Colossians 2:16-17 Freedom in Christ

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. [Colossians 2:16-17 NASB]

The Law was all about the commandments. Of course, we are all familiar with the Ten Commandments, but in all there were 613 commandments in the Law.

Somehow, religion always breaks down into rules. 

During Paul's time, the eating of meat was a major controversy in the Christian community. It was a well established custom throughout the Roman world to sacrifice an animal to an idol, then sell the meat in the market. The legalists taught that believers should never eat meat that has been sacrificed to an animal. Others, with a greater understanding of God's grace were free to eat. Paul defended the freedom to eat meat;

Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake...I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [1 Corinthians 10:25,29-31 NASB]

Although we must be careful not to injure the conscience of another believer for the sake of our freedom;

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. [1 Corinthians 8:9-12 NASB]

It was already the practice to meet on the first day of the week for Christian fellowship. The legalists insisted that the Sabbath be celebrated on seventh day, according to the Law of Moses. But we are no longer under the old covenant Law, but are under a new covenant;

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. [Hebrews 8:13 NASB]

Don't let the legalists in church take away your freedom. They make their rules and expect you to follow them. Their rules give the appearance of righteousness, according to man's wisdom, but they deny the true righteousness that only comes as a gift from God.

Religion makes rules about how to worship, and how to behave. An entire religion was built around the idea that they must worship on the seventh day of the week and keep the Ten Commandments.

Before we came to Christ, we were in bondage to sin. When Jesus saved us, he set us free from bondage. There are many who would put you in bondage again to religion, with its rules and rituals.

Don't let anyone drag you back into bondage, but walk free in Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank You for your atonement on the cross. Thank You for creating a new covenant. Thank You for setting me free. 

Colossians 2:15 Jesus' Victory

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. [Colossians 2:15 NASB]

Satan was defeated at the cross.

When Paul writes about rulers and authorities, he is referring to spiritual powers. We find his usage of these terms throughout his writings. For example;

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 6:12 NASB]

In the act of crucifixion, Jesus was made a public spectacle, to be displayed and ridiculed. The Roman and Jewish authorities had triumphed over Him. Or so it seemed to the natural world. But in the spiritual realms, Jesus' blood was paying the price for our sins.

Jesus was never defeated because He gave Himself up. His death meant victory over Satan. While Jesus hung on the cross, Satan and all the powers of darkness were made a public spectacle, and Jesus triumphed over them and disarmed them. Therefore, as the prophet said,

“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. [Isaiah 54:17 NASB]

There is a popular line of reasoning that says, "A Christian can't be possessed, but he can be oppressed." The thing is, after searching through the New Testament, I haven't been able to find a single example of a Christian being oppressed by the devil. Tempted? Yes. But not oppressed. And even his temptations have limitations;

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. [1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB]

In fact, I would say that we have more to fear from our own sinful nature than we do from Satan. James says;

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. [James 1:13-15 NASB]

Satan may be the ruler of this world, but we are no longer of the world. He may have power and authority over those who are lost, but those who are in Christ have a different Master. John says, "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." [1 John 4:4 NASB]

Whenever we are tempted by our flesh, but say, "Satan is tempting me," we are giving him credit that he doesn't deserve. Whenever things don't go the way we want them to, and we say, "Satan is working against me," we are giving him credit. Whenever we struggle with an addiction, or a weakness in our body or mind, and say, "Satan is oppressing me," we give him credit he doesn't deserve.

Don't glorify the devil. He doesn't deserve it.

Instead, overcome the flesh by walking in the Spirit; "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." [Galatians 5:16 NASB]

Accept that things don't always go your way. That doesn't make it evil;

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. [Hebrews 12:7-11 NASB]

Be thankful; "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." [Ephesians 5:20 NASB]

Lord God, I praise You that You have defeated the enemy once and for all. Thank You that I am free from his power. Thank you that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. 

Colossians 2:11-14 Dead to the Law

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [Colossians 2:11-14 NASB]

The Judaizers taught that Gentiles needed to convert to Judaism before they could become a Christian. They wanted all Christians to keep the law of Moses and become circumcised. Paul teaches that we are not under the law;

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. [Romans 6:14 NASB]

And also,

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. [Galatians 5:18 NASB]

The circumcision, which was physical and symbolic under the old covenant, is spiritual reality under the new covenant. It is the removal of flesh, which for us means that we have died to the flesh and are alive in Christ. Paul said,

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. [Galatians 2:20 NASB]

Baptism is our public declaration of faith. It is symbolic of our having died to sin and the flesh, and rising again to newness of life in Jesus.

Paul said that the "certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us" was nailed to the cross. The "certificate of debt" is the law. Not just the law of Moses, but any rule we make for living our life becomes our law. Romans says;

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, [Romans 2:14-15 NASB]

I once heard a story many years ago about a school with a fenced playground. The children played in every part of that playground. An educator got the idea that the fence was too restrictive, and inhibited the children's sense of freedom. So he removed the fence. When the children went out to play, they stayed in the center of the playground, and no longer used the whole area. They were afraid because they didn't know the boundaries. 

As adults, we still like our boundaries. We like to know how far we can go; what is acceptable behavior in any circumstance. We like law and order.

As Christians, we are being told to lose the boundaries. Tear down our fences. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead us. Living without boundaries is not easy, but it is what we are called to do. It means living by faith and walking in the Spirit.

Lord, thank You for nailing the Law to the cross, that it is dead to me, and I am free from its constraints. Please give me the grace to live by faith, and please lead me by Your Spirit 

Colossians 2:8-10 The Nature of Heresy

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. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; [Colossians 2:8-10 NASB]

Paul is beginning to directly address the heresies being taught in Colossae and the surrounding area, including Laodicea. The teaching took the Christian truth, and combined it with a mixture of Jewish and pagan philosophy.

There is a pattern in heretical teaching. It is nearly always aimed at the church rather than the world; it nearly always contains a kernel of truth in it; and it nearly always involves a human philosophy or tradition which is counter to God; and the simple truth of the gospel becomes perverted.

Self-denial get turned into asceticism. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." [Matthew 16:24 NASB] The means we must deny the sinful pleasures of the flesh, and walk in the spirit. Paul said;

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [Galatians 5:19-21 NASB]

Asceticism would take this to another level, and deny all forms of pleasure. They would impose rules that deny the eating of sweets or meats, dancing, music, entertainment, or even a soft bed. Extremes of this would embrace self-flagellation, that is literally flogging the flesh in an attempt to achieve holiness,.

On the other extreme, some turn God's grace into licentiousness. Some take the idea of Christian freedom and live a lifestyle based on adultery or fornication. I know professing Christians who also embrace eastern mysticism through the use of feng shui, healing crystals, or "meditation". 

These and other examples of divisiveness, drunkenness and carousing all have one thing in common. The "Christians" who practice these things are all convinced that they can do whatever they want now, and God will forgive them later. But remember what Paul said, "that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

As Christians, we are not under the law, nor any defined set of rules, but are free to be led by the Holy Spirit. Paul said,

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [Galatians 5:16 NASB]

There are other examples. Separation from the world becomes hermitage. The priesthood of all believers becomes a priesthood of an elite few. Service for the Lord becomes salvation by works. 

They all have the appearance of holiness, or the appearance of grace, but they are based on human philosophies and traditions, and are counter to the word of God.

The church in America has lost its way. Because we care more about the philosophies of men than we do the word of God, sexual perversion is not only allowed, but is actually being endorsed by many churches. All of the traditions and rituals that the church has added to its "worship" services only detract from the pure worship of Him  "in spirit and in truth"

As followers of Jesus, we don't follow a human philosophy. We don't adhere to human tradition. We follow Jesus because He is God. We are complete in Him, therefore philosophy and tradition can add nothing to Him.

Father, please forgive us of our sins. We have followed the world and the tradition of men, in opposition to You. Please help us to be the church that we were meant to be; one that glorifies Your name. 

Colossians 2:4-7 Avoiding Deception

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. [Colossians 2:4-7 NASB]

Paul is about to address the heresies being taught in Colossae, but first he is instructing them how to avoid being deceived. False teaching has existed in the church since the beginning. It has persisted through the centuries, and continues now. It is important for each of us to recognize false teaching when we hear it. Jesus said;

"See to it that no one misleads you...For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." [Matthew 24:4, 24 NASB]

It is a given that you will hear false teaching in your life. Sometimes the teaching is accompanied by working of miracles or spiritual manifestations. That is no guarantee that the teaching is true, or from God.

Allow me to interject a comment on the phrase, "For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit." This phrase has, ironically, been the source of some false teaching and wrong ideas. To be clear, the Bible does not teach "astral projection". Paul's spirit did not leave his body to visit the Colossian church. As a man, he is not omnipresent, nor is he all-knowing. He is speaking metaphorically. Paul is with them in his thoughts, prayers, intercessions, and apostolic authority.

Paul said, "Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." He was received after hearing the pure message of the gospel, by grace through faith. Paul said;

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 6:23 NASB]

Our salvation comes to us as a free gift, directly from God the Father. We didn't work to earn it, and there was no intermediary between us and the Father when we were saved. As Paul said;

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. [Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB]

It is important for us to remember the basics of the Gospel. Let that be the foundation upon which we build, without adding unnecessary doctrines, rules, or "revelations". Instead search for greater understanding through the word of God, as the Holy Spirit leads and teaches you.

Any teaching that compromises the simplicity of the gospel is false. False teachers love to complicate things. They add rules and rituals, making it harder to live the Christian life. The gospel is simple, and walking in Christ is simple. It is our human nature to complicate things, but with a simple, childlike faith, as we follow the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our nature.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the free gift of salvation. I pray that You will keep me firmly rooted in the truth, and allow me to grow in You. 

Colossians 2:1-3 Elitism

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [Colossians 2:1-3 NASB]

The false teachers in Colossae claimed to have a special knowledge based on visions and spiritual superiority. According to their teachings, an elite few were able to fathom the "treasures and wisdom of knowledge." Paul turned their language around on them, making it clear that ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ.

The knowledge of Christ isn't for an elite set of priests and clergy, but is for all. Paul said,

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, [1 Corinthians 2:12 NASB]

In fact, God delights in confounding the elitists of the world;

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” [1 Corinthians 1:25-31 NASB]

Some people hear the word "prosperity," and immediately think about money. But Paul says that true wealth "comes from the full assurance of understanding." Our greatest treasures are not on earth, but in heaven. You won't inherit the kingdom of God because you are rich, or powerful, or intellectual. The smartest man in the room may be ignorant of spiritual truth. Stephen Hawking, for example, was considered by some to be the smartest man alive. But he denied the existence of God until the day he died.

Don't fall into the trap of elitism. Those who have a great deal of natural talent need to take special care. I have known musicians who come across as "divas" during the music service. 

Spiritual gifting can also lead to elitism. I was once part of a church in which a woman became known for her prophetic gift. She was surrounded by a group of followers who hung on her every word. When she walked from one place to another, her cadre would appear to clear a path for her. When the church leaders judged one or two of her "prophecies" to be false, she left the church to start her own, with herself as the pastor. Elitist thinking leads to division.

God wants you to have full understanding of Him. He has revealed Himself in the word of God. Study it; know it; pray as you read, and He will give you understanding. 

His Spirit will reveal Him to you. Jesus said,

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. [John 14:26 NASB]

As you seek God, and trust His spirit to teach you, it is possible you will interject your own thoughts and expectation. In other words, you may get it wrong. Don't worry about it. Don't hold back because of the possibility of error. If you are sincerely seeking Him, He will graciously guide you back into truth. This is also why we fellowship with other believers. We correct one another, we teach one another, and we learn from one another. The proverb says, "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. [Proverbs 27:17 NASB]

Fellowship based on love for God and for the body of Christ is the opposite of elitism, and is the foundation for unity.

Lord God, I thank you that You have revealed Yourself to Your children; not just an elite few, but all of us. I pray that You will open the eyes of our understanding so that we will have complete confidence in You. 

Colossians 1:25-29 The Mystery

Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. [Colossians 1:25-29 NASB]

The word of God is referred to as a mystery. The word "mystery" in biblical usage does not mean "a puzzle to be solved." Instead it means "a truth that can only be known by revelation." This mystery was hidden in ages past.

In the past, the Jews were God's only chosen people. It was to them alone that the word of God came, and it was with them alone that God made a covenant. Even though there were prophecies concerning the mystery, they were never fully understood. Joel prophesied;

“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. [Joel 2:28 NASB]

God promised Abraham;

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” [Genesis 22:18 NASB]

Israel had the promises and the prophecies, but they didn't understand them, because;

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. [1 Corinthians 2:12-14 NASB]

But now, the mystery has been revealed, which is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Since Christ's Spirit indwells each of us, we have the hope of eternal salvation - our inheritance - which is an eternity in the presence of God.

Not only do we hope for an inheritance, we have hope of becoming Jesus' inheritance. As Paul says;

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, [Ephesians 1:18 NASB]

We are His inheritance. One day we will meet Him, and our true nature will be revealed;

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. [Romans 8:18-19 NASB]

John describes this scene in heaven;

Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. [Revelation 19:6-8 NASB]

The church is the bride of Christ. The time to make ourselves ready is now, so that when the time comes, we will be clothed in righteous acts.

I am not talking about good deeds done in the flesh, in the hope of winning favor with God. Rather, I am talking about walking in the Spirit, and laboring with Him, according to His power.

Father, I thank you for the hope of glory. I pray for the grace to live a life that is worth of You, so that I will, in that day, wear the robes of righteousness.