives on Him, and allow our faith to grow strong in the truth.
So how do we avoid empty religion and experience the freedom Jesus offers?
1. Empty Religion Takes Us Captive; Christ Makes Us Complete
Paul warns:
“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense...” — Colossians 2:8
Not every idea that sounds intelligent or spiritual is rooted in truth. Paul was concerned that believers were being influenced by philosophies that came from human thinking rather than Christ.
The same challenge exists today. We're constantly surrounded by ideas about identity, morality, spirituality, and what makes a good life.
That's why it's so important to:
Know God's Word.
Test what we hear against Scripture.
Stay rooted in Christ.
Allow the Holy Spirit—not culture—to shape our thinking.
Paul's answer to empty philosophy is beautifully simple: Christ is enough.
We don't need something added to Jesus to make us spiritually complete. We are already complete through our union with Him.
2. The Cross of Christ Cancels Our Debt and Defeats Every Power
The cross didn't merely make forgiveness possible. Paul says Jesus canceled the record of the charges against us and nailed it to the cross.
Our debt has been paid.
Through Christ:
Our sins are forgiven.
Our old life has been buried.
We have been raised to new life.
The powers of darkness have been defeated.
We have been set free.
We don't have to fight for God's acceptance—the cross took care of that. And we don't have to keep rehearsing sins Jesus has already forgiven.
Our debt is canceled, and our freedom has been secured by Christ.
3. Don't Allow Shadows to Judge You When You Have the Real Thing
Paul then addresses religious rules surrounding food, holy days, ceremonies, and Sabbaths.
These things were shadows pointing toward something greater—and that reality is Christ.
As Pastor Steve put it:
“A shadow is valuable when it leads you to the reality, but it's tragic when it keeps you from embracing the reality.”
Christians can easily turn preferences and traditions into spiritual requirements.
It might be:
A certain worship style.
A particular Bible translation.
How someone dresses.
How a person observes certain days.
A devotional routine.
A church tradition.
Traditions aren't necessarily bad. The problem begins when we treat our personal preferences as though they were God's commands—and then judge others by them.
Empty religion focuses on the shadow. Jesus invites us into the reality.
4. Self-Made Religion Cannot Change the Heart
Rules can change behavior temporarily, but they cannot transform the human heart.
Paul says self-made religion can appear wise and disciplined, yet ultimately it has “no help in conquering a person's evil desires.”
Sometimes we even confuse our personal standards with God's standards. We begin thinking that if we perform better, work harder, or become more disciplined, God will somehow love or accept us more.
This creates what Pastor Steve called the “Jesus plus” instinct.
We say Jesus is enough—but then add:
Jesus + achievement
Jesus + moral performance
Jesus + image management
Jesus + political identity
Jesus + church traditions
But there is nothing we can do to make ourselves more acceptable to Christ. Jesus already did the work.
Spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, generosity, service, solitude, and worship are valuable—not because they earn God's acceptance, but because they help us know the God who already accepts us through Christ.
Move from the Shadows to the Reality
Christianity isn't supposed to be an exhausting treadmill of trying to impress God.
It's a relationship with Jesus.
Empty religion says, “Do more so God will accept you.”
The Gospel says, “Christ has already done it. Now live in the freedom He has given you.”
So instead of living in the shadows, build your life on the real thing. Let your roots grow deeply into Christ, rest in what He accomplished on the cross, and allow your relationship with Him to transform you from the inside out.
On Christ, the solid rock, we stand. All other ground is sinking sand.