Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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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...
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.
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
and...
Paul goes on to articulate how we have been brought into God’s people...
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.
We were dead in sin
God made us alive
We are forgiven
Our debts are cancelled
They were nailed to the dead
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.
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