We are walking through the Book of Colossians together and last week we finished up to chapter two verse 5. Today, we are looking at chapter two verses 6-23. This passage is actually two sections: ‘Spiritual Fullness in Christ’ (vs.6-15,) and ‘Freedom from Human Regulations’ (vs.16-23).
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
Guy King states, ‘The Christian life is not a sedentary occupation, but a pedestrian affair. This can be taken two ways – it suggests a certain dogged perseverance through the common and ordinary paths of life, but it also suggests progress, a determined movement toward a goal. At any rate we must move on, not stand still.’1
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
E.M. Blaiklock states: ‘Roots are mobile questing things. They probe and suck for sustenance, and move unerringly toward the richest supply of what they need. Let us so seek Christ.’ 2
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Eerdmans Handbook (pg.611) gives this view of the problem:
‘The trouble at Colossae was “syncretism” – that tendency to introduce ideas from other philosophies and religions on a level with Christian truth, which is also perhaps our greatest temptation today. It is understandable. There were Greeks and Jews in the Colossian church, as well as “native” Phrygians. It was natural that they should cling to their own ideas and want to incorporate them into Christianity.
It seemed harmless enough. But Paul knew that it struck at the heart of the Christian faith.’
Blaiklock states: ‘In a tumult of metaphor, Paul seeks further to warn his flock against those who would explain away the simplicity of the Gospel, render obscure that which God had made so plain, and make difficult for ordinary folk that which God intended that a child should understand.’ 3
Gordon Fee says: ‘Paul does not condemn philosophy as such, but a philosophy of this kind – one which seduces believers from the simplicity of their faith in Christ…. It sounded good, it appealed to natural religious instincts, but there was nothing in it for Christians. It was not a teaching according to Christ.’4
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Blaiklock continues: ‘Christ, he insists, is no inadequate ”go-between,” but one with God Himself.’ 5
10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, (In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh [sarx] refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.)6 was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
In the Israelite faith, circumcision was a sign that the individual stood in covenant relation with God. Some see baptism as the parallel sign of the covenant relationship.7
Another way of looking at this circumcision is that you can see it as a circumcision of the heart. Christ tears away the old self and brings forth a new life of thought and action. Therefore, baptism is the step of faith to say that we have accepted this circumcision and are following Jesus through the rest of our lives. 8
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Blaiklock sums up vs.9-15 with these words: ‘Patiently and vividly, he has explained how the Christians of Colossae became Christ’s people, sharing His death and resurrection in the symbol of baptism, alive to new and glorious life – as different from the humdrum, fear-ridden paganism around – as vibrant living is from dead…The charge against the sinner was nailed to Christ’s cross, and blotted out by His blood. They were forgiven – let them grasp the fact with both hands and realize that no more obligations lay on them. No power could daunt them, for Christ had defeated all evil.’ 9
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
Paul sent this letter to remind Christians of the superiority of Jesus over Jewish rules and regulations.10
Blaiklock adds: ‘These, says Paul, had their place in the teaching of the Old Testament, but were not binding on Christians.’ 11
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.
Blaiklock describes it as, ’The angel worship touches a false doctrine – the idea of a descending range of angel “go-betweens” of whom Christ was only one; eminent, no doubt, but incomplete.’ 12
19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Here Blaiklock writes: ‘No, says Paul, giving us another vivid metaphor, those who are in Christ are His very body, as closely knit to Him as the limbs which move at the impulse of the head.’13
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?
22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
Gordon Fee states: ‘Rules simply aim too low; believers are made for higher and better things.’ 14
23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Blaiklock sums up vs. 16-23 with this statement: ‘The “Man in Christ” lives not by rule but by love. His conduct and his character are determined by his daily contemplation of his Lord, his daily fellowship with the risen Christ, his constant hope of being like the One who might at any moment come again. The challenge is tremendous, it forms a motive for purity of life, unselfishness of conduct, and integrity of character which by-passes all petty regulations.’ 15
H.M. Carson says, ’The Christian, he rightly says, goes beyond mere endurance, and rejoices because he sees his sufferings as part of the divine purpose, and so gladly accepts them as a means to fulfilling his part in the eternal plan of God.’ 16
At the start of this message, I said that this passage is actually two sections: ‘Spiritual Fullness in Christ’ (vs.6-15) and ‘Freedom from Human Regulations’ (vs.16-23).
If you walk away today with only one thought – be it this: Christ fills your heart with love, for Him and for all people. You are to live like Christ is in everything you do and say. You are to follow Christ’s guidance and not the misleadings of the world. Be spiritually full of Christ and you will know what is right to do.
My family has a little dog who loves to go for walks. When you mention a walk, he will turn inside out in excitement and his energy level skyrockets. He will follow you and be as close as he can so as not to miss out. Have a wonderful week and walk with Jesus every minute of every day!
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