8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul warns believers not to be taken captive by philosophy that is empty of truth because it is based on human ideas and not based on Christ. Any philosophy or thinking that is not based on the clear teachings of the Bible is wrong. The Colossian church was being presented with false teachings about spirituality, angels, self-abasement, and wrong views of Christ. We see errors creeping into the church today because they are based first on man’s ideas, then the Bible is wrongly interpreted to support man’s ideas. Some of these are evolutionary thought, man’s ideas on marriage, social justice, to name a few. We must always rely on God’s word alone for truth and then work from the principles found there.
Paul reiterates why it is important to stand strong in Christ against false teaching. Jesus Christ is preeminent because he is God Himself in human form. Jesus is not a spirit being but fully man, yet fully God. Because of this believers are complete in Him because we have received God’s righteousness which can only come through Christ (John 14:6) and which is sufficient to save us (John 5:24). Jesus is supreme over every rule and authority. Whatever false teaching they were hearing about angels, they had no authority over Jesus. As believers, we have received a spiritual circumcision which means the legal requirements of Judaism are no longer required. This circumcision is a circumcision of the heart where our sinful nature is put off by Christ’s death on the cross and we are now a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). At the moment of belief, we were buried with him in baptism and raised with him through faith in the work of God. This baptism Paul is speaking about is baptism the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. Paul links this baptism to the moment of conversion which means He cannot be speaking of water baptism. Water baptism is something a believer should do shortly after conversion as a public witness to the inward change Paul is describing here. Before believing in the saving work of Jesus, we were dead in our sinful nature. While we still had human life, we were cut off from spiritual life. But God made us alive in Christ when He forgave all our sins and canceled the record of wrongs held against us. Your sin charge sheet (including anything that might be added to it in the future) is no longer held against you because it was nailed to the cross as it was paid in full by Jesus. Jesus triumphed over demons and the world system. Sin no longer remains a barrier between God and man.
What a great reminder of all that Christ has done for us. No matter what you’re battling with, the answer will not be found in any ideas man can come up with. 2 Peter 1:3a says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”. We have everything we need in Christ. As someone said, “it’s not what you know, it’s Who you know.”
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
I Am the Way: John 13-14