The Letter to the Colossians part 4

Colossians 2:6-23 : “Set Free from the World’s Oppression”

I begin today with a bit of trivia. Did you know this week we will have the 158th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation? On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Proclamation making every slave in the Confederacy legally free. It would take effect on January 1, 1863. On that day, every single slave could drop their work and go live whatever life they wanted. And yet, well into 1863, the slaves remained slaves. Why? Because they did not know they were free. Union soldiers carried copies of the Proclamation to pass out to slaves as they marched through the South. They had no idea the freedom that had entered their life until someone took the time to tell them.

Likewise, we are free in Christ. Christ has broken the power of sin and death, but the lost will never know until someone tells them. And, we who call Christ Lord, will continue to live in sin’s power until we recognize the fact that we are free, and live like it. 

Today, Paul will remind us of the world’s oppression, but for those who have turned to Christ, we are free from that oppression. So, let us live in that freedom!

6-7 : Walk free in Christ, being rooted in Christ

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Paul begins with a reminder for the Colossians to continue in Christ as they first learned of Him. They should not be swayed by false teachings, because these teachings are counter to what they first learned. That ‘Ol’ Time Gospel’ never changes. 

Paul gives three verbs to describe the type of conviction the Colossians need—‘rooted’, ‘built up’, and ‘established’. These three verbs will bring about thanksgiving. 

‘Rooted’ is, of course, an agricultural metaphor. The Colossians should dig deep into the Truth of Christ and find life in it, just as a plant grows deep roots in order to find life. Likewise, these deep roots keep the plant in the ground when the storms and floods come. 

A ‘rooted’ Christian finds life and stability in Christ.

‘Built up’ is from construction. Having its foundation, the building can then grow tall with walls, roof, and decoration. Christians find their roots in Christ, and then they can build upon that foundation. But notice the roots and the building are both in Christ. 

A ‘built up’ Christian finds growth in Christ.

‘Established’ is a bit different from the other two. The word has to do with a proven conviction. When a Christian roots himself in Christ, builds himself up in Christ, then when doubts, trials, and other problems of life arise, Christ will prove Himself true. Think back to that plant or that building. When the roots are deep, it can weather the storm. When that building’s foundation and walls are stable, it can weather the storm. With each passing storm the plant or building survive, its structure is proven true and solid.

An ‘established’ Christian has experienced the truth of Christ.

And the result? It is thanksgiving. With each passing storm, and in times of peace, the Christian rejoices and gives thanks. Deeper roots yield deeper thanksgiving. Higher building yields higher thanksgiving. And each time Christ is proven true, the Christian rejoices once again, knowing the Truth is True no matter what the world says.

These traits will inevitably lead to thanksgiving, and it’s the same thanksgiving we have when we first turn to Christ. Do you remember the joy that happened when you first turned your life to Christ? That feeling of relief knowing your sins are forgiven? Feelings come and go, but that joy and thankfulness will grow deeper when we become established in the faith through rooting and building up in Christ. Many times in his letters Paul describes true Christians as people of thanksgiving. Thus, as we think about growing in our faith, we can test our personal growth with how thankful we are. 

A rooted, built up, and established Christian will also be a thankful Christian.

If we find ourselves having trouble being thankful for what we have, who we are, and more importantly whose we are, then we must go back to the roots of our faith. Is our hope in Christ? Is our wisdom in Christ? And have we continued to grow in Christ?

8-15 : We are Freed from Sin through Christ

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. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Verse 8 has caused much speculation and debate in theological circles, because Paul uses terms which are not normally used in the New Testament. In fact, most of chapter 2 consists of words which are not used anywhere else in the New Testament, or at least rarely used. What was this “philosophy and empty deceit” that could captivate the Colossians? And what are these “elemental spirits”? 

Though we may not know exactly Paul was concerned about, we can make a few educated guesses, but far more importantly, we can identify the trademarks of false teaching. We know these teachings are outside of Christ, but we also know Paul said they were “plausible arguments” in verse 4. This false philosophy had an appearance of righteousness, but only brought ruin.

The most dangerous lies of the devil wear Christian clothes.

Jesus told us in Matthew 7:15 to beware false teachers who would be wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

But Paul says two things about them. First, they are according to human tradition. Second, they are according to the elements of the world.

Human tradition can be very beneficial to society. It binds the generations. It gives identity to diverse people. It helps keep families together. But it can also be very dangerous. “The way we’ve always done it” can be an idol that prevents Christians from following where the Spirit leads, and even worse, it can become a stumbling block for the lost to find Christ. 

How can Christians know if their traditions are according to Christ or humans? If those traditions help Christians and the lost become rooted in Christ, built up in Christ, and established in the faith of Christ, then they are of Christ. If they keep the lost from finding Christ, or tear believers away from the Truth of Christ, then they are human innovations that need to be burned to the ground.

The test for tradition is whether it builds thanksgiving in the Body of Christ.

The second description is “according to the elemental spirits” of the world. This particular phrase is very interesting because Paul literally says “according to the elements of the world.” Various translations have a wide variety of English words here. The gist is this philosophy finds its roots in the world systems. It is not revelation from God, but rather the musings of men being pulled by lies. They sound plausible because they work according to the way the world works. 

The test for human innovations is whether its wisdom is found in Christ or some other system.

Now, there is a whole other sermon (in fact books exist on this subject) on how Christians should relate to various human activity, but the bottom line goes back to verses 6 & 7. If something helps you be rooted, built up, and established in Christ, then it is according to Christ. But if that something sends your roots elsewhere, or builds walls in your life that do not look like Christ, or breaks your convictions about Christ, then it is not of Christ. By all means we must study and read widely, but we must always remember that it is Christ that has set us free, so we must remain in Him. 

These false philosophies deny the truths Paul lays out in verses 9-15. It is in Christ the fullness of Deity dwells. It is Christ who is the head of all rule and authority. And, it is in Christ that we have been consecrated into the Body of Christ. Christ has defeated the grave, and it will be through Christ that we are able to defeat the grave, as well. 

Consider also that if the mature Christian is also the thankful Christian, notice how Paul brings in what we are to be thankful for. In verses 13-15, we are reminded that Christ brought life to us who were dead in our sin. We have been made alive and brought close to God, because we have forgiveness. And the record of sin, that debt with its legal demands, has been nailed to the cross. There is no need to continue working in these human innovations, because God has made Himself known, and God has brought us forgiveness. 

Christ brings thanksgiving, but the world brings doubt and guilt.

Finally, in verse 15, we see the victory that comes through Christ. Human tradition and false philosophy has no power over us. There is no guilt or condemnation that can hold down the people of God, because Jesus has disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame. When Jesus came out of that tomb, He didn’t sneak out hoping the dark elements of this world wouldn’t see. He stepped out in triumph, and then put every false teacher and false god to shame. No other teacher could bring life from death, but Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has done just that!

16-23 : Do not be deceived by false righteousness

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Because of the truth of Christ, and the fact that we have been set freed from sin and the false teachings of this world, we can live as free people. We do not follow the shadows of the truth; we follow the actual Truth. The Jewish laws do not hold power over us, because Christ has fulfilled the Law. Gentile traditions and superstitions do not hold power over us, because Christ has set us free from false religion. There may be bits of truth within these systems, but the fullness is found in Christ.

Bits of truth can be found scattered in various cultures and philosophies like a shadow of the real thing, but the fullness of Truth is found in Christ.

Now, these teachings can seem very plausible. After all, Paul talks about their asceticism—the denial of pleasure in the hopes of finding a deeper righteousness. The thinking is if gluttony is sinful, then surely ascetic denial is righteous, but no, the Truth is found in the balance. We give thanks for the blessings of God, but we do not take advantage of them. We enjoy the bounty that comes from God, but we also share and give to those who do not have such bounty. 

We can enjoy the things of this world, so long as they do not control us.

Feel free to enjoy this life, but remember that you are free in Christ. Do not allow yourself to become a slave to the things you enjoy.

Likewise, this false philosophy worships angels and goes on about visions and feelings. There is a false type of Christianity emerging in the US today which focuses on exuberant feelings and charismatic visions. No, I do not mean Pentecostalism—this is something very different. In fact, it looks like paganism masked in Christian vocabulary. It is very similar to the gnosticism that would emerge a generation after after Paul. 

Just because something says it is Christian, doesn’t mean it is.

True Christianity holds fast to the Head, who is Christ, and in whom the whole body grows and is nourished.

Finally, Paul asks, if the Colossians have died to the elements of the world, then why would they resubmit to them? 

Christian, why would we follow after the world and its deceptions if we have died and been buried to them?

Notice the futility of them. Paul summarizes in verse 23, they may have an appearance of wisdom, but they do not stop the indulgence of the flesh. And ultimately, this is how we can spot false teachings and legalism. Does the teaching, or the rule, make us more Christ-like, or does it fail to stop fleshly indulgences?

Unfortunately we have not learned the lesson of Prohibition. No amount of legislation or rules will make sinful people righteous. Those who want to indulge in sin will find a way to do it. That does not mean we condone the sin, it simply means we must remember that true transformation for individuals and society comes through Christ.

Do we want to be righteous? Find true wisdom and righteousness in Christ.

Do we want righteous families? Find true wisdom and righteousness in Christ.

Do we want a righteous community? A righteous state? A righteous country? 

We must continue to proclaim the wisdom and righteousness found in Christ, because it is only through Christ that death has been vanquished and eternal life poured out for all who believe!

Do not be captivated by false teachings, empty deceit and the oppressive systems of this world that promise wisdom and life only to give us folly and death. Turn to Jesus, let go of your sin, and ask Him for forgiveness and life.

It is in that forgiveness and life that we find true freedom.