One Year Journey Through the New Testament
Colossians 2
Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!
Not Philosophy But Christ
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
(Colossians 2:1–10, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul discussed a conflict in his spirit about those who had not yet met him. He wanted them to be encouraged and united in love by the gospel, which had been hidden in Christ for years.
- He encouraged them not to be drawn away by false teachers or by philosophy, because they would cause them to doubt the gospel. He called them to walk in what they had been taught.
- He called them to be established in the faith, rejecting false teaching, and to be led by Christ, the head of the church.
Not Legalism But Christ
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
(Colossians 2:11–23, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul told them not to fall into the trap of circumcision. They were circumcised in spirit, through the sacrifice of Christ. Christians are buried in His baptism and raised through faith in Christ.
- Although they were once dead in trespasses and sins, Jesus has made them alive with Him. Jesus nailed our sins to the cross, and made a public spectacle of powers that would work against us to sin.
- Paul told his disciples to not let others judge them, those who declare the need for the law still. Instead, live in the liberty God gave you and the Head, Jesus Christ. We grow and produce fruit through Christ.
- Our sin died with Christ, so why would we need be subject to legalistic regulations of men? They seem good in a system or self-imposed religion, but not in a grace relationship with Jesus Christ. The law does not save, Jesus does.
__________________________________________________________________________
All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.
Devoted To You 