Colossians 2:13-23...

The last two weeks we broke down the previous passage from vv4-12 in seeking to understand how we avoid being deceived by persuasive arguments (v4) and how we don’t become captive to false philosophy’s from this world.

Our good and gracious God has given to us this wonderful testimony of what He’s done for us in Christ. (vv9-12)

Then we received this very simple solution to walk in (v6-7).

Which we’ve received Christ Jesus as Lord, and so we continue to live that way for the rest of our lives.

Looking unto Christ and His finished work on our behalf as the way in which we

fight off persuasive arguments and

philosophies

that don’t lead to making Christ preeminent in all things.

So going from persuasive arguments and philosophies about what?

23 "Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.” ()

The false teacher have persuasive arguments and philosophies about how to curb your self-indulgence.

This is what this passage is about! How do we fight sin??

Remember this: Bad theology leads to bad practice!

Some persuasive arguments and philosophies are laid out for us starting in v16.

16 "Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. 17 "These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.” ()

In the false teaching it was believed that the Colossians would progress as Christians to ‘fulness’

by keeping certain Jewish food taboos and rigidly observing their special days.

These severe regulations of a self-denying kind are, however, a shadow of the things that were to come.

Christ and his new order are the perfect reality to which these earlier commandments looked.

The reality has already come and the things of the shadow have no binding force; they are no longer a norm for judgment.

Any demand today to abstain from certain foods or to keep religious festivals as a requirement for

growing as a Christian

brings down upon it the same severe criticism.

18 "Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.” ()

Now, not much is known about the actual practice of the false teachers, but here’s what’s revealed.

These ascetic practices (or false humility) means self-denial and describes fasting and other bodily disciplines which were self-denying practices in Jewish piety that were supposed to open the way for receiving visions of heavenly mysteries.

Their (supposed) heightened experiences now gives them spiritual superiority.

Paul’s criticism is sharp!

These people are inflated by their empty notions of the unspiritual minds!

Their attitude and outlook is dominated by their flesh.

The teachers’ boast was that they were directed by the mind; Paul’s answer is ‘Yes, but it is a mind of flesh!’

To the suggestion that they were acquainted with divine ‘fulness’, the response is that all they are full of is their own pride!

19 "He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.” ()

The most devastating criticism is that by using their own private religious experiences as the basis of their authority they were in fact rejecting Christ as their Head.

O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1271). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

He is the source of life and nourishment by which his body lives and the source of unity through which it becomes an organic whole.

20 "If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 "“Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”?” ()

If the Colossians were to fall victims to the false teaching and voluntarily place themselves under rules and regulations,

such as Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! which were imposed by the principalities and powers,

then this would be to go back into slavery again, a bondage to the very powers of the universe from which they had been freed when they died with Christ in his death.

O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1271). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1271). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

Not all Christians are free from superstition, which can exert more influence than their faith.

22 "All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines.” ()

The matters covered by the taboos were perishable objects of the material world (like food and drink) which passed away when consumed.

Further, these taboos, which had a Jewish flavor to them, were merely human inventions (lit. ‘according to the regulations and doctrines of men’.

13 "The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service— yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.” ()

7 "They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.” ()

O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1271). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

These human commands and doctrines contaminate the pure teaching of God with its liberating message.

23 "Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.” ()

Such regulations, like those mentioned in v 21, carry a reputation for wisdom in the spheres of voluntary worship, humility and severe treatment of the body.

But they lack the reality and this wisdom is a facade for true wisdom which is found in Christ alone (2:3; cf. 1:15–20).

The aims of these regulations, while appearing to be good and

involving considerable self-discipline,

actually had no value whatsoever.

The taboos left untouched the problems of sensual indulgence.

Rituals and ceremonies and religious performances cannot change or curb self-indulgence.

So how can we change then? It all hinges on one word “Therefore” in v16.

The therefore at the beginning of v. 16 connects the theology about “fullness in Christ” in vv. 10–15 with Paul’s exhortation to resist the false teachers in this verse and following.

Because it is in Christ that you have spiritual fullness, Paul is saying, do not let anyone impose upon you a program of spiritual development that does not have Christ at its heart.

Let’s read again, vv10-15. 10 "and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 "You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 "when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 "And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 "He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” ()

We are filled by the One who has the entire fullness of God’s nature dwelling bodily and by the One who is over every ruler and authority.

Believers have had a spiritual circumcision performed upon them, having the power of our sinful impulses stripped away by the grace of God.

Being united to Christ in His death and resurrection we receive this forgiveness of our sin.

Paul is reminding us that our being raise with Christ provides all the power we need

to conquer sinful impulses, not an external ritual.

Moo, D. J. (2008). The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (p. 218). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.

Let’s continue to understand the fullness of the work of Christ in defeating our sins!

13 "And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 "He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” ()

The subject of forgiveness is introduced in the second part of verse 13. This is not partial or conditional forgiveness. God does not forgive us only up to a point, or insist that we pass certain tests first before we are deemed worthy of his pardon. (If we had to clean up our act first, the task would be hopeless.) Paul writes of total forgiveness, the forgiveness of ‘all trespasses’. Nothing is more necessary than this. We desperately need it. And nothing is more exciting and exhilarating on this side of heaven. There is no experience to match the free-grace experience, the joy that comes from knowing that everything about us that once offended God has been wiped clean away. Paul describes God’s forgiveness in a number of ways in these verses.

The subject of forgiveness is introduced in the second part of verse 13.

This is not partial or conditional forgiveness.

God does not forgive us only up to a point, or insist that we pass certain tests first before we are deemed worthy of his pardon.

(If we had to clean up our act first, the task would be hopeless.)

Paul writes of total forgiveness, the forgiveness of ‘all trespasses’.

Nothing is more necessary than this. We desperately need it.

And nothing is more exciting and exhilarating on this side of heaven.

There is no experience to match the free-grace experience, the joy that comes from knowing that

everything about us that once offended God

has been wiped clean away.

Paul describes God’s forgiveness in a number of ways in these verses.

1. The records are wiped clean

First, we discover that the record of our past lives is cancelled. Paul writes in verse 14 of ‘the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us’.

The CSB describes this very effectively as ‘the certificate of debt, with its obligations’.

It’s God’s record of debt! Before conversion it stood against us because of the legal obligations that our sins carry!

Have we lived up to the standards that God has set?

If a ledger was compiled on your life or mine, it would soon become clear that we were hopelessly in the red.

The great evangelist George Whitefield described the spiritual crisis that marked his conversion

as a time when he was always on edge, like a man afraid to look into his bank books in case it turned out that he was not current after all, but bankrupt.

Nothing is more futile than trying to square accounts with God.

Any sensitive soul who has ever tried it will discover that the task is hopeless.

But this is what forgiveness does.

In a moment of high drama the records are wiped clean.

All the incriminating evidence has been erased because our debt has been paid in full.

Christ has offered his life to God in place of our failed lives and there is nothing left for us to pay.

A forgiven man or woman has a record as clean as a whistle.

That depressing catalogue of failure and sin is now blank.

Every single entry has been deleted and nothing remains.

If you are a Christian, there are no charges against your name.

What could be better than that?

2. The record of our sins is nailed to the cross of Christ

Secondly, forgiveness means that the record of our past lives no longer applies to us.

This is what Paul has in mind in verse 14 when he says that ‘the certificate of debt’ has been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross.

14 "He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” ()

It is possible that Paul was thinking here of one of the details of a typical crucifixion.

It was Roman practice to pin a notice to the cross above the condemned man’s head.

It gave the man’s name and the crime that he was accused of.

It was the proof that he was getting what he deserved.

This very thing happened to Jesus.

His name was attached to the cross together with the explanation that He had claimed to be King of the Jews.

In the same way, said Paul, it is as though the record of our past lives has been nailed to the cross where Jesus died.

That being the case, it has nothing to do with us any more.

Because it was fastened above His head it will never be nailed above ours.

The Bible has other vivid ways of describing the same striking reality.

Our sin is buried in the deepest part of the sea (); it is irretrievable.

It has been placed behind the back of God (); whichever way He turns, He cannot see it.

3. Christ has triumphed over the powers of evil

Thirdly, forgiveness means that the powers of evil are defeated foes.

15 "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” ()

The work of Satan and his hosts in their attempt to destroy believers is not confined to that of accusation.

The wickedness of these hordes of evil appears especially in this:

Was that pathetic specimen the mighty Caratacus who had defied three whole legions?

that first they tempt men to sin, and then,

having succeeded in their sinister endeavor, they

He was no threat to anyone now!

immediately accuse these same people before God,

The language of verse 15 takes us back to ancient Rome, where a successful military campaign was always followed by a triumph.

charging them with those very sins which they, these sinister spirits, devised.

You need not be afraid of these hosts of evil, for in principle the battle has already been won.

It has been won for you.

At the head of the parade came the victorious general, followed by his regiments in their best parade uniform.

At the end came the prisoners of war, defeated and disheartened.

God himself has disarmed these principalities and powers.

Did he not rescue us out of the domain of darkness? ().

The cheering crowds in Rome could enjoy a little glow of satisfaction.

One thing that emerges from this letter is that the Colossians were obsessed with the unseen world.

Is not his Son the head of every principality and authority? ().

Is not his Son the head of every principality and authority? ().

The new teachers offered advice on how to placate the dark forces.

And is it not true that principalities and authorities (as well as thrones and dominions) are but

creatures, having been created in Him, through Him, and with a view to Him? ().

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of Colossians and Philemon (Vol. 6, pp. 122–123). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

According to Paul, none of that was necessary.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Jesus’ crucifixion is that he ‘disarmed principalities and powers’, and ‘made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it’.

Remember, therefore, that, by means of that same Son, God

Conclusion

While the devil retains a certain limited freedom of movement, he is already a defeated foe.

stripped these principalities and authorities of their power.

He utterly disarmed them.

People who enjoy God’s forgiveness should not be flippant about the Evil One.

They should certainly pay him a healthy respect, but equally they should not react towards him with slavish fear.

Did not Christ triumph over them in the desert of temptation? ().

Did he not bind the strong man? (), casting out demons again and again to prove it?

Did he not see Satan fallen as lightning from heaven? ().

When the devil and his hosts asserted themselves from Gethsemane to Golgotha (, ; cf. , ),

did not Christ, by His substutionary death

deprive Satan of even an appearance of legal ground on which to base his accusations?

Was not the accuser of the brothers cast down, and this not only by means of Christ’s substutionary death but

also by His triumphant resurrection, ascension, and coronation? (; ).

Is it not true, then, that by these great redemptive acts God publicly exposed these evil powers

to disgrace, leading them captive in triumph, chained, as it were, to his triumphal chariot?

Yes, in and through this Son of his love, this triumphant Christ, God has achieved the victory over Satan and all his hosts.

And that victory is your life and your joy. Whatever you need is in Christ.

Conclusion

Have you been converted? No one will ever ask you a more important question.

If you have, do you appreciate what a great thing God has done for you?

Think it over again and marvel at it.

This should help you stop and think before you take on any modern versions of the teaching that troubled Paul,

teachings that suggest that, even though you might be truly saved, the real blessing is not conversion but the next step, however that is conceived.

Of course, there are blessings ahead. We are not in heaven yet and there is more to be known of God, even in this life, than any of us has yet grasped.

But if we are Christians, the greatest blessing of all is ours already.

There is nothing to equal conversion, no blessing that can surpass it.

Don’t rest for a moment until you know for a fact that you are a converted person, a true follower of Jesus.

And for those of us who are Christians already, whatever other blessings lie in store,

God has already done by far the greater thing in giving us repentance and the faith to entrust ourselves to his Son.

This side of heaven there is no greater miracle than the work of God in transforming human hearts and minds.

High praise to the God who converts undeserving sinners into His adoring followers!

Arthur, J. P. (2007). Christ All-Sufficient: Colossians and Philemon Simply Explained (pp. 104–108). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.

O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1271). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.