2021-11-28 AM, Christ Above All: Colossians 2:8-15

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.

Up to this point, Paul has revealed he’s given thanks in prayer for the Colossians.

He has revealed he is praying for them to grow in knowledge of God’s will, strength, and thanksgiving

Paul as presented a picture of Jesus Christ which is in stark contrast to the diminishing view of Christ the heresy must have been expressing.

Paul has pleaded with the Colossians to prove they are saved by holding true to the gospel they have received from him rather than being duped by spiritual charlatans.

Paul is pleading with them, “Don’t make my suffering for your sake in vain by turning away from the message you received from me via Epaphras!”

Rather, Paul challenges them, “hold true to Christ!”

-walk in Christ

-be rooted in Him

-be established in the faith

Here, those challenges continue and become specific.

...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...

Okay, Paul’s language reveals an epic battle of the mind regarding worldviews in this world.

As we’ve seen, there is the gospel which Paul received from Christ.

Then there are the other worldviews which come from:

philosophy- human thinking unchecked by the guardrails of divine truth.

empty deceit- straight up lies

human traditions- false worldviews passed down from the elders of a community.

according to the elemental spirits of the world- not all worldviews have a human origin. Paul here attests that there are elemental spirits who could be understood as demonic in nature.

This fits with the rulers and authorities in vv. 10, 15

This means that they originate from the father of lies (John 8:44)

The devil is the great deceiver. His purpose since the beginning is to cast doubt on the truth of God.

These worldviews are ultimately opposite of Christ.

Paul takes the opportunity to edify Christ again...

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.

Again, in Christ the fullness of God dwells bodily. Jesus is God. The divinity of God filled His human body and now His glorified body.

The NT calls the church the body of Christ.

Romans 12:5 ESV

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

So as the body of Christ, we are Christ and we are filled with the fullness of God. We are not God, but He has filled us

John 14:23 ESV

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

and...

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Paul goes on to articulate how we have been brought into God’s people...

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.

We were circumcised in the heart, not the flesh.

We are no longer of the flesh- figuratively that the the body as the seat of carnal desire and sin. Better understood as our sin stained hearts.

But the flesh died with Jesus when we were baptized in the Holy Spirit- made regenerate.

We were raised to new and eternal life in Christ through

according to God’s awesome power.

As amazing as it is that God raised Christ from the dead, So God raised us from the dead spiritually.

Colossians 2:13–14 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.

We were dead in sin

God made us alive

We are forgiven

Our debts are cancelled

They were nailed to the dead

Colossians 2:15 ESV

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

On the cross, Jesus one the victory against evil

All the spirits and angels that the Colossians want to worship because of the heresy are defeated opponents.

Their fate is sealed. They may be permitted to some mischief in their final days, but they all know they are goners.