Colossians Chapter 2

Vs. 1… For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; The Colossians had a problem; they are not taking the Head (Christ) and putting Him in the right place. They are saved and they want to move on and live their lives to the best of their ability as a Christian. Paul wants them to know that Christ is their life; they are dead (3:3).

Paul refers to a nearby city---Laodicea. This is not the same group of people written address in Revelation 3:14-21. In Rev. 15 we are told by John that the assemblies he is writing to is “kings and priests”. That has nothing to do with grace ambassadors and new creatures. John is writing to the remnant of Israel who is being reprimanded for their “lukewarm works”. According to Revelation 3:17-18, we can see that this definitely is not grace believers. We have no covenant obligations to make us complete in Christ. John also writes about repentance, being clothed in good works, chastening, etc. (vs. 19)

The Colossians and Laodiceans were rich and were depending on worldly wisdom and their own ability to live the Christian life. The Colossians needed to reorient themselves to their Head---Jesus Christ.

Vs. 2… That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love…When God's program of grace is embraced, the believer will experience comfort and much assurance. Under the law based program God assigned to the nation of Israel, there had to be a constant vigilance to perform. Questions like---Is God pleased with me? Are my sins all confessed? Is God chastening me? These kind of questions will always haunt you until you come to “all riches of the full assurance of understanding”. Assurance is rare in Christian circles. Getting the comfort and assurance in our soul that comes from understanding our position in Christ is just one of the riches we have in Christ.

“ to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” Now here are three mysteries presented that must be acknowledged by the grace believer:

1. Rev. 10:5,6,8…This is the mystery of God---It involves the dispensation of the fullness of times; a period when there is no more time as we know it.

2. Eph. 1:3-10…The mystery of the Father---It involves the Father’s will that all things be gathered together in Christ in heaven and on earth.

3. Col. 1:25-29…The mystery of Christ---This is the revelation of the mystery. (Romans thru Philemon)

Vs. 3… In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…It is only through understanding these mysteries that God will reveal the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The world around us values wisdom and knowledge. God assures us that you can only obtain them through His revelation of truth. The Colossians were saved but they were failing to embrace the Mysteries associated with Jesus Christ.

True wisdom is contrary to our natural inclinations and well intentioned good works. It is not good enough that you are saved and on your way to heaven. We must depend on God to not only save us but to grow us up. God doesn’t turn our lives over to us after we are saved to live them the best we can.

Vs. 4… “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words” Satanic messengers will attempt to draw you away from truth according to Ephesians 6:12-13. Our only hope is that fact that “the words of truth” will effectually work in us to change the way we look at things. (I Thess. 2:13) The “natural man” (saved or lost) can not discern these truths of God. (I Cor. 2:6-14) You will have to read them in a Book rightly divided before they work in you to change your world view of reality. False teachers exist in every dispensation. Please beware that in our dispensation they come in the name of Christ (2 Cor. 11:3-4; Gal. 2:4; Eph. 5:6)

Now what were the Colossians being beguiled by? They were listening to the world’s wisdom about how to live a good life. They were not adding works to salvation or returning to the law like the Galatians did.

Vs. 5… “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ”…Paul is commending them for having good order in some grace doctrine---II Thess. 3:6; Rom. 13:2 the word ordained comes from the word “order”. God desires that we have doctrinal order in our lives. The one doctrine that the Colossians needed admonition on was “how to live the Christian life”. They were deficient in this doctrine and so is the Church today.

Vs. 6… “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” The Colossians had truly experienced salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ; however the next day they began to live their new Christian lives they best they knew how. II Cor. 5:14-15.. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” The Colossians believed that after they were saved the gospel was of no more use to them. That is heresy!!! You are going to be tempted to live a life of righteousness in yourself. That can not be. They failed to recognize that after salvation, your life is not yours anymore. It is not up to us to choose the kind of life we want. We are instructed to walk in faith just as we were saved by faith. We are told this in Gal. 2:20. We are told just the opposite by Christian leaders. We are told that a person can be saved by grace through faith; once we are saved we are told that we have a big mountain to climb as we grow up as Christians. Getting baptized, joining the church, learning to tithe, participating in various church activities are all a part of climbing this mountain of growth. I submit to you that all of that is unnecessary and contradictory to sound doctrine. We are told to do all the aforementioned works in order to please the Lord and gain His blessing on our lives. This is as performance based as it could get for the Christian.

Paul sets forth the faith/grace way to grow as a Christian. It goes like this: The admission we make at salvation (Jesus Christ took care of my sins (all of them) at the Cross. If I take God at His Word, He will give me a free gift---the Righteousness of Jesus Christ) This is the very mindset we must maintain the very next day after we are saved (I can’t live righteously; I am not sufficient to live a Christian life). How then are we suppose to grow as a Christian? By the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His doctrine working in you (I Thess. 2:13). The “life I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”. The life we now live as Christians is the Gospel---(I can’t save myself; I am not sufficient to work myself into heaven). Live out the Gospel each day. Paul called the Galatians foolish for adding law to Grace. The same rebuke is needed today. To add anything to our completion in Christ is to be foolish. Some would contend that faith is a work and therefore there is no difference in what they are saying and what Paul is saying. Paul easily dismisses this argument by stating in Romans 4:5…But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. The world and church wants to improve your flesh.

Romans chapters 3-5 explains what salvation is all about---3:22 says that salvation is unto all and upon all that believe. That sequence is very important; it delivers a death blow to Calvinists. 4:25 says… Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 6-8 deals with the “buts” or “what abouts”. Now that we are saved, how are we supposed to go about living our lives? Once again Paul deals with salvation and service with the same answer: you don’t do anything. Romans 6: 3-11 tells us we have been buried into Christ’s death. Romans 7: 24-25 Paul make the confession… O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Finally in Romans 8:18-24 Paul says that the Holy Spirit will produce fruit in you as you focus on Christ and His Gospel. Focus on what you are in Christ and shall be in Christ in heavenly places---not on trying to improve yourself!!!

In Rom. 8:22-24 we are told what to hope for---our new glorified body and adoption. The reason we are told this is only when we receive our glorified bodies will we produce for Christ what actually pleases Him. If we could produce righteous lives now after we were saved, why would we be instructed to patiently hope for our glorified bodies and adoption, since we have it now? This is confirmed in Romans 5:4-5 where we are told that tribulation brings patience, patience brings experience, and experience brings hope. This is not about obtaining good character qualities; it is about exercising patience and hope in obtaining our new glorified bodies promised us and purchased by Christ in His work on the cross when He pulls us out of the present evil world in the Rapture. That is what Paul says in Col. 1:27…Christ in you, the hope of glory. He states our life purpose in Romans 8:17-19…And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. The purpose of life is to glorify God and receive glory from God.

Vs. 7…Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Ephesians 4:11-15 tells us that the first generation of the church, the body of Christ needed gifted men to lay the foundation and initiate the Mystery Program of God. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love (charity), may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” The church today tells us that we need so many things in order grow up in Christ---not so!!! We are complete in Him. (Col. 2:10)

Vs. 8… Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. This verse is a contrast with the preceding verse. If you are not rooted and grounded in Christ, you will turn to the following dangerous substitutes: Paul only uses the word “beware” 4 times in his 13 epistles. The other three are found in Phil. 3:2.

The word “spoil” is the results of those who are victorious in warfare. Satan desires to cut you off from the knowledge of the truth and those who proclaim the truth---rightly divided. (II Cor. 11: 13-15) One of the implications of the rite of circumcision that God initiated with Abraham and the nation of Israel was to cut off the fellowship with fleshly Gentiles. God raised a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile. While Gentiles could become proselytes to Judaism, the Jews could not go to a Gentile. Who you fellowship with is important to God. The reason people want you to fellowship with them is to make a “fair shew in the flesh”. (Gal. 6:12) They use your fellowship as evidence of “God’s blessing and approval”. Refuse to be “cut off” from the truth of grace doctrine rightly divided. Religious people like to argue about certain subjects according to Titus 3:9… But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

“Philosophy”…this is a love of wisdom. Solomon had wisdom of a human level and look what a mess he made of his life and nation. According to I Cor. 1:18-21, preaching saves people, not wisdom. Professing wisdom they made a foolish declaration. (Rom 1:22)

“Vain deceit”…In today’s culture, what you think is the important thing. Not So! What God thinks is the only important thing. (II Tim. 3:3; I Tim. 6:20)

“Tradition”…This is the hardest battle to fight as a grace ambassador. Churches and families have traditions and they become the end all fix all for people.

“Rudiments of the world”…This word means “first things”. You need to break from the world’s rudiments. (Gal. 4:8-11) Question the rudiments of religion and see how far you get. Getting people off of rudiments is like getting people off of crack cocaine. (II Cor. 5:17)

Vs. 9… For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. This is a positional truth about the trinity and it helps us understand the positional change that is made in us as we live out our Christian life. Satan has successfully eaten away at the deity of Christ for many years now. Paul is admonishing the Colossians to “hold to their Head” ---which is Jesus Christ. (vs. 19).

Understanding how Jesus operates within the Godhead. For example--- Who raised Jesus from the dead? Well, according to Gal. 1:1, God the Father raised Jesus. Yet in Romans 8:11 Paul tells us that The Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. And finally we are told that Jesus raised Himself from the dead (John 2:19). Jesus is not inferior to the Father or the Spirit. All three were active in the resurrection.

Positional truth also means that we understand the difference between Israel and the Church: Rom. 14:12 tells us who we will give an account to. While in Hebrews 13:17 we are told that the Jews were accountable to Jewish priests. These are two distinct groups. Galatians 2:21 is a positional truth; you frustrate the grace of God when you try to live out the Christian life and produce righteousness by obeying laws. The Purpose Driven Life for forty days will do nothing for you spiritually; AA is an insane attempt to tame the old carnal nature. God invites us to take rightly divided Scripture in your inner man and experience the growth that results. (I Thess. 2:13; Rom. 10:17)

Romans 14:12 tells us who we are accountable to. In Hebrews 13:17 the Jews are told who they were accountable to.

Vs. 10… And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

· Paul’s task is this verse – Col 1:28, 4:12

· “Complete” means having no deficiency, perfect, finished, as an edifice is complete

· We are not complete in ourselves - Romans 12:1-2, Col 3:11

· We are not complete in our good works – Gal 3:3

· We are not complete in our abilities – 2 Cor 12:9

· We are not complete in a spiritual gift – 1 Cor 13:9-11

· The work was complete when we became a perfect man - Eph 4:11-14

· The perfect man of God is instructed by the word about Christ - 2 Tim 3:16-17

· To be perfect minded is to mind the high calling in Christ - Phil 3:14

· We are not complete in religious tradition – Col 2:8, 20, Gal 4:9

· There is no greater church, historical, religious authority – 2:10

Vs. 11-12… In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Here in these two verses Paul is going to explain what it means to be “complete in Christ”. This phrase has wonderful implications for the Christian.

“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands”…First of all notice that this phrase tells us we are (present) circumcised---not we have been circumcised. This is an important distinction based on what the Bible tells us about our condition as children of Adam. Ephesians 2:1-3 says… And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Paul is telling us that we were born into “flesh”. Contrary to what many think, we do not start out in life “in the image of God”. (Gen. 5:3) You and I show up in life “in the flesh”. This is confirmed in Rom. 7:5… For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Romans 8:8-13 also emphasizes this fact… So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

We have a promise from God that we are going to get a new body after the Rapture of the Church. The new body will not be a “fleshy body”. “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (I Cor. 15:47-52)

The moment we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, our soul is cut loose (circumcised) from the flesh (old man). I Thess. 2:13… For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. It’s the Word of God that effects this “circumcision without hands”. Hebrews 4:12… For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God calls this a circumcision. You must learn to reckon the old man dead. In the future, we will not have to reckon this to be so---it will be so when we receive our new body.

Before you were saved, you were joined to your flesh and its desires. Upon salvation, you are now joined to Christ… “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (I Cor. 6:17). Your usefulness to the Lord here on earth is dependent on you understanding who you are in Christ and live in the light of it. Paul has already told us that “we are complete in Him”; if we are complete in Christ, that means Christ must be complete or we would then be incomplete. Do not buy into the popular teaching today that Jesus emptied Himself of His Godhead while here on earth completing the work of redemption. He could not do so and then declare us to be complete in Him.

“of the sins”.. In all new translations of the Bible, these three words are left out. The verse makes no sense when these three words are left out because it makes the verse say something that everyone knows is untrue. Everyone has to contend with the body of flesh after they are saved. But according to I Cor. 10:13, salvation makes temptation to sin common to man and a way of escape is now provided… There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. You have been set free to serve the Lord.

Please keep in mind this circumcision is judicial, positional, imputed and spiritual.

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead”… Please notice this is a “death baptism”, not a water baptism. This is confirmed in Galatians 3:28-29… For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The baptism here is “putting on Christ” not dunked in a tank of water. I Cor. 12:13, Romans 6:3 and Ephesians 4:5. Death baptism is not in water; it is not a ceremony; it is not an ordinance. You are drowned into a water baptism according to Romans 6:4; you are buried into a death at the Cross. The word burial is associated with death---not water. In Luke 12:50… But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! When Jesus said this He had already been baptized in water by John (Matt. 3:13). Water baptizing was to show the Messiah to Israel (John 1:30). What water baptism illustrates in this dispensation of grace is ignorance---not that we have been saved as the Baptist’s and the Methodist’s teach water baptism is. The Catholics use it to teach that water baptism washes away our sins. Jesus had two baptisms and we best get them straight. (Mark 10:38-39)

The reason we get into so much trouble with Christians today about water baptism is explained in Col. 2:8… Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men…Once Paul mentions the tradition of men, he proceeds to talk about circumcision and baptism. This is why it is so hard to discuss baptism with brothers---it is a tradition of the church and they don’t care what the Bible says about it.

When a Jew rejected water baptism in Jesus earthly ministry, he was saying I do not recognize Jesus as Messiah. You and I have already been baptized into the death of Christ. Jesus did not die being water baptized. He died on the Cross and that is where he takes the grace believer. There is no place for a water baptism for a grace believer.

This section of Scripture is so very vital for a Christian to comprehend. Paul is telling the Colossians that a Christian experiences a spiritual baptism and circumcision at salvation. It has nothing to do with water or ceremonies performed by ministers of God. These two acts are done “without hands” and they identify us with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. We become a part of a “new creature”---the church-the body of Christ. This is very different than what the Covenant mentality is. Paul is contrasting the difference between the Program of Law with its accompanying covenant versus the Program of Grace with its accompanying blessings in Christ.

The Program of Law mentality is that you must get into God’s covenant; you must earn God’s acceptance; pass in through “the gate” and then you get access to the blessings. Matt. 19:27 is an example of the contrast between the covenant thinking vs. the body of Christ thinking. Peter asks Jesus, “What do we get for following you?” Under the covenant, Peter will get a position in the kingdom---a throne. Job lost everything and got it all back during his lifetime. The Disciples forsook everything and took up their cross and followed Jesus (Luke 9:23).

The Program of Grace in this dispensation is you get God’s blessings by faith in what Christ already has done for you. The way you get access to eternal life and spiritual blessings is by being identified with the body of Christ (the church). Since Christ has eternal life, and He has ascended up to heaven and He has all the blessings of God---you and I, by inheritance, have the same thing. A position in the Kingdom was given to Jews by their choice to forsake all and follow Christ. This is not the way you and I get a position in Christ. We get circumcised and baptized into Christ. According to Phil. 3:19… “our conversation” = your whole life/ who you are/ where you are at (positionally). Your permanent position is in heaven – Eph 2:5-6, Phil 3:20; not the kingdom of heaven – Mat 3:2, 6:9-10, Heb 13:14.

So Paul is going to correct the philosophical mentality of the Colossians by telling them that they can not reach a higher spirituality by human reasoning, participating in religious ceremonies, or law keeping. You get it through inheritance by your membership in the church, the body of Christ and that by faith, not by works lest any man should boast.

Vs. 13…And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh… Paul is reminding them of their previous condition as unsaved Gentiles---they were dead in sins and attached to their fleshly desires. Your flesh is wretched – Rom 7:23-24, 8:7-8 Ephesians 2:1 corroborates this also… And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. This is the way we were and it is not that we repented and are now following a new way of living and have obtained all these blessings. It is by God’s grace that we got a new position. Rom. 5:6 says… For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Vs. 8...But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Vs. 10…For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

“hath he quickened together with him”… = to be made alive; God has given us the benefit of life. This is the definition of grace. We do not deserve life. God does for us what we cannot attain by good works. It is not about self in this dispensation. It is about our POSITION IN CHRIST. The Colossians were getting wrapped up in a “voluntary humility” (vs. 18) by trying to please God by trying to become the living sacrifice by their good works and religious deeds rather than by holding to the Living Sacrifice (the Head). Often times Christians are trying to climb a religious ladder and thereby obtain God’s blessings and good pleasure. Our mindset should not be what we eat or don’t eat; what we do or don’t do; it instead should be who earned for us this position.

Paul tells the Colossians that they have been given a new Undeserved Position in Christ by God’s grace; it has nothing to do with forsaking all and following Christ. It is not what you and I have done to be saved; it is what Christ has done for us.

Eph. 2: 5-6… Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: The Jews were taught to pray… “Thy kingdom come”; we don’t pray such a prayer because we are already seated in heaven in Christ.

“having forgiven you all trespasses”…How are you forgiven all your sins? Eph. 1:7 & Col. 1:14… In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; …In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness is attached to the blood of Jesus (the Gospel). Our forgiveness is not in I John 1:9… If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is a quote from the book of Leviticus; this is Israel’s covenantal, conditional forgiveness. We are not forgiven through a covenant nor is it conditional. The debt that we owed has been paid in full already by the shed blood of Christ. To think that we have one more sin that is yet to be forgiven is an offense to God and the payment of Jesus was insufficient.

Forgiveness is not even based on our asking for it. Christ already “hath forgiven” us…Eph. 4:32… And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you; I Tim. 2:5… For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Confessing sins does not mediate between God and man; Jesus is the mediator between God and man.

Grace is not---oh boy, I’m saved, I can do whatever I want now. No!!! Paul just got through telling the Colossians that grace teaches us that we are baptized, circumcised and undeserving; we do not have what it takes to be pleasing to God by our performance. Christ has done it all; you are set free... in Him; you are not under the law system any more. Once Paul tells them that they are cut off from the flesh and baptized in the death of Christ, then he tells them that they are not under the law. When we tell an unsaved person or young Christian that is stuck in the mindset of law keeping, that grace frees him from the law, he naturally will think he can do anything he wants---unless he is taught Col. 2:1-14. Christians must be taught the biblical definition of grace (Col. 2:1-14) or they will believe they are footloose and fancy free. Grace teaching is the only thing that will save us from this wrong conclusion.

Vs. 14-15…Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances”… The word “ordinance” is found throughout the Old Testament. You might be surprised to learn that even Paul gave some “ordinances” according to I Cor. 11: 2. Acts 15:20 was one of these ordinances. Please keep in mind that these ordinances were given during Paul’s “provocation ministry” to Israel only. When the full revelation of the mystery was revealed, we learn that we are complete in Christ---we have no ordinances to keep.

To blot something out means it can not be seen. He took it out of the way. Now it is still wrong to do wrong; sin still has consequences---not the least of which is it hurts your testimony and you ability as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. Paul does not teach us to be lawless freaks once we are saved. We are to have a new focus. Rom. 6:14 tells us that we are not operating under law but under grace. The law focuses on sin; it focuses on death; it focuses on failure. My job is to focus on the victory that is in the Lord Jesus and to set my affections on things above. We focus on standing fast in the liberty of Christ (Gal. 5:1). As we understand what Christ did for us at Calvary and stand in that---we are pleasing to God. I am not made perfect by the keeping of the law. That system has been nailed to the cross! I wonder why it keeps showing up in our churches today? I am not made perfect by performance! I Thess. 2:13 is the only way to move to perfection.

God wrote the law Himself and then decided to blot it out---that is fine with me. The Bible records that God wrote with His own hands on three occasions: Exodus 31:18 (the law); Daniel 5:25-28 (prophecy); John 8:6-8 (Jesus wrote in the dust--under the law) Romans 7: 1-3 tells us that we are married to Christ---not the law. The reason Paul tells us that is because of what happened in Romans 6. If you have not experienced chapter 6 (death baptism), then you are still married to the law.

Jesus made the full legal payment to satisfy all the demands of man breaking His law covenant. Therefore, the law covenant is over. Man was the loser in the law covenant. God did not just blow away the covenant with Israel; He blotted it out by becoming a man and paying the debt.

It is commonly held that there are two ordinances that Christians should observe today. This is not correct. Communion was never an ordinance in the Bible. What Jesus observed with His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion was the ordinance of the Passover Meal (Exodus 12:11 & 43). The only place you can read about the Lord’s Supper or Communion is I Cor. 10 & 11. Paul explains there our union with Christ as a body of believers. Therefore it is a celebration or memorial for the church, body of Christ. It points to the finished, completed work of Christ. It is not an ordinance you have to fulfill in order to gain something with God. However, water baptism was given to people who were not complete in Christ in order to make themselves a little more complete. If a Jew wanted his sins forgiven, he had to be water baptized. Neither one (communion or water baptism) fit this verse. You are complete in Him. Paul’s baptism is not water baptism. One is not an ordinance (communion) and the other (baptism) was required to make kingdom believers complete (Mark 16:16) and Christians are already complete.

“that was against us”… Romans 2:12-15…For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) Gentiles were required to live righteously before God even though He did not give them the law. Sin was in the world but not imputed to them (Rom 5:13-14). The law was added to separate Israel from sin (Gal 3:19) Eph. 2:15-16…Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

“principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”… Jesus performed five demonstrations of His deity here in vs. 14-15. That is interesting because Satan said five times what he was going to do in exalting himself and taking the worship due Jesus. The Bible records for us the five-fold slid of Satan:

1. Exodus 28:14…he was the anointed cherub that covereth in the third heaven.

2. Job 41:1…he goes from the third heaven to the second heaven; he is called leviathan; he is pictured as swimming around in the great deep of space. The leviathan is that “piercing serpent” according to Isaiah 27:1… In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. Leviathan is not a whale or giant sea turtle.

3. Luke 10:18…Satan gets demoted to the earth according to Jesus. “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Here he serves as the “prince of the power of the air”. (Eph. 2:2).

4. Isa. 14:15…You would think that the devil has fallen as far as he can go. No. He is going to be placed into a pit. “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

5. Rev. 20:10…From the pit he is cast into the lake of fire. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

The issue in the book of Colossians is the Headship of Jesus Christ. In chapter 2 Paul is explaining how the church, the body of Christ is formed and how it is to operate. Paul is comparing how “religion” operates and how the body of Christ operates. He warns saints to keep focused on the Cross of Christ. We are to be rooted and built up in Him. There is a battle going on about this issue. The church is oriented around religion, ceremonies, traditions, Old Testament laws, etc. We should be focused on Christ and His grace program. What we know is essential to being an effective ambassador for Christ. The Colossians were allowing themselves to be beguiled (vs.18)

Vs. 16-17… Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. This is the second of four warnings in chapter 2 about things that can distract a saint from his/her true calling as a member of the church, the body of Christ. Get it straight; we are not Israelites trying to serve God under the law program. This is a key characteristic of a “good minister” of Jesus Christ. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (I Tim. 4:6). This is the only reference in the Bible defining what a good minister does. Most people think a good minister is a man that has a warm smile, visits the sick in the hospital, and preaches short sermons.

Now be careful with these two verses. Many teach that the meat, drink, holydays, new moon and Sabbath days have been finished and nailed to the cross of Christ. Not so! The verse says these things ARE (not “were” as every modern translation states) a shadow things to come. Paul is not telling us that these religious duties listed in vs. 16 ended when Christ died on the Cross. (These verses require dispensational understanding.) Paul says they are a shadow of things to come. The Lord is going to reinstitute the program of law given to Israel in time past during the millennial reign of Christ on earth. (Isa. 66:22-24) These things serve as a perpetual remembrance for Israel. The Lord gave to Paul a similar “memorial supper” for a perpetual remembrance of the work of Christ on the Cross for the church. The Lord’s Supper is not an ordinance or law for the church to keep.

Vs. 18-19… Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [19] And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility”… Here is Paul’s third warning. Building your life around food, drink, special days and ceremonies means you have been beguiled (tricked; charmed in a deceptive way). To submit yourself to this kind of legalistic lifestyle is called a “voluntary humility”. As a Christian, you have a “reward” that you can be tricked or charmed out of. The “reward” that is given to every Christian as a result of trusting the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the “mystery program”. The “reward” is a spiritual program (Eph. 1:3); it has no conditions to be performed or covenants to be agreed to in order to enjoy. It is a grace based program that is rooted in Christ our Head. It is a positional program where we are placed in Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit and declared to be righteous and complete in Him. Why then do we insist on going back to the “weak and beggarly elements”? (Gal. 4:9) Because the beggarly elements are beguiling! Christians know more about religious law than they do about the basics of right division of grace doctrine. The net result is that we forfeit our reward.

“worshipping of angels”… The role of Angels during the Dispensation of the Grace of God:

· Paul's Epistles (Romans---Philemon) are written to the "Body of Christ” which comprise all believers through the "Gospel of the Grace of God" (Jew or Gentile) from the beginning of his special ministry (Acts 9) until a future day in which the "Body” will be called up in to the air to meet our Lord Jesus Christ in the heavens (the Rapture). (Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Timothy 1:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

This church called "The Body of Christ” is a "New Creature” distinct from God's people of Israel who were called "A Holy Nation.” The church which is Christ's Body was brought into being for God's secret purpose called "The Mystery” - "Which He kept hid from ages and generations but now is made known...” as Paul writes… "To the intent that now unto the principalities and power in the heavenly places might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 3:1-10)

• In other words, God's purpose in saving us today in this "the dispensation of the grace of God” is for the purpose of teaching the angels in heaven, things they never knew concerning the many facets of His wisdom. “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” (1 Timothy 5:21)

Most importantly, it teaches the Angels how God's wisdom in the Cross has defeated Satan and openly displays Satan's ignorance as God reveals the triumph of His wisdom and power over him. (1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 2:13-15)

In God's grace to us, He is using us to teach the Angels, and He will display us in the Heavens forever to demonstrate to the Angels "the riches of His kindness in His grace toward us" - (Ephesians 2:4-7)

· Since God's program for us involves teaching the Angels, and since this truth exposes the defeat, failure and doom of the devil and his angels, this truth and those who know it are in a spiritual warfare with "spiritual beings” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

The armor God has given us is not "guardian Angels," but is the "truth” "righteousness” "peace” "faith” and "hope” found in our position in Christ. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 10:4 tells us that the "weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”

Therefore, Jesus Christ through Paul, His Apostle to us, warns us over and over not to be deceived; nor lured into the worship of Angels; nor to be robbed of our rewards through Angels appearing to teach us another gospel or any other doctrine not found in Paul's Epistles for us. (Colossians 2:18; Galatians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:1,2)

Today, we have the privilege and the ministry of using "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” and by using it we can assist in "spoiling principalities and powers” by the preaching of the Cross and thereby, through faith, save those (Jews or Gentiles) who were a part of the kingdom of Satan - "the power of darkness” and "translate them into the Kingdom of God's dear Son.” - (Ephesians 6:17; Acts 20:32; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 1:12-14)

• As God's purpose for Israel centers around His kingdom in the earth, so God's purpose for us - the Body of Christ - centers around His kingdom in the heavens. Angels were used to help Israel by informing them and protecting them as a nation, in fulfillment of God's intent for the earth. However, today God is using the church, which is His Body, to help the Angels by informing them and warring against the spiritual wickedness in high places in fulfillment of God's intent for the heavens.

Rather than Angels helping us, God has given unto us something much more comforting and powerful. He has given to us His Holy Spirit who strengthens us with "power” and "might in the inner man” and "seals” us as God's possession unto the day of our redemption; all to His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14; & 3:14-21)

Instead of protecting us from all the evils that may befall us in life we are instructed to be "filled with the Spirit” and to learn that God's grace is sufficient. In fact, we begin to understand that in our weakness God is made strong in us so that while we may suffer need, go hungry, be afflicted with pain, or suffer loss; we "can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!” What a testimony this is to the power of God's grace in us, both unto man and the Angels. (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22,23; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 4:11-13)

We are told in Scripture that our afflictions in this life are working for us, not against us. As we walk by faith, motivated by grace, strengthened by God's Spirit, guided by His Word through all the difficulties of life we will be rewarded "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” If guardian Angels prevented such afflictions, they would be working against you, robbing you of rewards, and the glory God receives through His working in your life. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:16-18; 2 Timothy 2:9-13; 4:6-8)

Angels are described:

• Angels are celestial (Heavenly) beings - 1 Corinthians 15:40
• They are just one kind or race of many heavenly beings such as:
• Seraphim - who according to Isaiah 6:2-7 have six wings and praise God's holiness.
• Cherubim - who according to Ezekiel 10:1-15 have four wings and surround God's glory.
• The Four Beasts - Revelation 4:6-8 (they may or may not be one of the above; they also have six wings).
• There are many differing descriptions of demonic beings in the Bible. The only mention of winged women is in Zechariah 5:5-9 and they are demonic!
• There are also heavenly animals mentioned in the Scripture such as horses -Revelation 19:11
• They are "Spirits” - Hebrews 1:7
• They are "Invisible” - Colossians 1:16, 2 Kings 6:17
• They are spoken of as "Men"; never as women or as children - Mark 16:5; Daniel 9:21
• They were and are created by God to be celibate: God did not create them to marry nor to be given in marriage - Matthew 22:30
• They exceed man in strength and ability - Psalms 103:20; 2 Peter 2:11
• They possess the ability to appear as "ordinary men" - Hebrews 13:2 They sometimes appear as men and yet there is something that distinguishes them as Angels - Genesis 18:1-3; 19:1
  Perhaps they appeared larger that normal men - Genesis 6:4; Revelation 21:17
• They also have the ability to appear as "supernatural men" with radiant glory - Luke 24:4
• They are "created” beings - not born - as is said of the Cherub Lucifer - Ezekiel 28:15
• Apparently they were created in Genesis 1:1 because they viewed God at work in creation - Job 38:6,7
• Because they are Spirit beings they do not and cannot physically die - Luke 20:36
  This is why God created hell - Matthew 25:41
• As Spirit Beings they do not take up space: In Mark 5:9 there were a "Legion” (6,000) in one man.
• There is much joy among the Angels over God's victories - Luke 15:10; Revelation 12:12.
• Their estate is Heaven - they are called "the angels of Heaven" - Matthew 24:36
  and yet some of them left - Jude 6
• They are not to be worshipped! - Revelation 22:8,9
• They are not to be idolized! - Exodus 20:4,5; Acts 7:43
• They are not to be prayed to! - 2 Samuel 24:17
  Prayer in scripture is always directed to God - Matthew 6:6; Luke 11:2
• They are not to be looked to for guidance!- Isaiah 47:13. God's Holy Spirit, through His written Word, leads and guides us - Ephesians 5:18
• We are not to receive a gospel message from Angels today! - Galatians 1:8
• Our worship, our obedience, our trust and dependence which we owe to God alone, is the desire of Satan and his Angels and is therefore the source and the reason behind all idolatry- Isaiah 14:12-14.

“vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind”… We like to be complimented more than we like to be corrected. Paul doesn’t mind correcting saints. Our flesh is greatly offended when corrected.

“from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God”…We think that our spiritual nourishment comes from ministers, books, Christian movies and seminars. Not so! Our Head nourishes us through the Word of God, rightly divided. The Colossians were being nourished by the weak and beggarly elements of the law.

Vs. 20-22… Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

“Wherefore”…Because you have learned the content of verses 1-19.

“ if ye be dead with Christ”… The word “if” here means a Christian who understands his baptism in to the death of Christ (I Cor. 12:13 & Rom. 6:4), will not get caught up in the rudiments of the world, philosophy, vain deceit or the rules and regulations of the law. Failure to understand your death in Christ means that you are a prime candidate to be indoctrinated into the law system of Israel. Please do not make the mistake of believing that as a grace believer we are free to believe and do as you please. We are required to know right doctrine and maintain a right testimony. Christians who are “babes” in Christ often embrace the rules and regulation of religion. Paul deals with the issue of weak Christians, who put themselves under the law system, and strong Christians, who know their liberty in Christ Jesus in Romans 14.