Colossians 2

Colossians 2

Theme: You should put Christ first

1) Reasons

F. Because He makes you complete (1:24-2:15)

2) Ways

A. By Avoiding Empty Philosophy (2:8-23)

Not only should the believer understand His completed position
in Christ, but He should put this knowledge into practice
(6-7). But how? First, by staying free from empty philosophy
(8-23). "See to it that no one takes you captive through
philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of
men, according to the elementary principles of the world,
rather than according to Christ" (8).

Several ideas about the meaning of "elementary principles of
the world", appear. Some see it as a reference to angelic
beings, and hence doctrines which come from demons (James 3:15
refers to a wisdom which is "earthly, sensual, demonic").
Others see a connection to the worship of angelic beings and
astrology, perhaps because of the reference to "worship of
angels" (Col. 2:18). Although these interpretations have some
support, the context of the chapter seems to give the best
clues.

These "elementary principles" refer to "deceptive", "empty",
systems of wisdom ("philosophy") rather than the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge in Christ (8a; 9; cf. 3). They are
according to "the tradition", "commandments", and "teachings
of men" (8b; 22), rather than Christ, as revealed in the Bible
(8c; cf. 1:23 - 2:6). They judge people by the shadow of the
OT Law, rather than the substance of Christ (17). They come
from the imagination and reasonings of over-inflated, fleshly
minds (18), rather than the true head, which is Christ (19;
cf. 10b). They include commands such as "Do not handle, do
not taste, do not touch!" (21), promote self-abasement and
severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against
fleshly indulgence (23).

Galatians also describes this kind of philosophy, when it
mentions "elements of the world", in reference to governors
and tutors who instructed children till they came of age. It
uses these as an illustration of legalists who persuaded the
Galatians to add OT Law (such as observing religious days, and
being circumcised) to faith in Christ, as a way of completing
their salvation (3:3; 4:1-9; 5:2-6). In chapter 3, Paul said
it is foolish to try to complete, or make perfect
(sanctification), your salvation in the strength of your
flesh, since it was begun in the power of the Spirit
(justification). Chapter four goes on to illustrate that you
cannot help, or bring God's salvation to completion through
the physical realm, or by adding your efforts. Chapter five
shows that the only way to bear fruit for God is by yielding
to the power of the Spirit in your life. "Elementary
principles of the world", i.e. man made systems of wisdom, and
of attempting to complete salvation through the flesh, is
"another gospel", which results in eternal damnation (1:9).
This is the kind of persuasive argument and "wisdom" from
which believers should stay free (Col. 2:4; 8).

Verses 9-11 summarize the truths about Christ which prove you
don't need man's philosophy to be complete. 1) All the
fulness of Deity dwells in Him in bodily form. 2) In Him you
have been made complete; 3) He is the head over all rule and
authority; and 4) in Him you have been spiritually
circumcised.

1) In contrast to such "empty" philosophy (empty because it is
of no value in delivering someone from the penalty, power, or
presence of sin), "all the fullness of the Deity dwells in
bodily form" "in Christ" (9; cf. 1:27). 2) Christ is full God
in the flesh (cf. 1 Tim. 3:16), since He dwells in believers
(Col. 1:27), and since knowledge of Him offers complete
salvation from sin (1:14-23; cf. 1 Cor. 1:30), believers are
complete in Him (9), and do not need human philosophy to be
complete, or to deliver them from any aspect of sin (cf. 1
Cor. 1:30).

3) Further, Christ is head over all things, including angels,
principalities and powers (2:10, 15, 20-23). Therefore, one
need only follow the instructions of Christ as set forth in
the Bible, to hear everything which is necessary to equip them
for bearing fruit and doing every good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16).
One should not submit themselves to decrees of human
philosophy, such as "do not handle, do not taste, do not
touch!" (21). Self made religion, self abasement, or severe
treatment of the body, are of no value in completing your
salvation from sin (23). It is the understanding, knowledge,
and wisdom of Christ alone, Who is the head from whom the
entire body is supplied, held together, and grows, which makes
the believer stable, complete, and free from the need of
man-made philosophy.

4) Romans 7 teaches that our "flesh" (not our physical bodies,
but our depraved sin nature) is at enmity with God. It cannot
keep the commands of God, but only rebel against them. As
such, when the believer attempts to keep the Law, he should
see that he cannot live up to God's Holy nature, and that he
deserves the curse of the Law, which is death. Galatians 3:13
says Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law by
hanging on a tree. Since the curse of the Law was death,
Christ takes the believer's place, and frees him from
obligation to the Law as a way of becoming or staying right
with God (Gal. 3).

The Spirit, however, baptizes, or places believers into
Christ. This so unites them to His death and resurrection,
that they have died to sin (11b), and been raised to newness
of life along with Him (12; cf. Romans 6:1-11). This
constitutes a spiritual circumcision of the heart(11a), that
is, a putting off of the old man ("flesh"; cf. Romans 7:18,
23; 8:4-11), and a putting on of the new man in Christ (cf. 2
Cor. 5:17). This is the believer's position "in Christ", and
God's basis for delivering him from the power of sin in his
daily life. You know your position in Christ (i.e., you have
died to sin and been raised to newness of life in Christ), you
count that position to be true, and then you yield your
members as instruments of righteousness to God (Romans
6:1-11), who bears the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(cf. Gal. 5). Through Christ alone, and not through
circumcision, or any other man-made religion, or system of
philosophy, does a believer become a child of God, or gain
victory over sin in their daily life. You should put Christ
first by staying free from philosophy.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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