Jesus Sets Us Free: The Contrast Between the World and the Christ

Scripture Reading Colossians 2:8-15

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Exposition One (8)

Colossians 2:8 ESV

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.

“Captive” is a play on words for the word “synagogue”

Don’t be made a slave to Philosophy (system of thought)

Those in the Synagogues are already slaves as are all who are not set free in Christ

Philosophy is “according to human tradition”

Matthew 15:2 ESV

2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

Philosophy is “according to the elemental Spirits of the World”

Air, Earth, Fire, Water

Also, “essential principles” or “elementary principles”

Complicated

At least means that this “empty philosophy” is rooted in the sinful system of the world’s beliefs which are what the lost are enslaved to and seeks to cll you back to slavery.

I. Be on guard because the empty philosophy of the world is seeking to make you a slave (8)

Illustration

2 Peter 2:22 ESV

22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Application

Politics

Conscience

Personal conversations with the lost

With believers

Exposition Two (9, 10)

Colossians 2:9–10 ESV

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.

Vs. 8 ended in “not according to Christ”

This refers to the world’s “philosophy or system of thought”

These verses set up Christ as the opposite of the world’s philosophy

Exposit...

II. You have been made free by the only one who has the right to do so (9-10)

Illustration

Sports contracts

Application

Live life like you are free from...

Sin

death

worry

etc.

Exposition Three (11-12)

Colossians 2:11–12 ESV

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.

Circumcision was the sign of the covenant

We are given the sign of the covenant by being “circumcised of heart”

Baptism is our physical sign of the covenant

III. You are sealed in your standing before God so live without fear (11-12)

Exposition Four (13-15)

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

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.

Exposit

IV. Jesus is a liberator while the world is slave trader

Conclusion

Prayer of Thanksgiving