*Colossians 2:1-15
Paul teaches the Colossians that true wisdom comes from Christ, not from human philosophies or religious traditions.
- Paul’s Struggle for the Believers:
- Paul expresses his struggle for the Colossians and those in Laodicea, desiring that they be encouraged in heart and united in love.
- He aims for them to have full understanding and assurance that comes from truly knowing Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Warning Against Deception:
- He warns them about being deceived by fine-sounding arguments.
- Although Paul is absent in body, he is with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good order and firmness of faith in Christ.
- Exhortation to Continue in Faith:
- Believers are urged to continue living in Christ, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as they were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
- Warning Against Human Traditions:
- Paul cautions against being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and elemental spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- Fullness in Christ:
- He emphasizes that in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ, believers have been brought to fullness.
- Christ is the head over every power and authority.
- Spiritual Circumcision and Baptism:
- In Christ, believers were circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. This spiritual circumcision involves putting off the sinful nature.
- They were also buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through their faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
- Freedom from the Spiritual Deadness:
- Paul reminds them that they were dead in their sins and in the uncircumcision of their flesh, but God made them alive with Christ, forgiving all their sins.
- He canceled the charge of their legal indebtedness, which stood against them and condemned them. This He did by nailing it to the cross.
- Triumph Over Spiritual Powers:
- By disarming the powers and authorities, Christ made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.