COLOSSIANS 2:6-15: WALK IN CHRIST,
ESTABLISHED IN FAITH
In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul tells us
to walk in Christ, rooted up and built in him and established in the faith, as
we have been taught. The idea is that we have an established faith, which we
have been taught and rooted in; therefore, we are to walk in Christ, the author
of that faith. How then do we do that, and what is the purpose of us doing it?
Paul continues after these two verses by telling us exactly that.
Colossians 2:6-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
Alive 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.
8 See
to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according
to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] 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.
Allow Nothing but Christ to Control
You (v. 8)
The
first thing we are to do is to allow nothing but Christ to control us. It could
be said that the first thing we are not to do is to allow anything else other
than Christ to control us. Because Christ is the author and founder of our
faith, if we are to walk in him, established by faith, we cannot and must not
allow ourselves to be controlled by anyone and anything other than him. Paul
then continues with specifics of what we are not to be controlled by.
Not
Philosophy and Empty Deceit
We
must not be controlled by philosophy and empty deceit. These two play a large
factor in our society. It is interesting that although many view philosophers
are the intelligent and wise people of the world, Paul associates philosophy
with empty deceit. I like philosophy to a certain extent, but the thing that
commonly frustrates me about it is that rarely are conclusions drawn. The
answers in philosophy are questionable at best. In other words, human
philosophy is not clear in the area of truth. The truth of Christ is narrow.
This is why believers are commonly referred to as narrow-minded. Keep in mind,
however that truth is narrow. For example, in mathematics, 2+2 = 4. The answer
cannot be anything else. It is narrow. Why would theological truth be wide
rather than narrow? Philosophy often deceives people into believing something
empty, something without the power of Christ, and Paul says we are not to be
controlled by this.
Not
Human Tradition
We
are also told not to be controlled by human tradition. How often are we
controlled by this though? Even those who profess Christ, whether we realize it
or not, are often controlled and influenced by human tradition. We see this in
example after example of people who place value more on the traditions of man
rather than the word of God, which should be our ultimate authority. People
justify sexual immorality with human tradition; people justify adultery with
human tradition; and the list goes on. Like philosophy and empty deceit, human
tradition is based on an unstable foundation, namely that of godlessness. When
we allow ourselves to be controlled and influenced by human tradition, we often
leave the truths of God. Consider how ridiculous this is when God is the very
one who created mankind. To be controlled and influenced by the created rather
than the creator is absurd. This is why Paul tells us not to be controlled by
human tradition.
Not
Elemental Spirits
Paul
lastly says that we are not to be controlled by elemental spirits, also
translated elementary principles. As believers, we are to grow in Christ and
allow the deeper things of God to control us, not the elementary principles
that often control those who are not in Christ. For this reason, we are told
not to be controlled by elemental spirits.
It Is Because You Are Filled with Christ and Have Been
Marked by Him (vv. 9-12)
The
reason we are not to be controlled by these things is that we are filled with
Christ according to verse 10 and we have been marked by him according to verses
11-12. What is Paul referring to though when he mentions circumcision?
Circumcision was what marked the people of God in the Old Testament. However,
under the New Covenant of Christ, the public mark of a Christian, other than
suffering and outward signs, is baptism. Baptism replaced circumcision. This is
why Paul says in verse 11 that we have been circumcised with a circumcision made
not with human hands. It is a new circumcision, not the traditional Old
Testament circumcision. We have been marked by God and are now filled with Christ.
For this reason, we are not to be controlled by anything and anyone other than
Christ himself.
Realize Christ Has Won through the
Cross (vv. 13-15)
Besides
allowing ourselves not to be controlled by anything and anyone other than
Christ in order to walk in Christ, established by faith, we must also realize
in our very lives and actions that Christ has won through the cross. Paul
reminds us of what we were before Christ, namely sinners helplessly in need of
mercy and grace. In fact, we are referred to as dead in our trespasses. When
someone trespasses, they enter forbidden territory. What Paul is saying is not
that we simply entered in forbidden territory but rather than we were once so
deep in forbidden territory that there was no way out except through Christ. The
good news, however, is that through the cross, Christ canceled our debt
according to verse 14, nailing our debt to the cross when Christ was crucified.
The good news continues though. Paul says in verse 15 that the Lord disarmed rulers
and authorities, meaning demonic rulers and authorities, and put them to shame
through the cross. Through the cross, Christ has won! We do not have to any
longer be controlled by sin; we do not have to be controlled by people; we do
not have to be controlled by sickness; and indeed we must only be controlled by
Christ.
Conclusion
Paul
makes it clear what we are to do in order to walk in Christ, established by
faith. Indeed this is easier said than done, but the good news is that it is
possible through Christ’s victory on the cross because we are now in him and
not dead in our sin, as we once were. Let us seek Christ’s full control over
our lives.
